-
Stop lurking! Log in to search, post in our forums, review beers, see fewer ads, and more. — Todd, Founder of BeerAdvocate
The Great Lost Bear
540 Forest Ave
Portland, Maine, 04101-1507
United States
(207) 772-0300 | map
greatlostbear.com
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by NEhophead:
Reviewed by NEhophead from Massachusetts
3.55/5 rDev -16.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5
3.55/5 rDev -16.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5
Stopped in for lunch on our way through Portland on 07.27.07. The restaurant is seperated into many rooms as you walk in through the main entrance. Decor is of old beer memorabilia and antlers. The beer menu boasts approximately 50 taps with three casks; of mostly Maine crafts along with a large selection of other New England offerings including: Allagash, Sebago, Gritty's, Geary's, Shipyard, Bar Harbor, Sheepscot, Smuttynose, etc. Other national crafts included: DFH, Rogue, etc. Despite a reasonable selection, the best offering by far was Smutty's Big A IPA (which is a tasty brew, but far from being a "star" in a bar loaded with the amount of taps that the Bear has). Service was slow at best, and the waitress was forgetful with the beer orders. Food was what you expect for lunch at a pub, but nothing spectacular. A good place to stop in while you're in Maine, especially to sample some Maine crafts that you could not otherwise get out of the state, but not a destination in and of itself.
Jul 30, 2007More User Ratings:
Reviewed by Greymane from France
4.25/5 rDev -0.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.25 | service: 3.75 | selection: 4.75 | food: 4.5
4.25/5 rDev -0.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.25 | service: 3.75 | selection: 4.75 | food: 4.5
46 taps of mostly IPAs and Maine brews! It doesn't look like much from outside, but it is a great pub and dining spot for the whole family. My old boss always took her family there when they were in Old Orchard Beach. Burgers are the best, but also a huge vegetarian selection on the menu.
Nov 08, 2023Reviewed by PhineasMcClintock from Massachusetts
4.41/5 rDev +3.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.25 | food: 4.25
4.41/5 rDev +3.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.25 | food: 4.25
Visited here from Boston for the first time last week.
Awesome beer-centric atmosphere and decorations, further evidenced by their huge and heavily local-based taplist.
Bartender was very knowledgeable and happy to share a few samples and chat about beer when time provided. I admired his duty and affinity for and towards his customers.
Food was good. I had the hot chicken sandwich. Not a fan of the sliced mini-potato "fries", but that could just be me.
Overall, an awesome visit to a place that was on my list to hit when I visited Portland. Will definitely hit here again.
Jul 09, 2018Awesome beer-centric atmosphere and decorations, further evidenced by their huge and heavily local-based taplist.
Bartender was very knowledgeable and happy to share a few samples and chat about beer when time provided. I admired his duty and affinity for and towards his customers.
Food was good. I had the hot chicken sandwich. Not a fan of the sliced mini-potato "fries", but that could just be me.
Overall, an awesome visit to a place that was on my list to hit when I visited Portland. Will definitely hit here again.
Reviewed by Lone_Freighter from Vermont
4.03/5 rDev -5.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.75 | selection: 4.25 | food: 4.25
4.03/5 rDev -5.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.75 | selection: 4.25 | food: 4.25
Somewhat of a place where it all started for me. Some may have called it my "descent," but I called it the place where I took my "red pill" to delve further into the world of beer. Everything I've been in there, always a clean bar. Parking may be crappy, but food was always good to fantastic. Service can be iffy at certain times of the day. Close to 70 taps of beer - mostly New England breweries, but Dogfish Head, Victory, Ommegang, Flying Dog were some of the other breweries that showed their faces for beers to be found there. It's just down the street from RSVP and further back from Bier Cellar. It's worth a stop if you're in the area.
Jun 26, 2017Reviewed by mynie from Maryland
4.5/5 rDev +5.6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5
4.5/5 rDev +5.6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5
A big, homey restaurant with a great deal of character. If you're not looking directly at the bar or a beer menu, it would be easy to think this was just a large, New England-style family restaurant.
The decor is woody and softly lit, with a good amount of beer swag and some kitchy/rustic bear-related decorations. It felt like the last major renovation happened sometime between the early 1960s and mid 1980s. This, to me, is a good thing, as it goes against the pretentious, prefab homogeneity of seemingly every beer bar that's been opened this decade (you notice how EVERY place looks like an ikea set piece?)
The staff is large is attentive. Meaning, there's lot of staff members (they weren't particularly big). Again, I like this. Restaurants have been cutting down on staff nationwide in an attempt to cut costs, and that leads to crappy dining experience. GLB don't mess with that.
The beer selection was fantastic. Second best in the city, after Novare Res. They have a heavier focus on American beers than Res, however, meaning they're more likely to get in rare stuff from US brewers, wheras Res gets in Cantillion and whatfor. The Bear also does semi-tap takeovers every Thursday, which they call "Microbrew" showcases.
Their website beer list is updated pretty regularly, but it's not perfect. Printed lists are done up daily.
Overall, a venerable institution that's basically a must-stop if you're in Portland.
Aug 28, 2016The decor is woody and softly lit, with a good amount of beer swag and some kitchy/rustic bear-related decorations. It felt like the last major renovation happened sometime between the early 1960s and mid 1980s. This, to me, is a good thing, as it goes against the pretentious, prefab homogeneity of seemingly every beer bar that's been opened this decade (you notice how EVERY place looks like an ikea set piece?)
The staff is large is attentive. Meaning, there's lot of staff members (they weren't particularly big). Again, I like this. Restaurants have been cutting down on staff nationwide in an attempt to cut costs, and that leads to crappy dining experience. GLB don't mess with that.
The beer selection was fantastic. Second best in the city, after Novare Res. They have a heavier focus on American beers than Res, however, meaning they're more likely to get in rare stuff from US brewers, wheras Res gets in Cantillion and whatfor. The Bear also does semi-tap takeovers every Thursday, which they call "Microbrew" showcases.
Their website beer list is updated pretty regularly, but it's not perfect. Printed lists are done up daily.
Overall, a venerable institution that's basically a must-stop if you're in Portland.
Reviewed by Sound_Explorer from Washington
4.18/5 rDev -1.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
4.18/5 rDev -1.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
my first stop on a sweeping New England tour this really hit the spot after a long travel day. Cool to see all the Maine offerings and some national brands. Good vibe and food too. Really set the bar nicely for my trip.
May 25, 2016Reviewed by Oldportwine from Maine
4.43/5 rDev +4%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 3.5
4.43/5 rDev +4%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 3.5
One of the original Portland Beer Bars. Extensive selection of craft beers, number aprox. 80 on tap. Proffessional and knowledgable staff in a very busy environment. A seemingly endless food menu covers all realms of bar food. Always a good spot to find new craft beers.
May 12, 2016Reviewed by SandyMeats from Maine
4.63/5 rDev +8.7%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4
4.63/5 rDev +8.7%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4
Love this place. My favorite vibe in town. Colorful, neighborhood and non of the pretense of some other big beer spots. Still attracts tourists and people from all over without getting watered down. Selection is just crazy and changes. Wings are the best in town. I've had a bunch of the menu and would go for a slab and crab or a one eye bacon cheeseburger right now. Place has been around for about 35 years and I hope it's around for another 35.
May 12, 2016Rated by Usaexercise7 from Maine
4.88/5 rDev +14.6%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.75 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5
4.88/5 rDev +14.6%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.75 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5
Tons of beer! Been here many many times. Stuart is an awesome waiter!
May 12, 2016Reviewed by scxcrunner from Massachusetts
4.01/5 rDev -5.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.75 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3.5
4.01/5 rDev -5.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.75 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3.5
Great selection of beer including Allagash, Bissell, and Foundation. Service was a bit slow and disjointed and i wasn't really crazy about the food i had but would give it another shot just for the tap list.
Jan 24, 2016Reviewed by BillRoth from Maryland
4.38/5 rDev +2.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
4.38/5 rDev +2.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
Had been touring and tasting @ the Allagash/Industrial park breweries while on Beer Safari in Portland , Maine. Some locals said that I would probably like The Great Lost Bear if looking for supper and some more regional beers. Who was I to doubt?? And very glad I didn't. What a great place. Really cool fairly spacious semi-dark comfortable crowded restaurant with a huge big fun bar. Full bar with wine and cocktails moving regularly with a busy wait staff on a busy Saturday night. But this place was clearly beer centric with an excellent beer menu. Well constructed to guide choices by style, good descriptions...but mostly a heck of an exciting tease. Because the choices were extensive, varied and high quality. Flights were available. Staff were very friendly and cross covered each other to be sure you never lacked help or had an empty glass. Food wise menu was equally extensive with great choices ranging from a broad restaurant menu of appetizers, salads, soups, entrees, etc..to just great bar food. .Just a great place to eat. drink and have a bunch of conversations with staff (Mike) and others (Elena) at the bar. For me this would be a must stop if visiting Portland.
Nov 15, 2015Reviewed by hoppymcgee from Maine
3.91/5 rDev -8.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 2.75 | selection: 5 | food: 3.75
3.91/5 rDev -8.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 2.75 | selection: 5 | food: 3.75
V: Cool spot; dark and dim. Horseshoe-esque bar.
Q: Excellent beers on tap. Lengthy food options.
S: Not so great.
S: Can't beat their bear (haha) and food selection.
F: Standard.
Sep 03, 2015Q: Excellent beers on tap. Lengthy food options.
S: Not so great.
S: Can't beat their bear (haha) and food selection.
F: Standard.
Rated by Faxmesomehalibut from New Hampshire
4.24/5 rDev -0.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
4.24/5 rDev -0.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
Nice bar, nice beer selection with awesome ME offerings, solid food options and a great vibe.
Apr 22, 2015Rated by OJT1993 from Maine
5/5 rDev +17.4%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 5
5/5 rDev +17.4%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 5
Great food, great beer selection, all around a great place
Feb 03, 2015Rated by Wickedasitseems from Maine
4.41/5 rDev +3.5%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.75 | food: 4.5
4.41/5 rDev +3.5%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.75 | food: 4.5
Great place to hang out and have a beer....good food too!!
Jan 22, 2015
The Great Lost Bear in Portland, ME
Place rating:
4.26 out of
5 with
194 ratings
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the place's attributes plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!