Oxbow Beer Garden

The best place to xc ski! Free trails and affordable rentals from Portland Gear Hub if you need xc skis or snow shoes. Take the beautiful wooded trails about a mile out to The Hut and have a beer around the fire. There’s a bathroom out there and it’s kid and dog friendly. When you get back to the parking area, pop into the restaurant for a beer and a delicious wood fired pizza. The food is amazing, staff are friendly, atmosphere is perfect. What else could you want? It’s one of those special places in Maine that make our state so lovely. Thanks to Oxbow for keeping the trails free and beautifully groomed for the public!!

We absolutely love Oxbow! The atmosphere, food (pizza! Crispy artichokes!), and beer are amazing! What I am about to say only pertains to their disc golf course. We played yesterday and I asked my husband later that evening what he thought of it and he said "I'll never play there again". It was a literal swamp. And I get it has been rainy and even rained the day prior. But Saturday we waited for the rain to stop and went and played Side Show and our feet didn't get wet. They need to build bridges or do a better job at directing the water but I doubt that will happen given they use the same trails for XC skiing. Even a warning from staff as we paid the steep $10/head to play would be nice. It's almost like they should have paid US to play 🤦‍♀️

This is one of my favorite places! I love the variety of seating options. I usually cozy up to the bar, but also love that you can come with groups of various sizes and choose your own adventure (upstairs loft, downstairs table, outdoor patio, outdoor tables, etc). The tile and color always make me feel so happy. Staff is always A+++. Super kind, helpful, chatty if you are there on a slower night. Always treated like a friend even if we've never met. Food is amazing. The menu is small but mighty. My go-to order is the kale caesar salad (the dressing is amazing, the kale is fresh and massaged soft every time, and I would eat the croutons on their own), fried artichokes (they have changed people's entire opinions on artichokes) and a mushroom pie. The char is always amazing the the mushrooms are so good. Everything is fresh and everything is always amazing. And OF COURSE the beer, which I adore. Never anything wrong on the menu. This is a regular stop for me, and I will go out of my way for a craving. I have actually never done the trails, but looking to explore them this year!

Very cool spot to xc ski, snow shoe and bring your good dog! Food was phenomenal. We tried the dry cider and it is probably my favorite hard cider. Staff was helpful and nice. The trails are well groomed and the fire pits are a nice touch to warm up! 10/10 would recommend!

Solid pizza and good beers. Great outdoor area to hang out.

Pizza and beer are very good. Outdoor seating is very nice. As for service, you order at the counter, and you pick up your food and bring it back to your. group. So if you want a waitress and table service, this would not be the place. That being said I enjoy having lunch at oxbow.

We have been here a few times. The pizza is wood fired, beer is their own and good. I had the Northern Lager, nice, light and refreshing. Wife had, sorry she can remember but she liked it, abit sour for me. Our pizza by the way was fantastic, it was the Njuja. Spicy Italian pork, Calabrian chilis with honey. So, good, we are sitting here contemplating about ordering another pizza, 2 people 14” with thin crust another one would push us over the edge. But, really good if your in the area.

Beautiful location, great service, and fantastic pizza! Don’t sleep on the fried artichokes. And, of course, the on-tap beer selection is robust. A must-try, especially if you dig cross-country skiing.

Pizza is easy to find. Authentic Neapolitan style pizza is almost a miracle outside of New York City -or Naples The pizza here is exceptional. My Nonna would approve . Baked in an incredibly hot wood fired pizza oven the crust is thin and crispy and just slightly burnt - just like you would get in Napoli. The sauce was flavorful and delicious, and there was just the right amount of cheese. We had an Italian lager that was great as well. The service was excellent, the staff friendly, the ambiance comfortable.

Delicious food, plenty of winter activities, and great beer! I've come here many times over the years to snowshoe with friends. I love that we can be active and rent equipment if needed and enjoy Maine winters. Then we can grab pizzas and beer and hang out in the cozy upstairs area-which stays surprisingly warm! My favorite is the N'duja pizza (little spicy) and sharing the sable beer.

Wow! I can't believe that I am just now discovering this place only 35-ish minutes up route 26 from the Gray turnpike exit. Fantastic and creative brews (and "guest stars" like a Absalom cider), a very relaxing and chill vibe, a nice open space inside, and incredible seating options outside, even in the winter. Lots of outdoor activities, including x-country skiing free of charge, and plenty of parking. Not having been here before, my friend and I appreciated the clear signage of where to go for food vs. gear. We were fortunate to get to the barn before all the morning skiers arrived for lunch and were able to order and seat ourselves pretty quickly upstairs. We looked at the menu and went back downstairs to order food and drinks. The drinks we carried upstairs, but the pizza we ordered was brought to us. To pay and to order more drinks, downstairs you go. And with the free x-country ski trails, on a nice day, this place jams up pretty fast. Soon tables are packed, there are lines to get food and drinks, and to use the 3 individual non-gender restrooms. Just a few things I found a bit odd or inconvenient - 1) They have a wonderful beer selection, but don't do flights :( 2) The hybrid service model is a bit confusing and certainly inconvenient. Technology could certainly help smooth this out. 3) To pay, you either have to pay in full (and tip) when you order, or have to wait in line at the same line where people are ordering in order to pay, 4) 3 single bathrooms are not enough for the peak capacity Aside from the wonderful beer selection, the highlights were free x-country skiing with a warming hut, plenty of parking and friendly staff. This is my new go-to winter refuge :)

We stopped here on our way to Sunday River. We have driven by so many times and decided to finally stop in and check it out. Amazing! You can order and sit outside. They have fireplace, picnic tables, high tops etc. I ordered a Pepperoni pizza with extra cheese and it didn't disappoint! My wife ordered a cheese pizza. For dessert we ordered the Zeppole which were fresh and sugary! Stop by! We didn't get a beer as we don't drink, but great food and super dog friendly as you can hang outside.

Great cross country skiing and great parking lot close to the restaurant. Farmhouse ale was tasty and we ordered a mushroom pizza with white sauce. There were plenty of tables in the mid afternoon.

This is a nice place and their beer is good. We had two pizzas which were good but found the crust a bit boring - ok cooked but somewhat tasteless. Not at all bad but just not great either.

Their pizza was good. Out door and indoor location was fun, spacious and clean. But I may have just had a bad experience with their waiter/ cashier because I kindly asked for ranch, which they respectfully said they don't provide ranch (which is totally fine) but then asked for marinara sauce just to get some extra sauce with my pizza, then the young cashier gave me an attitude telling me it would be $1.00 (with an annoyed tone and rolling eyes)....i have no problem paying and I'm not sure if the cashier was just having a tough day (working on a Sunday) but working in the service industry, it's not really something that left a good taste in my mouth with the idea to come back. Nor was the half of a jello cup of marinara sauce for 1.00. It wasn't even filled up all the way.

Awesome place! Countertop we sat at was lovely and the food was delicious, me and a friend shared a giant calzone and it was very worth it!

Love this place. It's really fun to hit the xc ski trails (beginners definitely welcome) and stop at the ski up bar along the way. Looking forward to this winter!

Great environment, you can sit outside or inside either way it is great! The workers are so kind, skiing is great on the trails during the winter. It you have kids it is so fun, they can play around in the big field with hills. The pizza is so good! Authentic pizza with a real wooden pizza oven, such cool process. The food other than the pizza is also so good, there donuts are top notch. The beer is excellent as well, such a large variety, the kale salad is to die for! In the end a really fun and tasty place!

I'm not a huge fan of Oxbows beer but similar to the one in Newcastle, this is just a really cool place to hang out. Expansive grounds with trails in the back, good place to bring your kid, or preferably, your dog. Pizza was good.

Amazing potato pizza so so good every time. Come back every year just for the pizza. The beer and cider is also amazing! Don't hesitate to go it's worth it!!!

Went camping just a mile down the road and it was time to check out some local scenery and local beer/food. The parking lot was full which is usually a great indication. Once we walked to the back of the house we were greeted by beautiful fall colored trees and open meadow. Take a look at the pictures I order the only soup on the menu and was delighted. So hearty and yummy. A good selection of pizzas is available along with a variety of beers and some wine. Overall everyone was happy with their choices. Definitely a place to experience. They do have indoor seating as we'll

Was randomly driving through town looking for antique stores and stumbled upon Oxbow. What an absolutely delightful surprise. It's a tiny eating area inside with a limited menu, but, oh my what a culinary experience. The kale salad was fresh and tender and with just the right blend of lemon and yolk to no be overwhelming. The Parmesan cheese was of high quality. The pizza ... again, oh my ... a super thin crust on the bottom but a generous soft thick crust around the edge. The sauce and cheeses were outstanding. Highly recommend.

Sausage and onion pizza was amazing. Great atmosphere and super nice staff. Will be returning.

Wow, what a hidden gem here. Great beers, with a lovely farmhouse ambiance. Live music on the weekends, skiing nearby, so an all seasons destination. The brick oven pizza with fresh local ingredients was awesome, really hit the spot. On top of all this, the service was spectacular. Can't find more friendly people, definitely a must stop!

If you live in Portland and you're thinking to yourself, "we already have an Oxbow here I don't need to drive to Oxford to drink the same beer," stop right there. This location is 100% worth the drive. In the wintertime, you can bring your own, or you can rent XC-skis and snowshoes (thanks Gear Hub!) and walk through miles of trails in the woods behind Oxbow! If you follow a trail map, you can get to the Hut, which is an awesome little beer shack out along the trail that operates on the weekends for a mid-walk drink. There are fire pits out there too to rest and recharge, all while staying warm. After you are full to your heart's content of Maine winter and magical snowshoeing views, you can trek back to the main area for some of the best pizza in the state, and another delicious drink. They have loads of different beers, if you want a stout or a sour or something in between, and they also make cocktails if that's more your speed. There is ample seating and loads of fire pits and heaters to keep warm, but be warned - weekends are BUSY here. It's best to get there early if you want a parking spot and a place to sit after your hike! Dog-friendly and kid-friendly, 10/10 would recommend you find yourself here ASAP!

The good: going to Oxbow is a fantastic winter activity. Pick up some snowshoes/cross-country skis at Portland Gear Hub (protip: reserve your gear on their website and pay when you get there), get some exercise in on the groomed trails and grab a beverage halfway through at the Hut. The beer selection is decent although it seems to run heavy on sours but the real star is the pizza. It's really good. The not so good: if the weather is good, get there early. We are still dealing with COVID but having one person taking orders for about 200 people was quite a site to see. The line stretched from the window to halfway across the courtyard. At any given moment, there must have been 40+ people in line. Bottomline: I loved the place, great beer garden, great playlist, great pizza. Not the last time I will visit, but if I had walked in and seen that line, I would have walked right back out. So, get there EARLY.

Ten stars. Socially distanced tables in a bucolic setting, contact free order pickup, and really good pizza!! They have great topping combos and you can customize, too. Squash and ricotta was delectable, so seasonal and excellent. The nduja with honey and chilis are great, and excellent additions to the squash pie. The beer is next level. In a world where "craft beer" has been co-opted by ABInBev, it's so nice to see true craft beer. I highly recommend the Saisons and the India Pale Lager. Lovely, helpful, friendly staff, as well! A peek into the kitchen from the ordering window shows that they're running a serious operation. LOVE this place!

Stopped in on our way home and this place did not disappoint. We had the corn pizza and it was some of the best pizza we have ever eaten. The atmosphere is just perfect for families, couples, or friends looking for a night out with delicious pizza.

This place seemed very hipster. Go to this place if you love beer . We had mushroom and sausage pizza . We went to try the wood fired pizza . The pizza was a bit on the dark side. Both of them but the burnt kale on the mushroom pizza wasn't that great.

Good beer selection, and excellent pizza. There were also non-beer options, which I appreciated. Lots of outdoor seating with fires, heat lamps, etc. to stay warm! We will return for sure!

Stopped here on my way to northern New Hampshire the cheese pizza is amazing. Wasn't really a fan of their Octoberfest but definitely be back try different pizzas and different beers.

Super cute. Upscale for the area, actually! I love what they've done to the place, when I was in school I was on the XC ski team and we often came to Carters to practice. I think we came the first week or two they were open so I think we saw some of the "beginners jitters", but it's a lovely addition to the area. A tad pricey, but I think that's because of the ingredients they use and the audience they are targeting. It's fresh. It reminds me some of the dining experiences I've had in other countries. I feel like they are excited to tell you about the menu, to explain the foods and recommend something you'd probably never pick on your own. 4 stars because the entry is confusing, we were sat all alone upstairs with the boxes and silverware, while everyone else was downstairs and our server forgot my sisters drink order completely. Food was good, service was pleasant.

We love oxbow! Usually in Portland but lately have hit the Oxford location when we are in the lakes region for the weekend. Outside only so it does get a bit chilly but they have so many fire pits, ample seating and cute little string lights. Delicious oven fired pizza and calzones. I got their winter squash special pie with spicy pickled peppers and ricotta - so good! My husband always gets a loaded calzone. And then we get whatever appetizer is néw to us. This time crispy potatoes with chimichurrin and fried artichokes. Everything is simple and elevated. Of course cannot forget the beer! Husband had AM/FM and a few others - I stuck to their natural wine this time but in the summer love surf casting :) super special place with great people!!

What a HIDDEN GEM if you have not been here yet! The taproom is cozy and GORGEOUS - it really had a bar vibe that I don't get from tap rooms in Portland. Staff was all A+, friendly and on-point. Pizza and sides were delicious and of course the beer was killer. Perfect cozy place for cold nights and I cannot wait to go back!

This place is easily the best option within at least 25 miles maybe double that. The menu is chockablock full of tasty options. The friggin Cheesy Potato pizza will knock your proverbial wool socks off on a cold winter day and the million and friggin one options on tap will warm your soul. Couple that with the friendly, prompt and capable service and you've got an establishment thats bound to keep crushing it. Jared and Jillian were working the kitchen and man were they WORKIN' IT. Hands down the best pie I've had since those years i was trapped living in New Haven. Possibly even better. Meanwhile Lauren on the bar was super kind and engaging with top notch service. In the winter theyve got Cross Country ski trails that are freshly groomed and you can get there by snowmobile! How can you go wrong? It doesnt matter if youre a flatlander, from away or a dyed in the wool 6th generation local, theres something for everyone here. Dont miss out on this new Oxford County hotspot thats bound to become a local institution

The pizza was amazing. Simple but extraordinary if that makes sense. Passed this place many times and finally visited on a beautiful October day. Pizza was cooked super fast. I had to deduct 1 star I'm not a beer drinker and ordered a "red wine" expecting um, red wine? Not really happy that it was served cold and foamy. I took a micro sip (I absolutely hate beer) and ewww it was just like drinking a beer. Don't be hating on my review, I know it's a beer garden but hubby convinced me I didn't have to order beer, they have wine.......well yelp, I'm whining about that wine, it was not wine at all. Had I known, I would have stuck to water. Just putting it out there for pizza lovers and beer haters, you can still enjoy this place, just skip the beer-wine.

Worst IPA ive ever had. 10 oz pour for $7. Couldn't finish it. You'd never know the place is open. Nice decor inside however. As a brit, it drives me crazy when you get little beers that are served in small wine glasses. Its a beer for christ sake man not a port!

If you want amazing pizza, look no further! We are thrilled to have such quality food & beer in this area.

I am a certified foodie, but seldom take the time to write reviews. I was teaching a class at the Sabbathday Lake Shaker community. I'm traveling alone - 2 of 3 weeks in the road - and wanted something very different. I was sent here. I knew nothing about naturally fermented beers. I'm dabbled in cheese, pickles and sourdough and was excited to make connections between the beers and my fermentation adventures. I was not disappointed. Every beer I tried was a new experience. I love the short pours. I had an opportunity to try more beers and still maintain the ability to drive home safely. I had a pizza - tonight's special - madd with local smoked mozzarella and three squashes. I'm a meat eater. I never missed the meat. This was the best pizza I had ever eaten.....not light words....the best pizza I had ever eaten. ...and the sourdough crust was made with naturally occurring yeasts....for the wind. I will be back at Sabbathday Lake next year and will make a bee-line for this spot!

By far, one of the best brewery experiences I've had. If you're In the area, a MUST. Heck, if you're in a 50 mile radius, a must! The staff and owner are super chill and authentically appear to love what they're doing. This location, and old ski shop, has been rehabbed in their open, airy, modern tasting room. They have a open kitchen with a wood fire pizza oven right off the main tasting bar area. Staff shared with us that there are still cross country ski trails behind the brewery that they say they will have groom and have open in the winter for X country and fat tire bike riding. There is a large open second floor that looks down upon all the tasting room action as well as the back garden area. The pizzas we ordered was excellent. As well as offering their 16 beers on tap, they offer cocktails and wine. I had an excellent Negroni after I had a pour of one of their beers. The energy in the place is infectious. Totally chill. I wish this was closer to home because not only would I want to hang out there, I'd want to work there, too, just to chill with the excellent humans who work here. Don't think twice. This is a destination worth savoring.

As fans of Oxbow in Portland, we were excited to try this spot out. Great addition to the area! Plenty of beer options (and wine/cocktails) at really solid prices. It was raining so we didn't get a chance to go outside but I'd be eager to go back in good weather. Friendly staff, delicious brick oven pizza, awesome beer. We saw plenty of families and larger groups come through with ease. You can also buy packs of beer on the way out in their side store, along with other merch. Will definitely be back!

Was glad to finally give this place a try. I'm not a huge pizza person but my husband is and he is very picky. We got the pepperoni pizza and it was delicious! Thin crust, good sauce and tasty pepperoni. We also had a Caesar salad made with kale (very good) and their Fritto Misto, lightly fried vegetables (also very good). We did a take out order but they have a great large outdoor setup with plenty of spread out picnic tables. We will definitely go back again!

Pizza is excellent. Atmosphere is warm and authentic. Prices are a bit steep ($18 for a pizza) but pizzas are still great.

After visiting, I felt like I found hidden treasure. We cross country skied every trail and ended up at the warming hut on the trails. To our surprise they sold cans of oxbow beer at the hut and we enjoyed some very unique and tasty beers next to the fire with Tim and Birch bartending - who were super friendly and such a good time! We skied back to the main lodge and enjoyed a pepperoni pizza and a cheesy potato pizza in the coolest little A frame hut with a little heater. Such an awesome and unique experience. 5 star Sunday afternoon, no doubt.

So it's Oxford Maine. It's a hipster, wool socks Subaru driving, NPR listening, Starbucks Sipping hippy hole. Foods decent, pizza super thin, Beer ok, atmosphere great, restored post and beam barn super cool. It's a good experience albeit at Old Port pricing. It's an occasional spot, not a regular. Pepperoni and mushroom, thin crust 12" about $20- beers average $7-

This place is a hidden gem on rte 26 in Oxford the food and beer was great! Better service from the order person she was not friendly or helpful, don't be the front person if you don't like people. I understand we have to serve ourselves and bring everything to our tables from COVID but I do not like a 20% demand top on the bill. I usually always tip at least 20% but when it is put in before I sign my bill I will never tip that amount.

We drove past here on our way to Blueberry Mountain and were hoping they'd be open after our hike! We lucked out and found a serious gem. They've only been open for a few months, but they know exactly what they're doing. We were seated quickly upstairs which gave us a great view of all the activity. It was fun to be able to watch them make food and pour beers- this place has an awesome vibe. (And it's just gorgeous inside!) We each ordered a beer and struggled to choose between all the delicious sounding pies. Our go-to is usually a pepperoni, but the mushroom sounded too good to pass up. We didn't have to wait long for our perfectly cooked, perfectly topped pizza. The crust was sliiiightly a little too sweet for me to be the "best pizza I've ever had" but man, it was close. We had a super waitress who was attentive but not in an intrusive way and the rest of the staff seemed to be having a good time, which is always nice to see. Between the amazing food, great service, refreshing beers, fun atmosphere and unique location, I think this place is going to do just fine! If you're around the area I would highly recommend stopping by. The other menu items were very intriguing and we will absolutely be back for a pepperoni pizza and another beer!

This place is awesome!!! The beer itself is very good, if your into saisons, sours, wild type beers with unusual ingredients. Not good if you fancy yourself a hazy ipa fan. But beyond the beer is the atmosphere, which is quite simply amazing - especially on a beautiful day. From the fire pits, to the walking trails in the back, to the little huts to sit in, etc., it all makes for an extremely memorable experience. Lastly, is the pizza. I can't quite pin down the style - kind of like Neapolitan, but definitely very different, all I know is it was really, really good. A bit oily and cheesy, but very, very good. Thin, well cooked, and made from an incredibly good dough. In this regard, note that there may be a dinner rush when you go, as there was when I was there - I think they made about 30 pizzas in a 45 minute stretch. Not sure, but almost everyone there ordered one. Highly recommended even if not in the area - its worth traveling an hour or more, especially if you tack on a hike.

Really frickin' perfect. Pizza was the best I've had in a long while. Don't skip the "cheese pizza" by any means - it's benchmark, but the summer squash pie came out with a scattering of edible flowers on top! Beers are a refreshing break from the usual DIPA scene. Plenty of outdoor space.

The ambiance. The food. The people. AMAZING. I cannot express how great of a place this is. I suggest eating in one of their hut areas. So cute and simple yet so elegant.

Amazing pizza!! Just wow. The crust is phenomenal. My family and I got the pepperoni, cheese and squash pizza. All so so so good! Definitely highly recommend.

We were so excited to see this open, as Oxford eateries are limited. The inside is gorgeous and the pizza was delicious. The outdoor area is nice for the kids to run around while allowing adults to enjoy beer and conversation. Our server wasn't super attentive but luckily the food runners were happy to refill our waters and beers.

Everything was wonderful! Caesar salad is gorgeous, mushroom pizza is unbelievable and the cheese pizza was delicious. Food was very timely, staff professional.

This place is awesome! Killer beer, great food, dope ambience, friendly staff! We brought the whole family here, but would be great as a date night too. Can not wait to go back!

Stopped by the bottle shop on a Sunday a little before they were actually open, but the GM gladly invited me into the restaurant and let me try several beers on tap so that I could figure out what I liked. She was very friendly and knowledgeable without being even a little pretentious. Such great service! (Oh, and the Infinite Darkness, which is an Imperial stout, was so so delicious.)

It's the a-frames for me. Lovely staff. All of the food we had was phenomenal and the setting was cozy and pure perfection. We had cider and wine which we enjoyed as well. Overall, stumbling upon this gem was a highlight of our weekend in Oxford.

Oxbow Beer Garden is the nicest beer garden I've ever been to for a couple of reasons - 1) there's and actual garden; 2) amazing wood fired pizzas with the best crust; 3) awesome sour beers; and 4) did I mention there's an actual garden? Highly recommend the nduja pizza and all the salads. Great sour beers!