PRT Brewery Research Fatigue

Highroller Lobster

 

You can't go wrong at Eventide or Highroller for lobster rolls.

If -- and this is a big if because I hate it when people ask for advice about one place but people instruct them to drive an hour away -- you're feeling ambitious, my favorite lobster roll of all-time is about 20 minutes off I-95 in Kennebunk. It's called The Clam Shack. And you can have an Allagash White on tap alongside it.

As a bonus, across the street about 50 yards away is Alisson's, which currently has Bissell, Allagash, Oxbow, Austin Street all on tap.

 

Add Goodfire to your brewery list.

 

If you're going to Allagash, Austin and Definitive... You might as well stop in at Battery Steele. They are all within walking distance of each other, and personally, I think they make some pretty tasty beer.

I'll toss Bissell Brothers on the list.

For lobster rolls, hit up Fort Williams and find the Bite of Maine lobster truck. Eat it on a picnic bench overlooking the ocean. Pretty nice place.

 

I’m not crazy about Battery Steele but you’re right there (and Foundation) if you are by Austin, Definitive, and Allagash. The smaller pours at these places are pretty well priced and if you don’t have anywhere to be, why not? Otherwise, your list is dead on.

 

Goodfire and Battery Steele are a must IMO. Highroller is a fun spot for lobster rolls, but for my money, I don’t think it gets better than the Bite into Maine food truck, which is conveniently parked at Allagash all summer. Highroller does these cool lobster tacos and you can add a bunch of sauces and stuff, but it’s a bit “busy” for me. BIM is just simple perfection: juicy, meaty lobster, simply dressed; buttery, warm, toasted bun; and a bit of shredded lettuce. That’s all you need.

 

just a word of warning eventide is not a traditional lobster roll. It's good but personally find it overrated. Their oysters are fantastic, though.

 

I am seemingly one of the few people who isn’t a big fan of Eventide. The food is solid but tiny portions and huge prices, even for Portland. The lobster roll people rave about is maybe three bites of food but costs the same as a full sized roll anywhere else. My wife and I spent $60 on lunch with no drinks, and I was still hungry enough to have crushed a burger afterwards.

 

I stopped at the new place Ex-Trava last weekend. Right in the area near new Austin St. location, Rising Tide, Oxbow, Goodfire, Lone Pine etc.
A good change of pace place and a pretty nice facility.

I really liked the new Austin St. location. There were 3 or so food options between Austin and Rising tide (next door to each other).

In Portland Oxbow is typically my favorite place to stop followed by Austin and Goodfire. I hit Allagash if they have bottles I want or something special on tap. I usually skip Definitive/Bissell/Foundation unless touring with people that want to try them.

Fore River in SoPo is a fun spot with good quality beer. Really enjoyed my visit there this past Saturday.

 

As someone who was not the biggest Belgian beer fan (apart from Quads) and also not very much into the expensive/fancy sour and wild world, I would just add that even I still found Allaghash to be the hands down best brewery experience in Portland.

Even if you think their stuff isn't exactly in your wheelhouse, I'd still carve out an extra good chunk of time to dedicate to it. And if they *are* in your wheelhouse you might consider just sleeping in the parking lot .

 

Bite into Maine also has a brick and mortar spot on Route 1 in Scarborough if for some reason you venture out that way.

 

My fave lobster roll place is Blazes Burgers in Westbrook - it's 2 for $17 every Friday, and Mast Landing Brewery is right down the street.

 

Your initial list is correct. If you're gonna add anything, it should for sure be Goodfire.

I think you can absolutely skip Battery Steele. When I went they had eight beers on tap.... eight NEIPAs. All the same color. All the same flavor profile. All completely indistinguishable from one another. And don't get me wrong, that one beer was very good, but at this point I have zero patience for breweries that cater strictly to NEIPAs.

And Highroller has the best lobster roll.

 

I skip it now that there’s a Fenway location that I can go to anytime. And the Fenway spot offers a bigger lobster roll.

Ironically it sounds like you’re describing my last experience at Goodfire.

Although they did have a Pils. But so did Battery Steele.

 

Goodfire did skew IPA-heavy when I was there but had some vastly different profiles on those IPAs in addition to I think a pils, table beer and something else.

 

They have had a sour the last few times I have visited as well. They definitely favor hoppy brews, but have had other options each time I have visited (3 times since June so far). Their brew Minimum (rotating hops) has been one I enjoy a lot. Perfect ABV for easy drinking out on the water or at the beach.

 

Two Fridays ago, Goodfire was half IPA/DIPA and half not as I recall. Two different pilsners and a sour against 3 IPA/DIPAs. The Pilsners were very good.