Maine Brew Bar, where beer meets soap.

Crystal Kepler began her soap business a few summers ago in the kitchen of her Saco home. She wanted to find an activity that would allow her to bond with her daughter Emma, who is a vegan. Kepler knew that there weren’t many commercial soaps that had vegan options, so she decided to start her own business for her daughter. She started out small, making a few different beer soaps with essential oils, selling them at small craft fairs and other events. She would make the soap without her daughter, because of the lye, a burning ingredient. Once made, Emma would help wrap them. Now, she sells to the tourists by the piers in Portland, and has over 15 types of soaps.