Headed to Portland ME, where is the best beer scene?

Two Words...

Novare Res

Edit: There is another place called Allagash... ever heard of it?

 

http://beeradvocate.com/community/threads/visiting-portland-me-some-ideas.30751/#post-1362051

 

^^read the posted thread above. It has all that you are looking for for the most pt. Headed to VT>NH> maine via NY myself next month and that thread helped a LOT for portland area.

My only sticking point right now is whether we want to do Tues through Sat in Portland and take some day trips an hour or so north and south or stay in Portland Tues-Fri and haul up to Belfast Fri afternoon/night to eat/drink at Marshall wharf. Any opinions for the Mainers? Is the drive from Portland up to Belfast worth it on a Fri if we plan to head to north conway NH on Saturday or will our time be better spent just staying in portland another night (we are in town the week of July 22nd if that makes a difference in terms of events going on)

 

Go to Novare Res, you'll thank us later. Amazing place!

 

I'll third the suggestion to go to Novare Res.

 

Not sure what Friday you are thinking about traveling to Belfast, but I think that a night in this coastal town in the Summer is well worth the 2 hours North from Portland. We can offer you 17 + Marshall Wharf beers with fresh shellfish off our dock. Spend your time wisely in Portland earlier in the week and enjoy the myriad great offerings from breweries, brewpubs & beer bars. Do some expeditions from there as well, and then close out your Maine week by coming up the coast and visiting us.
Make sure you say hello when you visit.
Cheers,
David
Marshall Wharf Brewing Co
Three Tides Waterfront Bar

edit: just saw your date posted and it looks like you are here 7/24?

 

Just wanna say 3 Tides on a nice summer eve is quintessential Maine.

And if you really wanna get your arrogance on, arrange an early dinner at Primo in Rockland on your way up, bout 45 mins south of Belfast.

http://www.primorestaurant.com/

 

Hi David,

Yes, we will be in Maine 7/24. Our tentative plan in to stay at the Yankee Clipper Motel in Belfast on Fri 7/26. Marshall Wharf/3 Tides look amazing and that is why I booked a night there. I just want to be sure we are spending our limited time appropriately. The Yankee Clipper has great reviews but are there any taxi options in Belfast to and from there to MW? Any other places or things in and around Belfast you suggest?

 

Oxbow. Best brewery I have ever been to, it really is different than any other brewery I have ever been to.

 

Yea Novare Res is nice and all, but no one seems to give Mama's Crowbar any love. Sure it is cash only and small, but always has something awesome (IE: Oxbow) and it is down the street from one of the places to get Sausage - Colucci's.

 

Sorry to hand you this news but Colucci's had a fire and closed.

 

Nooooooooooo. I lived in Munjoy HIll for a few years and loved that place. How sad.

 

Go Portland-Newcastle (Oxbow)-Belfast, then come back the next night. I've done it before, it's worth it. It's a great trip.

You can very reasonably hit the 11 AM tour at Allagash, grab lunch nearby and head for Oxbow (ask someone who knows the midcoast for suggestions to avoid traffic in Wiscasset), spend some time at Oxbow mid-afternoon, then trek to Belfast and have dinner at 3 Tides.

 

No love for Great Lost Bear? Catch a Seadogs game, great take, good beer. You can't go wrong in Maine. Also Maine Beer Co is in Freeport now, check them out. They along with most other brewers (rising tide, blue lobster - if you pass through Hampton, nh) will post tasting room hours and tap lists.

 

In my personal experience, the drive is definitely worth it, especially if you have the time to take Rte 1 all the way. Last November, my boyfriend and I made the trip up to Marshall Wharf from Portland during our vacation; the scenery and ocean views are breathtaking. We left Portland around 8:30am and made a stopover in Freeport to hit up some shops as we were just meandering our way up. We ended up reaching Marshall Wharf in the early afternoon and our 'tour guide' at the brewery was fantastic and very enthusiastic about brewing. We discovered that she had never gotten a chance to try Heady Topper and left her with a fresh can- it was the least we could do after she was so attentive and answered our questions.
Though we weren't able to visit Three Tides due to time restraints- we had plans to stop at Oxbow before driving back to Portland that same night (Oxbow is fantastic and the people there are some of my favorites. We ended up being there later than expected and one of the brewers offered to let us trail him back into Portland (Where the Wild Beers Are event was that night at NR and he was attending)). The entire trip is very doable and worthwhile, beautiful even. I'm jealous that you're not going to have to sacrifice the time it takes to drive back to Portland that same day!

The Yankee Clipper is only about a mile walking distance from MW and it will be late July when you are there, correct? If you're capable, I would consider walking. It could be helpful after trying all 17 beers!


-If you haven't already been suggested it, I recommend going to Pai Men Miyake at least once. The food is delicious and they usually have great beer selection.

 

Second on great lost bear, freaking love that place and now find myself wishing I was eating the fries and cheese right now!