A New Year, 15 Years In: A Note From Our President

As Baxter closes 2025 and steps into 2026, we do so with deep gratitude for our community, our team, and every person who chooses to spend their time with us. Whether that is at our pub, in your favorite local spot, or with one of our beers in hand, those choices mean everything to us.

From backpack to front porch and everywhere in between, it is a privilege to bring you a distinctly Maine experience in every can—now with or without alcohol.

Navigating A Tough Year For Craft

This past year unfolded in one of the most complex landscapes the craft beer industry has ever faced. Between ongoing tariff uncertainty, evolving legislation that breweries across Maine are actively working to defend, rising costs, and a rapidly shifting marketplace, it has not been an easy road.

Across our region, beloved breweries and restaurants have closed their doors—places where memories were made, friendships were built, and traditions were born. That reality matters. So does your role in shaping what comes next.

The Power Of Gathering

At Baxter, there is a deep belief in the power—and the need—of gathering. We are people who love people, and we could not be celebrating our 15-year anniversary this month without every purchase, every visit, and every decision you have made to trust us along the way.

We are deeply grateful. Let this serve as a formal thank you: we would not be here without you, or without the incredible team we have built.

We see beauty in shared tables, live music, celebrations, first dates, old friends, and the quiet moments that become stories over time. We believe in what happens when people come together, and in the responsibility we carry to make every experience worthy of that choice.

Craft, Community, And What Comes Next

Through it all, our team has continued to do what they do best: create high-quality, distinctly Maine products with heart, creativity, and intention. From new categories and collaborations to thoughtful releases rooted in our home state, we have stayed focused on what matters most—bringing you something meaningful in every sip.​

We are proud to be navigating this moment with resilience, adaptability, and a commitment to craftsmanship that does not waver when things get hard. The future of craft beer will belong to those willing to evolve, diversify, and listen—to their communities, their customers, and each other, and that is exactly what we are doing.​

As we move into 2026, our goal is simple:

• Be brilliant at the basics.
• Show up.
• Stay grounded.
• Create exceptional experiences.
• Support our partners.
• Continue to earn your trust—one beer, one moment, one gathering at a time.

If you love local beer, now is the time to lean in. Visit your favorite breweries. Sit at the bars where your best stories live. Bring a friend. Try something new. These places matter—and so do the people behind them.

From all of us at Baxter, thank you for being part of our journey. We are proud to represent Maine in a world-class way, and we cannot wait to share what is next.​

Here is to a year of connection, resilience, and great beer. It has been a privilege—and we could not be more excited for what the next 15 years hold.

– Jenn Lever, President, Baxter Brewing Co.