The Liberal Cup Public House and Brewery introduced the town of Hallowell, Maine to the homey feel of an English style brew pub in 2000, and since then have developed a faithful clientele for good food, a comfortable atmosphere and everything beer.
Owner Geoff Houghton opened the Liberal Cup as a means to sell his microbrewed beer to customers and decided to also offer food “more as a catalyst to get people to come in and drink the beer,” Geoff joked. “Pretty soon, we became known for the food.” Designed after a traditional English pub, the interior is warm and cozy. “The word “pub” is short for a public house,” he explained. “Sort of your home away from home.”
A Place to Gather
Sometimes it’s not about food or beer, though. Geoff recalled his most memorable day in the restaurant business as being on Sept. 11, 2001. “Early in the day, they closed the state agencies. The Liberal Cup became a meeting spot. All day long we held vigil together… That was when we really became part of the community.”
In hand with the idea of a liberally filled cup (not to be confused with any political parties), The Liberal Cup offers generous food portions at an affordable price, and with the quality of the pub-style food, customers will want to take full advantage of those large plates. Start off the meal with a cup of their Beer Cheese Soup of the day, made from a different brew and a different cheese daily. But save room for the main course which includes a traditional Fish & Chips in two sizes, Drunken Pot Roast or Bangers & Mash. Geoff recommends that customers always check out the specials board, which lists Chef Kirk McLean’s latest and greatest creations. “We like to try to introduce people to different foods.” Desserts change daily, and pies are supplied from a woman in Whitefield, Maine. “She’s won awards for her pies in all the fairs,” Geoff said. “And she makes the most creative cheesecake.”
Quality Continues
Ultimately, Geoff and Kirk emphasize the need for consistency and quality of the food coming into the kitchen. “It’s all fresh, all the time,” Geoff said. “Turkeys are cooked whole … we figure if we’re going to make our own beer, we’re going to make our own food. It’s not going to be pre-processed.”
When Geoff got ready to open the Run of the Mill, his new brew pub in Saco, he asked Account Manager Mike Ponti to service that restaurant as well. After a six-year relationship with Mike, Geoff decided he didn’t want a different Account Manager. “Mike’s great. He knows where to source the product for us.” 
Run of the Mill opened in July on Saco Island, and has received a warm reception in the community. Constructed in a former mill building that was being redeveloped, the new restaurant was the first commercial business to open in the old mill. Although Geoff had been thinking about opening a second restaurant for some time, he didn’t take the leap until the space became available at the same time that he had the chance to buy another brewery. In either location, though, Geoff promises that your dining experience is not going to be run of the mill. “We’re totally out of the ordinary.”