Sometimes, hidden gems remain hidden for a reason. Those in-the-know may jealously limit access to outsiders; other times, it’s simply because surprises can blossom in the most unexpected places. When it comes to craft beer, our hidden gems tend to be places like old-school beer bars or hyper-local destinations that remain off the radar of tourists. But occasionally, entire subcultures have been built in the most unlikely of places—and that’s what we decided to spotlight in our newest series, Gas Station Week.

Gas Station Week is a celebration of the unconventional and a look into the roadside stands, convenience stores, and yes, gas stations that have influenced entire communities of beer lovers across the country. Kicking off our Gas Station Week series is the story that inspired it all. In his piece titled “The Gas Station That Changed Everything — Swett’s Tire & Auto in Bangor, Maine,” writer Nic Stevens describes how 30 years ago, craft beer wasn’t just a novelty in Central Maine. It was nonexistent—that is, until one discerning entrepreneur saw its potential. Eventually, the beer shelves at Swett’s Tire & Auto, a gas station strategically located on the Interstate 95 corridor, directly spawned a brewery, a beer bar, and helped develop a tight-knit homebrew scene and number of independent breweries, all with deep ties to the local community. 

Nic stumbled across the story, literally. In today’s conversation, he describes his unorthodox approach to uncovering stories such as this by hopping on public transportation and relying on the kindness of strangers to take him in as he explores the United States in search of the next great hidden gem. Since folks in Maine aren’t typically known for embracing outsiders—that is, anyone from outside of Maine—Nic says telling this particular tale wouldn’t have been possible through conventional journalistic methods. We’ll discuss his approach, as well as his discoveries that didn’t make it into the final draft and why he thinks this story couldn’t have happened anywhere else.