Biddeford brewery branching out to southern Maine farm

Blaze, a 15-barrel brewery based on the Saco River in Biddeford, is purchasing Doles Orchard in Limington, with plans to open a beer garden and more at the 100-acre site at 187 Doles Ridge Road.

The $700,000 deal to sell the property to Matt Haskell, who owns Blaze Brewing Co. along with his wife, Evelina, was two years in the making, according to Earl Bunting, who operated the farm with his family for 30 years.

The local permitting process has been tabled due to issues the Maine Department of Transportation has with local traffic, which Haskell says have nothing to do with the farm.

“We will seek the change of use permit in the spring and we feel confident it will be approved,” Haskell said, adding the plan is to close on the sale Jan. 1.

According to Haskell, phase I includes bathrooms and a pavilion beer garden, with the aim of serving food and beverages in the pavilion by June 2024. The boutique Blaze Restaurant, a new tasting room and building and the production brewery are scheduled for phase 2. After the second phase is complete, the pavilion beer garden will be switched to catering and wedding events only, Haskell said.

But those looking to pick their own apples still need to look no farther than Doles – while new owners have not yet passed papers, they are now leasing the orchard and the trees are ripe for the picking on weekends The couple also plan to plant more trees and berries.

Bunting partnered with Maine breweries such as Allagash some years ago, and there’s continued interest from them and other breweries and beverage outlets for orchard-grown fruit, Matt Haskell said, including peaches and raspberries for Allagash.

“We’re absolutely using some of the fruit from the orchard for hard ciders and beers,” said Haskell.

The husband-and-wife team plan to expand its wild fermentation and barrel-aged sour beers, which they’ve “wanted to do for a number of years.”

The Haskells, who call Blue Hill home, have several other venues in addition to Blaze in Biddeford. They include restaurants and some taprooms in Bar Harbor, Camden and Bangor. Blazes’ own red angus and Japanese black Wagnu beef are featured on the menu, along with their heritage pork. In addition, the Haskells own an eco-resort in Belize.

“I grew up going to orchards as a kid and loved it,” Haskell said about his interest in Doles. “We purchased it because it was awesome and fun (and brought up) lots of memories.”

Earl and Nancy Bunting will retain ownership of the house, adjacent buildings and a 20-acre woodlot in Limington. Their daughter, Emily Chelate, will continue operating Doles Orchard Box Shop, a largely wholesale business focusing on engraved gift boxes and totes.

When asked what prompted them to sell after owning the farm for three decades, Earl Bunting replied, “We put 30 years’ of our lives into this place, but my wife and I are not getting any younger, and a big driving factor for me is the inability to hire help.”

A fast friendship developed between the two couples along with the agreement to sell the farm. The Buntings spent 10 days scuba diving at the Belize resort and Earl Bunting learned the Haskells supported local residents by donating proceeds from one of their beers for a wastewater project.

 “They are really fine people; they take care of their employees,” Bunting said.

Haskell said the Buntings have also been teaching him and Evelina how to make the donuts and pies Doles is known for.

“People will have that good experience,” Haskell said.