Kicking Back with Boothbay Craft Brewery

Harvest Hosts is an incredibly unique RV membership program. Through this program, members are granted access to [total_locations] host locations across North America for overnight accommodations with no camping fees. To support each of these businesses, members typically make a small purchase of wine or produce or whatever it is that the business is selling or offering. Locations include establishments such as farms, wineries, breweries, museums, restaurants, attractions, and more. Boothbay Craft Brewery is an incredible example of one of our great hosts. Located in Coastal Maine, this taphouse, campground, and brewery combination has been operating their modern-day tavern since 2009. Continue on to learn all about the brewery, its history, the business today, and its joining of the Harvest Hosts program, plus find more RV camping in Maine.

The History

Boothbay Brewery owners Win and Lori Mitchell formerly owned a bustling lobster wharf, but they found themselves craving deeper customer connections. From 2006 through 2009, they began to build their dream tavern beam by beam. In order to create a more community-connected “public house” space, friends, family, and locals donated timber from their own land or breweries within Maine or Vermont. The Mitchell family then used their very own sawmill with tools passed down through their family's generations to complete the build. They also carved each beam with the name of the donor or the place of origin. What a story!!

The Business Today

Today, Boothbay Craft Brewery strives to be a fun, relaxing, and family-style tavern that is welcoming to everyone. The Mitchell family continues to run their business together, with each member playing a core role in the operations. Win remains the head brewer, recipe creator and office manager, while Lori is in charge of marketing. One son, Cody Mitchell, assists with brewing, label design, photography, and  website creation. Last but not least, their other son Riley works as the campground manager and primary contact for Harvest Hosts, also working to produce the tavern's monthly newsletter. Riley also owns his own RV that he enjoys traveling in and visiting other Harvest Hosts locations in the off-season. The Boothbay Brewery property itself is absolutely beautiful. Their tavernhouse is a large, rustic-looking building, that I unfortunately did not tour. However, I was able to visit their bier garden, which is truly picturesque no matter the time of day. There is plenty of outdoor seating, a fire pit, and strings of lights adorning the many trees.

Their first beer is also one of their most popular. The Boothbay “633” ale has gotten folks hooked on craft beer with the first sip. They also brew other ales, IPAs, lagers, and stouts, and they’ve even collaborated with other breweries, like Dogfish Head, to create new brews. On Fridays they fire up the smoker and offer brisket meals (nothing better than beer and smoked meats!). They also offer unique pizzas, like their summer lobster pizza with cheese and butter,

In addition to the tavern and bier garden, there are also a few on-site cottages available for rent. They also have a full RV park with a variety of pull-thru or back-in sites available. The business's overall mission is to provide a fun, family-friendly experience, while also promoting tourism and bringing more guests to the Boothbay peninsula. I'd say this mission is certainly a success!

Joining Harvest Hosts

Boothbay was actually the very brewery to join the Harvest Hosts program back in 2014! It serves as the perfect base camp from which to explore the Camp Newagen Peninsula. They offer two dry camping spaces for Harvest Hosts members to park for the evening, and members can also upgrade to one of their full hookups spaces. Additionally, members wanting to dump their tanks or fill their freshwater can do so for a small fee. Over the years, the Mitchells have redesigned their property to become a premier RV-brewery destination! They not only welcome RVers onto their property to enjoy their drinks in their beautiful bier garden, but they will even deliver pizza to your RV’s front door if you desire. Please note that, depending on availability, RVs towing a vehicle may need to unhook for parking.

I personally had the opportunity to visit Boothbay Brewery on my way to Acadia National Park in May 2021. I enjoyed an incredible pizza with a few appetizers and sampled a few of their delicious beers in the scenic bier garden. The campground was quiet and peaceful, and the hosts were so friendly and welcoming. My only regret was that I did not stay even longer! I certainly hope to return on my next visit to coastal Maine.

Boothbay Craft Brewery is an amazing Maine Harvest Hosts location, perfectly showcasing the uniqueness of the Harvest Hosts experience. Be sure to stop by to experience it for yourself on your next trip through coastal Maine.

Leigh Ann Schultz, CFO of Harvest Hosts, with Cody Mitchell of Boothbay Craft Brewery, and Harvest Hosts member Kent Kimerer, his wife, and friends

Leigh Ann, CFO of Harvest Hosts, with Riley Mitchell, the manager at Boothbay Craft Brewery

Harvest Hosts Owner CEO Joel Holland visited Boothbay Brewery in the fall of 2019 and captured this awesome video there:

Have you visited Boothbay Brewery? How was your experience? Do you have any other hosts you would recommend for feature? Feel free to share in the comments below!