USA, ME: Rail Yard Brewing to launch in former Bissell Brothers location in Milo

John Riitano and Tracy Bonney-Corson have taken over the former Bissell Brothers location in Milo where they plan to launch Rail Yard Brewing and the Rusty Rail restaurant, Portland Food Map reported on October 9.

Corson has extensive experience in the healthcare field and will be leading operations. Riitano is the brewer and co-owner of Two Knights Brewing in Sangerville and will head-up brewing at Rail Yard as well. They hope to launch the business by the end of year.

They shared this vision in a post on Facebook,

The railroad industry played a significant role in connecting the great state of Maine and its lumber industry to the rest of America. Rail Yard Brewing and the Rusty Rail tap room will do the same for the breweries, wineries, and distilleries of Central and Northern Maine. Highlighting some of the best beverages from the Maine Highlands and beyond. Join us in the tap room for a true taste of Maine.

The tap list is expected to include their own beer, a tap for Two Knights as well as beer and cider from other producers in rural Maine like Turning Page Farm in Monson, Stone Tree Farm in Unity, Knife Edge in Millinocket, and Gordon’s Grog in St Albans. In a nod to the space’s previous occupant there will also be a tap for Bissell Brothers beer. Riitano shared that he’s looking forward to using the larger 10-barrel system and hopes to use the Milo brewery to experiment with new techniques like coolship open fermentation. His goal is to add a canning line in the next year or two and eventually branch out to producing beverages like cider and gluten-free beer. The larger Milo system will also expand production capacity for Two Knights through a contract brewing relationship.