Rum, Wine, Mead and more – Gardiner’s Swine & Stein Brewfest Is More Than Just Beer
Sample the variety of Maine’s craft beverage producers with all-day tastings, live bands, food trucks and more
Gardiner’s most popular event of the year is back! Presented by Camden National Bank, Swine & Stein Brewfest will take over the streets in historic downtown Gardiner on Saturday, October 8th from 12 to 5pm with all-day tasting of craft beverages, a full lineup of great music, pork and other dishes from tasty food vendors and entertaining games all day long.
Established in 2009 and organized by Gardiner Main Street, Swine & Stein Brewfest celebrates the diversity of Maine’s craft beverage producers. Twenty four breweries, wineries, and distilleries will be serving samples in the open air beer garden all day long. New this year, meaderies are joining the event to share samples of their product made from honey.
An array of food trucks and local restaurants will be serving up incredible pork varieties, including a pig roast from the Blind Pig Tavern, along with other creative dishes for all appetites. Live music will entertain throughout the day from the stage in the street, and an assortment of unconventional games and activities encourage mingling and merriment.
Food options in the beer garden:
From barrel aged beers to award winning rum, you’ll enjoy brews and blends not always found at the store, for a true handcrafted, small batch experience. To tantalize all taste buds, hard cider, wine, mead and craft spirits will also be on tap. Enjoy local favorites like Bateau Brewing, Cushnoc Brewing and Sebago Lake Distillery, as well as craft beverage producers from across the state. Taste the day away with all day sampling – no beer tickets needed! General admission begins at 1pm, or come early for the exclusive VIP tasting hour at 12pm sponsored by the Wellness Connection.
We’re partnering with Johnson Hall to create an outstanding music lineup of Maine’s best and emerging bands. The Juke Joint Devils kicks off the event and then the Boneheads will get you dancing in the street with 70s and 80s classic rock hits, and Random Ideas, a high energy punk rock trio will keep the party going.
Crowd pleasing quirky games add to the festivities on the street. For the eighth year, participants will groom, style, and dress their facial hair in the hope of being named “best in show” in the Beard and Mustache Competition. Try your luck at the intense Rock Paper Scissors Championship, Corn Hole, Giant Jenga, and the Frozen T-shirt Race!
Enjoy all-day tastings from: Absolem Cider, Aegir’s Den Meadery, Bateau Brewing, Bath Ale Works, Black Pug Brewing, Blaze Brewing, Brickyard Hollow Brewing Company, Chadwicks Craft Spirits, Cushnoc Brewing, Fat Friars Mead, Flight Deck Brewing, Freedom’s Edge Cider, Grateful Grain Brewing, Liquid Riot Bottling Co, Lone Pine Brewing, Moderation Brewing, Olive Pit Brewing, Outland Farm Brewery, Run Amok Mead, Sebago Lake Distillery, Sheepscot Valley Brewing, Solar Rock Winery, Tin Top Cider, van der Brew.
Absolem Cider
Aegir’s Den Meadery
Bateau Brewing
Bath Ale Works
Black Pug Brewing
Chadwicks Craft Spirits
Cushnoc Brewing Co
Definitive Brewing Co
Flight Deck Brewing
Footbridge Brewery
Freedom’s Edge Cider
Grateful Grain Brewing Co.
Olive Pit Brewing
Outland Farm Brewery
Penobscot Bay Brewery
Run Amok Mead
Rusty Bus Brewing Company
Sheepscot Valley Brewing Company
Trinken Brewing Co
Urban Farm Fermentory
Winterport Winery
Beer samples will be 4oz, spirits will be 0.5oz samples and wine will be 1.5 oz samples for responsible enjoyment throughout the event. A complimentary tasting glass is included with admission. Thanks to Gardiner Family Credit Union for being the event’s tasting sponsor.
All-day sampling of beers, wines and spirits. Succulent pork. Epic bands. Quirky games. All in Gardiner’s historic downtown! Purchase your all-inclusive tasting tickets today and support Gardiner Main Street’s annual fundraiser.
General Admission tickets are $40 through October 7 and $45 the day of the event. Access the premier VIP tasting hour sponsored by the Wellness Connection from 12 to 1pm for $50 through October 7 or $55 the day of the event. Thanks to designated driver sponsor Janet Slade State Farm Insurance, non-drinking tickets online and at the gate are $10 and include unlimited soda and water.
Proceeds from the event support Gardiner Main Street’s mission to grow and sustain our historic downtown while celebrating our unique cultural heritage.
Swine and Stein Brewfest would not be possible without the generous support of our community businesses. Thank you to presenting Sponsor Camden National Bank and additional supporters Gardiner Federal Credit Union, Kennebec Valley Tourism Council, Wellness Connection, Janet Slade State Farm Insurance, The Blind Pig Tavern, Renys, Pine State Beverage, Hannaford, Bateau Brewing, The Depot Sport Pub, Domino’s Pizza, Hashtag Leatherworks, US Cellular and Barn Boards & More. Please raise a glass to the event sponsors and thank them next time you stop in!