USA, ME: Stars and Stripes Brewing closes permanently in Freeport

What once looked like a promising alternative for beer lovers outside of Portland has suddenly become an odd series of dominoes falling in the wrong direction, WCYY reported.

If you had asked Freeport, Maine, residents last summer, they would have told you that their town had all the delicious variety any craft beer lover could ask for. From Maine Beer Company to Mast Landing and beyond.

Fast forward just a few short months later and two breweries have closed up shop for somewhat different reasons. Gritty's was first after a lease dispute that couldn't be settled. They closed in November.

The latest? That would be Stars and Stripes Brewing right along the main drag at 8 Varney Road. The veteran-owned brewery announced their permanent closure in a straightforward social media post on December 31.

While no specific reason was given by Stars and Stripes as to why they were closing permanently, the property at 8 Varney Road has been previously listed for sale. That may have affected the businesses ability to operate there. Stars and Stripes opened their Freeport location back in 2018.

The Freeport closure for Stars and Stripes Brewing caps off what has been a difficult year for them. In February of 2024, Stars and Stripes closed their Portland location. That location had struggled to gain traction after opening in 2022.

Leases and real estate aside, the craft beer industry just wrapped up its third straight year of decline. According to the Cornell Chronicle, craft breweries across the country experienced negative production for a third-consecutive year in 2024 after more than two decades of growth. That has led to many breweries merging or closing all together.

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