Fogtown Brewing Company - Ellsworth

Fogtown Brewing Company sits tucked below downtown Ellsworth, a short walk from the main strip. They sling wood-fired pizzas and run a solid beer program out of a split setup: order inside at the bar, grab your food from a trailer in back, then sprawl across picnic tables in an orchard-like courtyard. Locals and visitors mix freely here, especially when there's live music or an open mic night on the calendar.

• Wood-fired pizzas with creative toppings, worth the wait.
• Roasted carrot salad and hand-cut chips steal the show.
• Live music and open mic nights most evenings.
• Genuine community vibe without feeling touristy.

Start with the Carrot Top salad and an order of potato chips with whatever dip they're running (reportedly pickle-based and dangerously good). For pizza, the Fungi Fandango, Elote, and 'Ndjua Love Me draw consistent praise, or go simple with Margherita and a drizzle of hot honey. The pepperoni with hot honey is also a solid bet.

Mostly outdoor seating at communal picnic tables in a tree-filled courtyard. Inside is small and bar-focused, with live music or open mics happening most nights. It's lively without being claustrophobic, and genuinely feels like Ellsworth's front room.

Pizzas take their time (figure an hour), but that's the wood-fired thing. The beer roster pulls in regulars and visitors alike, and the food reaches beyond pizza: roasted vegetables, housemade chips with dips worth ordering extra of, and salads that surprise you. Dogs are welcome if that's your crowd.

Guests consistently call this their best brewery stop in Maine. One recent visitor raved about the roasted carrots in the salad and claimed she'd "need a vat" of the chip dip. People come for the beer and stay for the whole package: pizza quality, the courtyard setting, and the sense that the whole town shows up here.