The Great Lost Bear

The Great Lost BearThe Great Lost Bear
The Great Lost BearThe Great Lost Bear
Bar, Eatery

540 Forest Ave
Portland, Maine, 04101-1507
United States

(207) 772-0300 | map
greatlostbear.com
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.26
Reviews:
112
Ratings:
194
pDev:
7.98%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by dougnboston:
Photo of dougnboston
Reviewed by dougnboston from Massachusetts

4.58/5  rDev +7.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
I had their Wings with a Greek Salad. Both very fresh. The Salad was big and with wing platter was piled high!

Beers. I had Geary's Winter, Gearys Anniversary (cask) and a wonderful Sheepscot Boothbay Bitter (cask). All fresh, clean and very tasty.

The bar is easy to find. Lots of parking on street or in their parking lot. Big bar with very good service. The selection is large. Look for their specials, they are priced to move. This week was a Long Trail Hibernator for $2.50 a pint.

Their mix of taps change weekly. Most are Maine brewers and several other New England brewers are mixed in along with a scattered few from the rest of the US or world. They have a nice sampler tray of glasses.

I'll be back. This is a very, very good beer bar with a menu of fresh good food.
Mar 26, 2006
More User Ratings:
Photo of Greymane
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
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, 2023
 
Rated: 4.11 by cratez from Canada (ON)

Sep 12, 2023
 
Rated: 4.55 by A_Rad from Wisconsin

Aug 09, 2019
 
Rated: 4.01 by Rifugium from North Dakota

Jun 14, 2019
 
Rated: 4.44 by stonytokes from Maine

Feb 11, 2019
 
Rated: 4.43 by ManBearPat from Colorado

Nov 21, 2018
Photo of PhineasMcClintock
Reviewed 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
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, 2018
 
Rated: 4.46 by littlestevie14 from Massachusetts

Jul 06, 2017
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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
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, 2017
 
Rated: 4.73 by khoff5 from Connecticut

May 16, 2017
 
Rated: 4.5 by StoutLover14 from Illinois

Dec 12, 2016
 
Rated: 4.2 by dwoolley1 from New York

Oct 28, 2016
 
Rated: 4.03 by Gkruszewski from New York

Sep 18, 2016
Photo of mynie
Reviewed by mynie from Maryland

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, 2016
 
Rated: 4.38 by grahuba from Connecticut

Jul 28, 2016
 
Rated: 4.34 by gr8fulbeerhead from California

Jul 23, 2016
 
Rated: 4.06 by 7irondave from Massachusetts

Jul 15, 2016
 
Rated: 4.49 by CayseyW from Connecticut

Jul 01, 2016
Photo of Sound_Explorer
Reviewed by Sound_Explorer from Washington

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, 2016
 
Rated: 4.39 by HeartofMiami from Florida

May 22, 2016
Photo of Oldportwine
Reviewed by Oldportwine from Maine

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, 2016
Photo of SandyMeats
Reviewed by SandyMeats from Maine

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, 2016
Photo of Usaexercise7
Rated by Usaexercise7 from Maine

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, 2016
 
Rated: 4.38 by NYR-Zuuuuc from Connecticut

Apr 11, 2016
Photo of scxcrunner
Reviewed by scxcrunner from Massachusetts

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, 2016
 
Rated: 4.21 by SpAiReArGsEonNE from New Jersey

Dec 16, 2015
Photo of BillRoth
Reviewed by BillRoth from Maryland

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, 2015
 
Rated: 4.38 by DrStiffington from New Jersey

Nov 08, 2015
 
Rated: 4.16 by JaredSammy from New York

Sep 17, 2015
Photo of hoppymcgee
Reviewed by hoppymcgee from Maine

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, 2015
 
Rated: 4.48 by snansel from Missouri

Aug 04, 2015
 
Rated: 4.48 by rjp217 from Massachusetts

Jul 01, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by MRVermont from New Hampshire

Jun 07, 2015
 
Rated: 3.96 by ChrisinRI from Rhode Island

May 12, 2015
 
Rated: 4.11 by psweendogg from Connecticut

May 11, 2015
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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
Nice bar, nice beer selection with awesome ME offerings, solid food options and a great vibe.
Apr 22, 2015
 
Rated: 3.98 by SveNss0N from Massachusetts

Apr 15, 2015
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Rated by OJT1993 from Maine

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, 2015
Photo of Wickedasitseems
Rated by Wickedasitseems from Maine

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