Processing Your Payment

Please do not leave this page until complete. This can take a few moments.

April 14, 2016

Birding meets beer tours with Birds on Tap

Tiny-house food trucks? Old news. Portland’s smallest nano-brewery? That’s so last week. The Portland Press Herald took a look at one of the newest developments in Maine’s vibrant culinary arts scene, Birds on Tapwhich combines the tradition of birding with the state’s love of all things beer.

The origins of the Birds on Tap tour came when tour guide and co-owner of Freeport Wild Bird Supply, Derek Lovitch, was looking to increase attendance at book signings and thought hosting them next door at Maine Beer Co. would be less intimidating for amateur ornithologists.

“The pressure of going to a lecture on such an intense topic was taken off by the fact you’re at a brewery,” Lovitch told the Press Herald. “I mean, who takes it that seriously, right? So that really opened up a diverse audience for some really cool, important conservation topics. The success of that clearly showed that my wife and I are not the only ones who like beer almost as much as birds.”

There are still four more Birds on Tap tours on tap for the year, including the upcoming “Grassland and Grains” tour on June 5 which will take birders to the Kennebunk Plains to seek-out Upland Sandpipers and Grasshopper Sparrows — and of course to visit a pair of local breweries: the Lyman-based Funky Bow Brewery & Beer Co. and the Biddeford-based Banded Horn Brewing.

Read more

Maine Foodie Tours gives visitors a taste of Maine

Portland Brew Bus tour expanding to Beantown

It's a good time for craft brewers to raise money

Sign up for Enews

Comments

Order a PDF