stewardship
a steadfast devotion to maine
Our commitment to our home State is an ever-lasting devotion, a dedication that exists beyond monetary involvement. It takes form in time, learning, buying power, and long-term investment. It’s been our North Star since 2013.
agriculture
Every pint of our beer tells a story: of collaboration, of community, and of a deep respect for the place we call home. We are met with endless opportunities to showcase exactly what Maine is made of. One of the greatest powers we have as a company is to remain as close and connected to our ingredient sources as possible. In 2024, we proudly reached a major milestone: using over one million pounds of Maine-grown grain sourced through our partners at Maine Malt House. Many of our beers, including Substance and Swish, are brewed with 100% Maine-grown grain – highlighting our commitment to supporting local agriculture and sharing the true flavor of Maine in every beer we brew.
sustainability
We are engaged with our daily choices, knowing that our actions today will impact tomorrow. Natural resources fuel our industry, and the energy we put into using them needs to equal the effort we put back into supporting them. We choose to support businesses and manufacturers that think about their impact and output. Wherever possible, we choose to keep our buying in our state. We also work to divert as much waste as possible from landfills by composting, recycling, and repurposing materials—from food scraps, grain bags, and hops, to kitchen grease and spent grain—ensuring they are redirected to partners like Garbage to Garden, EcoMaine, Maine Bio-Fuel, and Redneck Ridge Farm. As part of our commitment to improving our processes, we’re proud to be a BetterBev partner, working to reduce our environmental footprint while strengthening our business operations. We are also a Gulf of Maine Tastemakers partner, reflecting our commitment to include locally sourced seafood on our menu.
community
Our philanthropic approach is simple: when you support Bissell Brothers, your money goes to support our State and those who call it home. Since 2017, we have donated over $662,000 to Maine-based organizations.
charitable partners
you earned it series
The You Earned It Series is an employee-driven brewing program that allows any team member with a beer recipe idea to bring it to life. This immersive experience lets our team take part in our collective passion: brewing a beer, designing a label, creating a name, and choosing a nonprofit to receive $1,000 of the proceeds.
four weeks of giving
We started Four Weeks of Giving in December 2017 with the desire to combine community initiative and holiday camaraderie. Each December, we highlight four Maine-based nonprofits throughout the month. We donate 100% of draft sales from each Sunday and evenly distribute the proceeds among them. Since 2017, we have donated $111,000 to Maine-based nonprofits during the holidays.
Thank you for supporting our 2024 nonprofits:
Dyer's Hope House
Rosati Leadership Academy
Kennebec Valley Humane Society
Portland Firefighters Children's Burn Foundation
donation requests
We are a Maine-focused company passionate about supporting Maine-based non-profits. Please follow the donation link if you are a qualified (501c3) organization and would like to submit a request. We kindly ask that all requests be submitted at least 4 weeks in advance.