Cushnoc Brewing Co

Beer and Wood Fired Pizza 

Growing up in Gardiner, it was a special treat when we would go up to Augusta for an afternoon of shopping and lunch. My siblings and I would get so excited to go to the department store that had an elevator, the D.W. Adams Building. Not a push button elevator, rather a white gloved uniformed attendant manually operated the elevator by regulating the speed of the car and timing of the door openings. We were in awe each time we stepped into the elevator. Our hearts would beat a little faster when the attendant closed the gate and the elevator lurched into motion. After the shopping was done, there were only a few places to catch a bite to eat, mostly sandwich shops and of course the sandwich counter at Woolworth's which was the original five and dime store. For finer dining you left Water Street, headed toward the Capital building, and looked for the orange roof of Howard Johnsons. This was the 70’s.  

Today’s downtown Augusta has so many choices to dine. After a recent photo shoot, my photographer and I  were looking for a place to eat. Since we were in Augusta for my new listing, an 1860’s cape, we asked the seller for recommendations. We landed at Cushnoc Brewing Co., located in a 1932 Moderne-style building across the river from Fort Western. Cushnoc is an Indian name meaning “head of tide” which is what the location of Fort Western was first named. 

Opened in 2018, Cushnoc Brewing Co. offers 2 venues. The part of the restaurant facing Water Street is a family friendly restaurant serving snacks and wood fired, thin crust pizza.  The Tasting Room looks out onto the Kennebec River. It offers a selection of IPA’s, Porter’s, Stouts, and Fruit Ales, all served at a community table. With all of these libation offerings it felt wrong to opt for a glass of Malbec. Kind of like ordering spaghetti and meatballs at a seafood place. My friend, however, ordered the Tart Au Chocolate, a triple berry fruited sour containing flavors of chocolate, dark sugar, maple and tart, jammy fruit into one delicious dessert beer. And yes, it’s ok to have your dessert before the meal. 

Spicy nuts and chipotle flavored popcorn were some of the appetizers on the afternoon’s menu. Of course we had to try both. The names of the pizza offerings reflected Augusta landmarks like the Cony High, Capital City, and of course Fort Western, which was sauteed mushrooms, crispy pancetta, fresh arugula, herbed white sauce and mozzarella. 

We went with “The Diner Closes at 2pm.”  Thinly sliced Yukon gold potatoes, applewood smoked bacon, aged cheddar cheese, scallions, smoked ricotta cream sauce, and maple syrup drizzle topped with 2 perfectly cooked eggs. Oh yes we did. And like the thrill of the elevator ride from yesteryear, our hearts beat a little faster when the waiter delivered this ring of flaky thin crust mounded with tantalizing morsels… Oh, and did I mention the maple syrup drizzle? 

I’ll definitely go back. Next trip I’m trying the Capital City.