Ebenezer's Pub Lovell, ME

I have been more than a few times. I have a friend that lives about 20 minutes away.
I really like the food and the beer list is excellent. They have a very impressive list of imported brews on tap and in bottles. The brews they produce in partnership with Lively Brewing are also pretty good.

The bartenders and a lot of the wait staff also know a ton about beer.
Their list and style may not fit in completely with the IPA and BA stout faithful, but it is definitely a world class beer pub.

 

Several years ago it was the number one recommended beer destination in this forum. The IPA craze has changed this a bit. But it should always be on the one's radar.

 

That's too bad, I have had great conversations with the staff. It does get really crowded in the evenings, especially in summer. In those situations they don't have much time to chat, but they still make recommendations and answer questions.

 

I have yet to make the trip there. Been talking about it since my early to mid 20's and now I'm in my mid 30's. I wish I had gone when Craft was still a little bit more under the radar and you could either 1. Show up with a nice bottle to offer and maybe get a tour and pop of a bottle in the cellar 2. Let them know you are here to drink and they might offer to let you camp out on the grounds. I've heard much has changed since Craft has taken off dramatically. But as referenced above I wonder if it might be a different experience now with everyone going fucking bonkers for IPA's and that's really not the essence of their bar. To me it's similar to the situation with Armsby. I used to go there a lot years ago when it was focused on Belgian beer. Now it's still awesome but certainly hop forward and the bottle list has shrunk. I was chatting with the bar tended about it after my Treehouse trip back in September. Her comment that stuck out was "wow you remember that, you really haven't been in to our bar for a long time"

The "here for the beer" video bar review had me psyched on the place way back in 09 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gXCyP_R3fE9 since I had never seen video of the basement. Plus, Amy

I plan to give Eb's a whirl in 2017.

 

Have been going since they opened, mostly because I'm a devotee of Belgian beers, and they've got the selection consistently. Because it's way off the beaten tourist-path for many, they experience more staff turnover and seasonality. However, I've consistently enjoyed their tap & bottle list - many rarities and fine imports - and the special events are a blast. Absolutely not a place for "IPA'S of the Moment" crowd. Definitely have a good core of regular patrons.

 

I tend to go up at least once a year. Last year I was lucky enough to visit three times. My experience has always been amazing...Excellent food, service, and beer. Every time the bar tender and waitresses are all able to point me through excellent draft selections. They introduced me to two of my now favorite breweries Struise and Alvinne. Well worth the three hour trip.

 

Eb's used to be THE beer destination in NE. Had a good time there 10 years ago quaffing great Belgian beers in the middle of nowhere.

How times change...beer geeks would rather stand in line for hours nowadays than actually drink good beer.

 

BTW has anyone seen Black Albert lately in the Boston area? I haven't had it in awhile and was hoping to get a bottle.

 

I first went to Ebenezer's eight or so years ago. I had put a review for the first time on Beer Advocate, and I got a beer mail from this guy Chris Lively saying if I liked the place I reviewed, I should try his place (Ebenezer's) some time. As luck would have it, I went to a wedding in the area a couple weeks later, and stopped in on a beautiful Saturday summer afternoon. Chris greeted my like a long-lost brother and we spent the afternoon drinking and talking.
Over the years I've been to Lovell and Brunswick where the brewery is more times than I can count. The beer is always good, as is the food and the service. Chris and his wife Jen are world-class people running a world-class operation.

 

I had it up here on the seacoast at an event on Black Friday at my buddy's bar he manages. Got to have the 2015 paired also with Delphine (Black Albert ages on Four Roses Bourbon Barrels) draft. Along with a zillion other impy stouts. Stuff is incredible.

 

Wow, as other's have mentioned it's crazy that I've never even heard of this place (I moved back to Boston in 2011 so I missed its heyday).

I've recently figured out that I like darker Belgian beers (the heavier malt appears to cover up the yeasty taste I don't like in the lighter styles) so this looks like a fantastic place to go and explore a bit. Plus I'd love to taste a Cantillon to see what all the fuss is about.

Thanks for the heads up!

ETA: Oh damnit, I read the location as Lowell, MA and not Lovell, ME!!! I still want to go, but it'll take me a bit longer to make the trip now. I did find it strange that people in the thread were describing Lowell as being "in the middle of nowhere"

 

It's truly a unique duckling. You cant get much closer to a Belgian bar on these shores, idiosyncrasies and all. Their yearly Belgian fest is one to look out for each summer.

 

Coworker of mine has gone up for New years every year for the past 7 or 8 years. He owns a cabin up in the area otherwise it would be a trek just for the pub (we are down in philly). He says that Chris and Jen are the friendliest and for celebrations like new years they do cellar bottles and pull out all the stops. It's been on my list for a long time and some spots down here get kegs of black Albert as well. I also heard they were starting their own brewery?

 

yes, it's good, and you should add it to your list, too: https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/20503/

 

here is a good video of the cellar at Ebenezers.

 

Already posted

 

My bad just noticed.

 

And yet I never see you there...