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Location: In a strip mall off a non-descript road in the outskirts of Farmington, Maine. The exact address is Eastside Mall, 805 Farmington Falls Rd., Unit #7.
Taproom: Smallish space. Rustic, laid back vibe. Friendly service. Blackboard lists their 8 beers on draft. They pour everything from 4 oz tasting samples to growler refills. They also sell the requisite beer in cans and merchandise. 3 indoor tables. In the summer, they have some outdoor, dog-friendly seating as well as corn hole. Prices are very reasonable, for example, a four 4-oz tasting flight is only $5, making them one of the best values in Maine. Whenever we are there, it seems like there’s a good mix of locals coming in to fill their growlers, and people stopping by for a brew on their way to and from the recreational Mountains and Lakes part of Maine. For a smaller, non-urban brewery, they have some of the longest and most frequent taproom hours, check out their website for exact details. There is a bathroom in the back of the tasting room.
Beers: In my experience visiting the taproom on several occasions, usually only 2-3 of the beers are seasonal/experimental type options, while the rest are their classic recipes. If you’re someone like me that prefers to always be trying out new things, it’s the kind of place you might only want to visit once or twice a year. They seem to specialize in ales and darker beers like porters and stouts. Beware that often the “On Tap” list on their website is not up-t0-date. If you want to try their beer but can’t make it to the taproom, check out their website for places you can buy their cans or find them on draft. Tumbledown Red in particular is often on draft at local dining establishments in the Western Maine region.
A recent tasting flight experience:
- Hike-A-Weizen: Described as “a German style wheat ale with notes of tropical fruit and spice.” 4.5% ABV, 10 IBU. Even though we’re not huge hefeweizen fans, we tried it out since it was one of their experimental options. A solid offering for the class.
- Tumbledown Red: Described as “malty and smooth, with a British hop profile.” 5.4% ABV, 22 IBU. This is one of their classic offerings. Despite being labeled a red beer, my husband and I agreed it has some more solid, dark, almost stout-like characteristics, including some coffee notes.
- Fat Man’s Misery: Described as “a cherry chocolate milk stout brewed with tart cherries and cacao nibs.” 4.5% ABV, 10 IBU. One of their classic offerings. A nice complex beer, the cherry notes are subtle rather than overwhelming.
- Dog Star Smoked Stout: A stout brewed with peat-smoked malt. 5.2% ABV, 40 IBU. Another of their classic offerings, and well worth a try for its uniqueness. If you’ve been to Scotland, it will bring back fond memories!
Website: https://www.tumbledownbrewing.com/
The Verdict: If you’re a craft brew fan, and you’re traveling through Farmington, this place is definitely worth the detour.