Locally made beer is yours at Sebago

Life is just so busy sometimes, you know? I've been meaning to check out the new Sebago Brewing Company but I just haven't had the time. Now that I've been there, I know I will be back.

Sebago Brewing Company has three locations: downtown Portland, in the Gorham Village and the old venue was centered in the Maine Mall parking lot. Now, located across the street from the Christmas Tree Shoppe in Scarborough, this place is huge, but somehow, more intimate.

When you walk in, you'll enter the main bar area and notice that it seats 20, with some high top tables and booths along the wall. I find this change really breaks up the layout, one thing I didn't love about the old location's bar set up.

They have expanded the lounge area with a "Silo Room" for more seating. Sebago's dining room's are divided up, creating small room feels with comfortable touches like large windows and a fireplace. Somewhat minimalist in decorations, the entire place is easier on the eyes with interesting lighting, beautiful wood tables and tile floors.

From the booths in the bar, you can still see the large tanks holding homemade goodness, but Sebago is also boasting a new brewing facility in Gorham, on Sanford Drive. Tours are available if you call 207-856-ALES.

Sebago serves fresh beer made in small batches, with water from Sebago Lake, malt from the Midwest and hops from the Pacific Northwest. If you want to know more, click here! Oh, am I boring some of you? You just want to know what they have and how much it costs, right?

Alrighty then. Fryes Leap IPA, Runabout Red Ale, Boathouse Brown Ale, Lake Trout Stout and Northern Light Ale are all beers they brew and offer year round. Seasonally, they offer Full Throttle Double IPA, Hefe-Weizen, Slick Nick Winter Ale, Midnight Porter, Bass Ackwards BerryBlue and their Single Batch Series. All 16 ounce beers are $4 and it only costs a dollar more for 22 ounces.

If for some reason you must drink domestic beer in a bottle, they also have Corona, Budweiser, Bud Light, Miller Lite and PBR cans. They range in price from $3 to $3.25. Come on, really? All their beer choices and you can't find one you like?

If you are looking for a mixed drink, they have a full bar and pages of great suggestions. Want a glass of wine? Have a Lockwood Chardonnay, a glass of Bluefish Riesling or a Nine Stone Shiraz. They serve a large selection by the glass ($4.75-6.25) or by the bottle (most ranging from $18 to $24).

With a wide variety on the menu, I am sure there is something to suits the needs of your entire party. I cannot stop ordering the hummus and tzatziki, served with flat bread for $8.99, but pub pretzels served with Frye's Leap IPA mustard for $4.99 sounds like a good appetizer. Burgers, wraps and sandwiches galore, ranging $8.79 to $14.99 for a lobster roll. They have huge, fresh salads and several soup selections, or you can go full out for dinner and try seafood alfredo ($18.99) or teriyaki grilled chicken ($11.99.)

This place sure knows how to do a happy hour. Weekdays from 4pm to 7pm, and nightly from 10pm to close, Sebago offers $1 off all house brews. They have menus for appetizers with selections ranging from $3.99 to $5.99. Sebago also offers daily specials, in addition. In the lounge only, from 4pm to close, on Monday you can get pub pretzels and a pitcher for $10.99. Tuesday is burger and pint night for $9.99 Wednesday offers tall brews for $3 and Thursday you can take $1 off any glass of wine. Having worked in the restaurant industry most of my life, I wish more places would take the lead from Sebago and realize the key is consistency- don't change your specials all the time! That's what keeps people coming back and becoming regulars.

Sebago Brewing Company is really laid back. Serving food until 1am every night, you know you can meet a friend, gather some co-workers or bring your mate and have a great beer, satisfying food at a reasonable price.