Local Spotlight: Brew England

Brad McCourt brings his passion for beer to Brew England in downtown Biddeford.

Brew England, 193 Main St., is a beer store.

“It’s a beer emporium,” said McCourt, who opened the business in early January.

The shop offers a large selection of craft beers from Maine, New England and beyond. There’s every kind of beer imaginable, including non-alcoholic and gluten-free varieties, all organized by type.

“Here you shop by beer style. People know what they like. It’s more intuitive than a grocery store display,” said McCourt.

Prior to opening the store, McCourt created a blog called Brew England, documenting hikes and bike rides and trips to breweries.

“It was a really fun pandemic activity,” he said.

McCourt, who has a background in marketing, was laid off from a full-time job in April. This was the catalyst for him to open his own business. He said the mentorship he received from the Maine Small Business Development Center played an integral part in the opening of the store.

Brew England is open 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday and 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The store hosts free tastings. Check out the tasting schedule online or in-store.

Liz Gotthelf is the publisher of Saco Bay News. She also loves to eat – and support local businesses. If you have any local restaurant or food news, she’d love to hear from you. Send her an email at newsdesk@sacobaynews.com.