Latest reviews from Portland
| 82 /100 Great Lost Bear (Bar) 540 FOREST AVE “Rustic hunting lodge vibe with lots of kitschy memorabilia on the walls. Service was great, food was tasty and the selection was excellent with 80 taps.“ |
| 82 /100 Bier Cellar (Beer Store) 299 FOREST AVE “Open, convenience store vibe with high ceilings. Beer is separated by international, Maine and the rest of the USA. Fantastic selection of Maine beer. Helpful, if bored, staff service. Very good overall.“ |
| 100 /100 Novare Res Bier Café (Bar) 4 CANAL PLAZA “I've been to a shit ton of craft. Eer establishments over the past couple of decades, and I honestly think this place is the best of the bunch. Eclectic tap list, and an even more expansive bottle selection. Mostly geared toward European styles; I don't even believe they have a hazy IPA or pastry stout. Limited, thoughtful food menu with build your own cheese and charcuterie boards. The decor is cozy and underground, but there is also an above ground terrace that I imagine is nice in the summer. I haven't posted in a long time, and this place moved me to the point where I logged in to review it.“ |
| 96 /100 Mash TUN (Bar) 29 WHARF STREET “This bar restaurant serves wine, booze and has about 20 well curated taps of mostly local craft brews. The pub grub food's good. It's also a good place to cap an evening after a meal at one of the numerous nearby restaurants. It can get crowded.“ |
| 50 /100 148 ANDERSON ST, “Called by on a Sunday evening. Expected a small cider bar, but it's in a grand-looking modern production building by itself, with large glass front and outside seating / benches on what I assume was a car park at one point. Most are sat inside. Production area is out of view behind the bar. Overall feel judging by the clientele and decor is of a girly hang-out, with the lions share of the tap list given to their hard seltzers and cocktails. Only three of their ciders on tap with a couple of local beers. Stayed to appease my other half who was tiring of brewpub taprooms, but as it was quiz night we left soon after.“ |
| 90 /100 100 INDUSTRIAL WAY “Location is a few miles outside downtown Portland so we had to call in on our way out of town, and for a Monday morning at 11am there were a good number of people arriving, including what looked like a beer tour group! Like others have pointed out, all seating is effectively outside, directly in front of the brewery, under a canopy with an outside bar. Good range of core, new releases, wild and a couple of their limited edition 'From Maine With Love' beers. Plus their own cider! Guy at the bar was helpful, friendly and happy to pour some tasters.
Inside is the merch / take-out beer shop with a full range of their stuff, including a lot of wild beer. Only single beer I could get was a tall can of White, otherwise it's 4-packs only. Food truck was outside serving lobster rolls and burgers. Nice down to earth indie feel about the place, despite its size. As you'll probably know there are four other breweries literally right opposite so you can make a nice session out of it, which even at 11am on a Monday some people were settling in for.“ |
| 76 /100 1 INDUSTRIAL WAY “Called in when visiting Allagash on a Monday lunchtime. Wanted to pick up a couple of cans from Definitive next door, but they only sell 4-packs (like most places) but these guys did sell individual cans. As expected it was quiet (I was the only person there) but it's a decent set-up. Bar on entry, handful of tables with most of the tables directly out front. A range of styles on offer, but as I'm in New England I went for their flagship hazy DIPA and an IPA, both of which were decent. Worth a look.“ |
| 70 /100 396 FORE STREET “Irish pub theme. Lots of local memorabilia on the walls. Full bar, with a decent selection of bespoke brews. Food was plentiful and decent.“ |
| 80 /100 103 FOX ST “2022 New England Beer Tour, Stop 7 of 12, Oct. 14, evening. Our most successful die roll of the trip, as we looked over possibilities in Portland’s East Bayside for an after-dinner stop and found Rising Tide among the half-dozen or so in the light-industrial/apartment-intense neighborhood. Very amusing and helpful beertenders guided us through the dozen on-tap choices (four 4-oz pours for $12 – love the flights!) that demonstrated several styles. All beers very solid. Big indoor seating area (divisible into two sections to allow for a large private party while regular brewery operations continued) and larger covered outdoor seating area accessible via large, glass overhead doors. We probably had too much fun watching folks walk into one of the unisex bathrooms then sprinting to the other once noticing the shoes under the stall walls didn't match theirs. Nice T shirts and hats in their merchandise area. Noteworthy conversation with a solo drinker about his upcoming journey to Saudi Arabia to marry a woman whose father promised to find him a job so they could settle down there.“ |
| 84 /100 100 INDUSTRIAL WAY “2022 New England Beer Tour, Stop 6 of 12, Oct. 14, mid-afternoon. Maybe the most fun stop because nearly all of Allagash’s seating is outside under open-sided tents and wooden patio structures – and it was absolutely pouring rain most of the day. Does anyone work around here? Perhaps they all ducked out early because it was jammed in the middle of a Friday afternoon (parking lot in their industrial park location was quite full and we parked on an adjoining street). Many folks brought friendly dogs who were also dodging the raindrops. We went from table to increasingly drier table as we tried a wide range of Allagash’s Belgian-inspired offerings. Finally spent the most time at a table that was under a heater, too. They had 12 taps that offered just about as many styles. No flights but full- and half-sized pours were available. Beertenders kept the lines moving. Fair-sized merchandise shop and the largest (by far) unisex bathroom I’ve ever seen. Great stop.“ |
| 70 /100 396 FORE STREET “2022 New England Beer Tour, Stop 5 of 12, Oct. 13, dinner. One of those dice-roll additions to the journey, as we were looking more for a restaurant than a place for another beer. Located a block off the Portland Harbor wharf, we walked by several other restaurants on our way from Liquid Riot. Food was very good (lobster rolls and lobster soft shell tacos), table service was very helpful and the one cask ale I tried was on target. There were 10 in-house beers on tap.“ |
| 62 /100 250 COMMERCIAL STREET “2022 New England Beer Tour, Stop 4 of 12, Oct. 13, late afternoon. Quickest, least complete visit of the trip – but the stop didn’t seem worth much more. Along the Portland Harbor wharf, a busy place with many trendy shops, restaurants, breweries and bars. Parking is a challenge but hey, that goes with the neighborhood. Interior is dark with a clever tap system that looks to be built of surplus plumbing parts. Online menu isn’t particularly clear. Waitstaff was indifferent, but maybe just overworked like many other places we visited. We probably should have sat at the bar. Beers were OK. Took a while to pay for them. First brewery we visited that didn’t live up to its 90+ RateBeer rating.“ |
| 82 /100 4 THOMPSONS POINT #108 “Great brewery, with a deserved reputation. Taproom is huge! Service is at bar, one drink at a time, half pours available as well as small (generous) free tasters. Beers are solid, mainly IPA declinations (NEIPA, West Coast) as well as pales and one pils. Food menu looked good, with burgers. Parking is plentyful but you must pay 2$ an hour. Would come back.“ |
| 86 /100 1 INDUSTRIAL WAY “Patio and parking in back of building. 11 beers on tap. Couple bartenders that are prompt. Place closes at 8 pm on Friday. Shirt hats and beers to go. Motown on radio. Nice people here. Located in walking distance of four breweries. Dim lighting. Nice place. Cheers!“ |
| 86 /100 35 INDUSTRIAL WAY “Medium sized brewery within a brewery complex area. Cashier was awesome. 16 beers on tap with seltzers also. Bright lights and rock music on the radio. Beer and souvenirs shirts and hats to go. Place full inside and some people in the patio, under a tent. I like the place. Cheers!“ |
| 80 /100 200 ANDERSON ST. - BAY 4 “Right next to Belleflower. Hoppy looking joint with vines on walls. No AC inside and felt like a swamp in this crazy heat. Friendly staff but fairly unknowledgabek. This was my request since chasing gruit ticks. They have gruit, sours, meads, ciders and kombucha. Nothing remarkable but nice way to mix up a day of beer drinking.“ |
| 78 /100 115 FOX ST “2nd stop of day. This area gets nice cross breeze and was coolest patio of the day. Got some lovely ceviche from a food truck there. It’s right next to a Lone Pine location we didn’t stop at. More variety in styles but not by much. APA was decent enough. Decent vibe.“ |
| 78 /100 66 COVE STREET “Next stop if day. Little better patio with umbrellas but still not greatest. Very tasty taco truck was there. AC tap room with free water station that was needed. Friendly stafff. Like 11/12 taps were neipa which was annoying but they do them well here.“ |
| 74 /100 66 COVE STREET “Smallish place. A handful of very sunny picnic tables in the parking lot, not an impressive space. Inside has picnic tables and restaurant tables and a small serving bar with the brewhouse visible behind. Tasty beers, not a big selection but they're mostly all good. Food truck.“ |
| 66 /100 115 FOX ST “Huge place next door to Rising Tide. Small parking lot plus street parking. Outdoor covered picnic tables with a nice breeze the day we visited. Taproom is large. Six or so beers on tap, mostly hazies. Food truck had sushi that day. Beers ere just OK, maybe better if you like hazies.“ |
| 66 /100 Luke's Lobster Portland (Restaurant) 60 PORTLAND PIER “Restaurant at Pier, decent marina view with marine vibe. Service was OK, nothing special. Food was very good. The craft beer list was not super long but had decent local selection for everyone. If looking for lobster roll with pint of good local beer this is the spot.“ |
| 70 /100 86 NEWBURY STREET “In old warehouse converted into brewery. Large , spacious with neat gift shop. Almost 20 beers on tap some are one offs. Selection might be good but quality of sampled beers were just average. Attentive service was polite but nothing more. Good stop when in old town.“ |
| 76 /100 The King’s Head (Bar) 254 COMMERCIAL ST “Small place, open long after the brewpubs had shut down; about 32 taps, decent selection, didn’t try the food; no flight but samples can be had“ |
| 90 /100 Bier Cellar (Beer Store) 299 FOREST AVE “Near and tidy shop, singles available. Good service. Seems to be organized by brewery. Wine and mead available too. Very large selection represents a great picture of the Maine brew scene.“ |
| 80 /100 The Thirsty Pig (Restaurant) 37 EXCHANGE ST “There's nothing better for me than fresh sausages. Sausages and local craft beer. So many options. I also suggest getting a side of baked beans. Superb. Really hit the spot. Good beer selection too. Great service. Indoor and outdoor seating options.“ |
| 80 /100 49 WASHINGTON AVE “A short uphill walk from the brewery cluster. Co-located with a distillery, a metering, and a fruit shack. Tap room is carved out of the production space, so you can overlook stacks and stacks of barrels that are on display. Long bar, laid back vibe, a bit dark. House flights available. Some outdoor seating options. Good service. No food ( from the brewery) but some killer salt & vinegar chips are available.“ |
| 76 /100 103 FOX ST “One of the larger facilities in this brewery cluster, pretty spacious outside seating area.. Bar and high tables inside. About 12 taps. Flights available. Good service. Food available, burgers and sandwiches.“ |
| 74 /100 115 FOX ST “First stop on my last day in Portland. Located right next to Rising Tide. A handful of other breweries are a short walk away. Looks like and old car dealership. Sleek, modern design. Concrete patio attached. Food truck on site. 8 taps, great service. No flights, but 8oz pours are available.“ |
| 90 /100 The King’s Head (Bar) 254 COMMERCIAL ST “Nice little pub right on one of the lobster wharves. Kind of English looking, features a nice big u- shaped bar, some low tables in another section. Outside brings sea air and fishy smells. Inside is great service and a varied selection of local beers. Spent an entire afternoon here. Comfy, cozy, friendly, good food.“ |
| 80 /100 250 COMMERCIAL STREET “Located right near the wharves on the waterfront. Pretty large facility that houses a distillery also, small deck out back. Very long bar overlooking the brewing area. Taplist covers a wide variety of styles. Great service“ |
| 78 /100 219 ANDERSON STREET “Last stop in this little brewery hub part of Portland. For a brand with national distro, this operation looks small. Tiny taproom and patio. Taplist is IPAs and stouts. Good service.“ |
| 76 /100 66 COVE STREET “Located in an old light industrial are with several other breweries, all within walking distance of each other. Outside seating is a fenced off area in the parking lot, smallish taproom. No flights, but half pours available. Good service. Taplist favors IPAs.“ |
| 74 /100 200 ANDERSON ST. - BAY 4 “Funky repurposed workshop space a shirt walk from Lone Pine. All kinds of spaces within and a small patio. Very interesting taplist of beer (a lot of fruits), cider, mead and kombucha. Flights available. Good service, beer mediocre at best.“ |
| 70 /100 219 ANDERSON STREET UNIT 6 “A little cluster of breweries in Portland, this one located behind Lone Pine. Small taproom and makeshift shaded patio in the parking area. Just a few taps on today. Converted industrial/ warehouse space. Lively vibe, even with a small crowd.“ |
| 80 /100 4 THOMPSONS POINT #108 “Large brewery and taproom. 2 story facility, small mezzanine overlooking the brewery, main floor is seating and merch, patio outside. One beer per trip to the bar. Multiple pour sizes available. No tasters.“ |
| 80 /100 Novare Res Bier Café (Bar) 4 CANAL PLAZA “Visited on a Sunday before Memorial Day, one of the few places still open. Inside is quiet, patio is packed. Good selection of Belgian taps intermingled with local craft. Great service. Very laid back vibe. Food available.“ |
| 76 /100 17 WESTFIELD ST UNIT D “I was beginning to think I was taken down a blind alley, dark and quiet. But there it was, all lit up and welcoming. Converted light industrial space, big garage doors, beer garden in the parking lot. Inside has a beer hall vibe, picnic tables. Low key but vibrant. Tasty beer, great service.“ |
| 76 /100 66 COVE STREET “Located along one of two major beer drags in Portland. This one is located in an old industrial district and has plenty of parking around the brewery. It was very busy on the Saturday in large part because of their robust lineup of hazy brews. It had a food truck in front, was relaxed about allowing dogs, and had a large outdoor seating area. It’s a good addition to the Portland beer scene.“ |
| 84 /100 100 INDUSTRIAL WAY “Another another whale slain! Whipped out here with Doug after work, 6PM closure makes things tough for those with, like, jobs and stuff. Particularly since they are in a little beer heaven with like 4 other breweries in walking distance. Doing hand stamps which seems a bit old school. Outdoor bar and seating area is covered, which was helpful given the Ida remnants falling all day. Half or full pours available, including some BA stuff and some draft only. I limited myself to a Rum BA golden ale, which was hella one dimensional, and Evora, which was an enjoyable new tick. Plenty of bottles and cans to go, including some cool ships and other BA beers. Here, I would return to, though I want to come with the time and tolerance to try the other breweries on the street. Like Foundation, FFS.“ |
| 68 /100 66 COVE STREET “Medium size space; modern decor; good beer“ |
| 66 /100 103 FOX ST “Large space with a large patio; modern garage decor; 12 beers on tap; pizza available; free WiFi; flights of 4 available“ |
| 64 /100 115 FOX ST “Large space, modern/garage decor, large patio space; no flights (seriously ?); 8 beers on tap; decent beer (although based on a limited sample I had)“ |
| 82 /100 82 HANOVER ST “Large space, eclectic decor; about 12 beers on tap; free WiFi, no flights; food range between $24 and $36 for an entree but is quite good; beer is $8 a pint but is quite good (half pints available for a slight discount)“ |
| 66 /100 82 HANOVER ST UNIT 6 “Large, bright space, industrial decor; patio, good WiFi, no food, flights of 4 available, beer is unexceptional“ |
| 88 /100 Novare Res Bier Café (Bar) 4 CANAL PLAZA “Nice outdoor seating area in a remarkably quiet corner of downtown Portland. Beer selection is absolutely world class. Staff were friendly and knowledgeable. Certainly worth a visit.“ |
| 82 /100 49 WASHINGTON AVE “Pleasant patio off the road tucked behind the building. Taplist was small but beers were of great quality. The Duckfat popup is a godsend after visiting all the local breweries. Huge selection of bottles to-go.“ |
| 76 /100 103 FOX ST “Huge outdoor seating area, much of it covered. Only place we visited in Portland doing flights during COVID. Beers were decent. Staff were very friendly.“ |
| 72 /100 115 FOX ST “Sleek modern taproom with a large outdoor space. One of the beers we had was awful, other was fine. Staff were nice. Decent.“ |
| 72 /100 200 ANDERSON ST. - BAY 4 “Fairly quirky looking place. Huge outdoor seating area in the car park under a big tent. Meads, ciders, jun, kombucha and beer all available. Outrageously, zero gruits available on my visit. Drinks we did have were decent.“ |
