James Squire Brewhouse at the Portland Hotel

4/21/2008 7:28:30 PM, monday, april 21, 2008 [ Updated monday, june 30, 2008 ]
...more a business than a brewpub. The bartender said they don’t really even brew the beer there that they serve, and that is bullshit. This is not a brewhouse, it’s just a place to buy overpriced James Squire beers on tap. High food prices, and for what you get, it is a rip off. Not that big of a selection of beer, and even less in food. There are much better places in Melbourne.

4/5/2008 8:37:05 PM, saturday, april 05, 2008
Kinda like a thousand other modern pubs around the traps but at least the beer is decent. Seasons run at $4.80 for a pot. Well presented pub food and mains are priced around $17 - $23. A classic ’cross-over’ option if hanging out with a non-beer geek crowd.

3/25/2008 3:45:58 PM, tuesday, march 25, 2008
On fist regard a nice place but during regular visits over 3 months there were to many poducts constantly sold out

7/19/2007 8:28:05 AM, thursday, july 19, 2007 [ Updated thursday, july 19, 2007 ]
Right in the CBD, nice place with all the squire beers, as well as the house brewed efforts. Have not eaten there, the food looks a bit pricy really. Staff seem friendly. Overall you could find worse places to drink good beer in the city. Nice looking brewery in the window too

6/18/2007 6:05:12 PM, monday, june 18, 2007
Nice place, only had 6 brew on tap : Amber, golden, pilsner, IPA, Highwayman and Porter. We came in a rush, an office was throwing a party so we had troubles getting served. Only two staff were there but it is not their fault. Place was nice, a real pub! NA for Food, since I did not eat there.

1/9/2007 11:19:58 PM, tuesday, january 09, 2007
Great starting location, or a place to get wasted!!!! Crowd varies as the night progresses, and beer is always great!!

7/26/2006 1:27:54 AM, wednesday, july 26, 2006 [ Updated wednesday, july 26, 2006 ]
A regular place to visit when I go to the Bleak City. This is a much friendlier version than the Sydney brother, that cavernous place on the harbour. There is a changeable selection of beers with the usual ones that are found in the JS bottle range plus a number of those only able t be supped on premise. Sometimes I think the service is a little slow and unimpressive, forgiveable when there is a crowd but not so during quieter times. Also the knowledge of their beers is often a bit on the ’Duuh, I dunno’ side. Apart from this it is a good place for a beer, to watch (the best) footy on TV and to have a meal. I have eaten at both the bar and in the restaurant and the food rates well, plentiful and good pub fare with a touch of extra finesse.

6/13/2006 3:33:47 AM, tuesday, june 13, 2006
Well worth a visit for out-of-towners, especially if the Speculator is on tap. Good central location. It has some genuine pub atmosphere (as opposed to sterile CBD anonymity), beers on tap that you can’t buy in bottles and pretty good pub grub.

10/24/2005 7:04:22 AM, monday, october 24, 2005
For a night out, this is great, the beer is great (as long as you like squires style) and the venue has great character.

8/7/2005 2:36:57 PM, sunday, august 07, 2005
As Australian microbrews are generally not extremely hoppy this is the place to go in Melbourne if you want hops. Typical pub atmosphere, and service is (not surprisingly for Melbourne) very friendly.