Bissell Brothers (2018)

With the Summer Session Fest today cans very likely will be snatched up. I don't think they allocate The Substance for Sunday sales. I highly recommend stopping in for draft though, its a great place.

 

Thanks. We're going to be getting into town late on Sept 10th. Sounds like I might need to see if I can set up a local trade for some SoCal stuff.

 

Going to be passing through Portland on a Saturday in August and would love to pick up a case (between the 3 of us...) as we did last summer at the old location. Last summer we arrived in line around 11:15 and it was just fine, got Substance and Lux and were out by 12:15 or so. Is the timing/line similar at the new location? Too early to tell? Thanks!

 

Saturdays are the busiest days there, but it also depends on the release. When they release doubles or special beers on Saturdays it can be tough to get in before they sell out even. 1-2 hours is how long Substance has been lasting even on the week days I think. I was there this past Friday for the Nothing Gold release. I arrived at 10:30AM and there were probably about 50 people in front of me. Line was very long stretched down the street when I left around 12:25 with my cans. Love the new venue though, so even if you miss out on cans, time in the taproom is well spent with 8-9 beers on.

 

I would think you may be in better shape by early September as some of the summer crowd will be gone and they'll have been open a little longer to smooth out the kinks. I would just check in with this thread periodically to see how things change

 

So I have plans now for Saturday, my wife and I had tried to go there back when it closed in Portland. Bissell and Museum with my wife and baby girl. Wife is psyched too. Thank you for sharing this.

 

Summer crowds are ridiculous. Things really clear up right after labor day. The only days you have to worry about crowds then are Swish days and Dinner releases.

 

Was there at about 2pm last Saturday (7/23) and was able to get 2 four packs (each) of Substance and Lux. Was not expecting any cans to be left but was happily surprised. Space is pretty nice. The music was super loud, which is ok, but strange for the middle of the day. The beer festival occurring simultaneously didn't seem to increase the crowd, plenty of seating and short line for pours. I like the area, hope a few more breweries move in. Miss being able to hit them all at the Industrial way location.

Nothing Gold on tap was really good, I liked it a bit better than the cans I tried from the last 2 batches.

 

Good info here, thanks to all. We're heading up to Bar Harbor from Boston on August 27 and are planning to stop for lunch in Portland (and pastries for the weekend at Standard Bakery!); sounds like we'll be able to grab some cans at Bissell.

 

MY wife and I did the same thing a few years back on the way up. Perfect place to cut the trip. (Though we were coming from Portsmouth)

 

I'm heading up to Portland (staying at the Holiday Inn by the water) this Friday morning/early afternoon. Staying for three nights.

If we can swing it, I was thinking of hitting up Bissell Brothers (I'll be with family, but it sounds like a cool all around spot) before we check in on Friday afternoon. Sounds like Saturday could be much busier, and cans may not be left on Sunday.

My priority is simply to try some of their beers (I've had the Substance/Baby Genius a few years ago when I was there) and relax. I would like to pick up some cans for the room, but no big deal if I can't.

Would the Friday plan be better? And if not/we can't make Friday, is Saturday or Sunday better? Food trucks I assume for some food too?

Thanks!

 

I suspect Friday & Sunday might be the less crowded of the three days as they are dropping just The Substance in cans on Friday, nothing on Sunday. Saturday is likely to be the busiest day as they are dropping both Substance and Baby Genius.

They've typically had 5-8 beers on tap in the tasting room so you will get a great selection regardless of which day you go and how determined you are to get cans.

Keep an eye on their social media (Insta and Twitter, not FB) for updates on food trucks.

 

Agree - Friday is your best bet. With Saturday comes the crowds, not just beer tourists but regular tourists as well. If you strike out (unlikely) hit me up, I have fresh Substance/Lux/Sip/Topper and can meet up in Portsmouth on Sunday if you're in a jam.

 

If you're referring to me, thanks! I'll be without a car (well my own car), but I'm sure I could borrow it if needed.

 

I finally got to visit the new location last Friday for the Nothing Gold release. My biggest take aways (the wife agreed):

1. The new tap room is fantastic/gorgeous!
2. I miss the cans only line.

The line seemed very slow, even with 4 POS stations. Pours + merch really slow things down.

 

I have no inside connection so this is totally speculative but I would suspect that cash only lines come back for Swish releases.They make a big difference.

 

My buddy and I are going to be heading up this Friday as well, probably sometime around open. I've yet to be to the new location and never been early enough for cans. I understand the variability that would come with it being summer, but also it just being a Substance release day, so here's my (annoyingly repetitive) question:

Is there any particular reason to get there to line up before open? I'd usually just show up at open, but the stories of slow moving lines have given me a bit of pause in that regard.

 

what does BB charge per 4 pack

 

Depends on the beer. I was there two weeks ago - Baby Genius was $12 per 4 pack, Substance was $13 if I recall correctly.

 

cool thank you