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| Hilltop Boilers in Newfield is family owned and operated and provides exceptional maple products and a sugarhouse not to be missed in Maine. SUBMITTED PHOTO |
“When we were teenagers, we started tapping trees along the roadside,” said Michael Bryant, one of the co-owners of Hilltop Boilers along with his brother Mark Bryant and their wives. “Neither of us had a license to drive but we pushed a hand dolly up and down the road with a little sap tank on it. We built our first sugarhouse in high school and added on to it in the late 1990s. In 2017, we flattened that sugarhouse and built a new modern one. Since we moved into that building, we have grown unbelievably and aren't sure what we are going to do next. Our sales tripled in 2023 from what they were the year before COVID. We desperately need a bigger sugarhouse and more space.”
It’s truly a family business as Michael and Mark’s brother, Matthew, also works a lot of hours for Hilltop Boilers. Michael's wife Jen works full-time for the business and Bryant kids, John (17), and twins Thomas and Julia (14) work as much as they can outside of school for them.
“We are a sugarhouse that provides our customers with all things maple. We have a retail store that has been voted ‘Best of the 207’ for two years in a row. It is unlike any farm store you will find in Maine with high end cabinetry, a model train, heating and air conditioning, high ceilings, and awesome décor,” Michael Bryant said. “We see tens of thousands of visitors through our store each year. We also deliver syrup to restaurants in southern Maine, some well-known ones too. Places like Becky’s and the Miss Portland Diner get regular deliveries. We work with Goodwill stores and have maple booths in all of their southern Maine stores giving them a large share of the profits. We also deliver to many other retail and convenience stores such as the Rusty Lantern Market stores. We collaborate with many companies, such as the Maine Needham Company, Box of Maine, The Scone Goddess, and Coastal Maine Popcorn, to supply them with maple products as an ingredient for their products. We have a large online presence and ship maple products all over the United States with California, Florida, and Texas being our three largest states we ship to, outside of Maine.”
What sets Hilltop Boilers apart from other Maine maple producers is its year-round presence, highly competitive prices and an amazing sugarhouse store.
“Until you have been there, it's just really hard to imagine how nice it is,” Bryant said. “The atmosphere and building are just beautiful. The scent of maple in the air, the cows in the pasture, it leaves you begging for more. Everyone cares and will work hard to see that you have a positive experience.”
Online reviews are fantastic.
“Quality and service are absolutely the best!!!” Dyanne Brewster
“Wonderful setting, friendly folks, delicious products. Don't leave without some syrup, whoopie pies and maple mustard. You'll see why they are award winners!” Bev Giddens
“Everything they do is done 'just right' with a personal touch. High quality products created by a high-quality Maine family. I highly recommend Hilltop Boilers!” Nancy Marshall
The First Maple Event Day will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 16, with hours on Maine Maple Weekend from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 23 and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, March 24. Another Maple Weekend will be offered from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 30. Plenty of quiet store days for those who just want to browse and shop in the Maple Store are generally from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays and noon to 3 p.m. Sundays, with the exception of Maine Maple Weekend and on Easter.
To learn more about Hilltop Boilers Maple Syrup, visit https://hilltopboilersmaplesyrup.com/ or call 207-793-8850. Find them on Facebook under Hilltop Boilers Maple Syrup. <
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