Veteran Owned Brewery And Pizza Spot Opens In Brewer Maine

It's been a labor of love, several years in the making; Benjamin's Brewer finally opened for business Wednesday, July 1st, just ahead of America's 250th Anniversary of Independence Day.

This family-owned and built business has been a work in progress since Bangor businessman and former Benjamin's on Franklin Street bar owner, Richard "Clarko" Clark, and his wife purchased the old Sid Harvey warehouse on Acme Rd in Brewer.

They planned to turn it into a place where they could cook comfort food, brew beer, and honor hometown heroes.

And he's been out there, with his family, literally gutting the space and building it back up for over a year. He even hand-painted the entire structure earlier this year.

While they had originally hoped to open for Veterans' Day last November, a date they had picked with a specific purpose in mind, to honor members of the military, there were a few things that caused a slight delay.

Clark, a veteran himself, wanted to create a space that was family-friendly and focused on military members and first responders.

Along with his 5-barrel tanks, twenty taps, and a pizza oven, Clarko has a special mug club for those who have served their community and their country, and another one for regular folks who just like beer.

With an official ribbon cutting at 4 PM, the 46 Acme Road facility opened to a large welcoming Wednesday, with the Darling's Ice Cream Truck on hand, representatives from the VA Suicide Prevention Group, and Jeeping For Vets all stopping by to say hello!

The Clarks, who are residents of Brewer themselves, say the city has been great to work with, and they are excited to open this new business right in their hometown.

Benjamin's Brewer will be open Monday through Thursday, from 11 AM-8 PM, and Friday and Saturday from 11 AM-9 PM. On Sunday, they'll be open from 9 AM-6 PM.

Get our free mobile app

Welcome to the block, Benjamin's Brewer!

Here's the Top 20 Maine Craft Beers According to BeerAdvocate

Here is a list of the 20 highest rated beers from Maine breweries on the website, BeerAdvocate.

The list is dominated by three breweries- Allagash, Bissel Brothers, and Maine Beer Co. The IPA style is clearly the most popular, which is not surprising given recent beer trends.

Research comes from Beer Advocate's Maine page in July 2026.

Gallery Credit: Chris Sedenka

Here's 30 Maine Craft Beers to Get Lost on an Island With

Thanks to our great listeners, we compiled a list of many of Maine breweries' best beers. The ones you would love to have if lost on a deserted island.

These great spots can be found across the state, waiting for you to try them. Many can be found on Beer Advocate's Maine Craft Beer Top 100 Rankings.

How many of these have you had?

Gallery Credit: Chris Sedenka

The 10 Oldest Active Maine Breweries

Maine has over 100 craft breweries. While the industry soars, it's important to remember its legacy. Here is a list of the 10 oldest remaining active breweries in Maine. Some are giant names. Others may be entirely new to you.

Gallery Credit: Chris Sedenka