PRT Brewery Research Fatigue

There were cruise ships in Portland yesterday and I imagine for the weekend. I wonder how much that affected the lines at different places. As I said in the Allagash taproom thread, I got there around noon on Saturday and it was already pretty bumping. I only got stuff for takeout but it was much more crowded than I am used to seeing, though I haven't been to Portland for a year and a half.

 

I’ve been many many times and Allagash has never been even remotely packed enough to warrant a line outside.

Popular place for sure and it’s always decently busy, but not THAT busy.

 

I mean, Allagash is BY FAR the best brewery on that street, so I'm not sure the other breweries are playing a role in this. My take would be that it's summertime. Everyone is on vacation. I was up in Portland on a Monday recently for work. Got there at like 11:10 and it was already full.

To add to the above, not only is it busier in the summer, I feel like Allagash has the only real clear-cut parking lot. So if you're on vacation and unfamiliar with the parking situation, it seems like the best option and the logical place to begin.

 

I dunno, I’ve always felt that small parking lot where Foundation is has always seemed like an obvious place to park, and start. Start there then make your way up the street.

 

Weekends during the summer the whole street has the vibe of a block party, just people all over the place. I’m ready for winter so I can roll up to any of these places with no waiting.

 

I’m heading up for Zwanze, and if I recall correctly, after Labor Day it’s not too bad up there.

There’s always the conundrum of loving walking around Old Port in the summer weather or going when the weather is shitty but not having to wait at restaurants.

 

Allagash has been getting busier and busier in my experience. That makes sense though given that they've made it more and more of a destination. Over the past year or two they've added new tour options, moved to full pours, the outdoor patio seems to get nicer and nicer each visit, the food truck setup is probably the best I've seen, they've been diversifying their beer offerings even more than before, etc.. Has there been a thread that hasn't included a comment such as "even if you don't like their beer style you still have to visit"? Portland wouldn't be the beer destination it is if Allagash hadn't blazed the trail. Bissell got its start due to opening up next to Allagash and I think MBC was originally there too if I recall. There's a reason all those breweries open up next to Allagash.

 

Much better after Labor Day and even better after November. I love summertime in Portland too, but lucky for me, I like that that “shitty” weather even more. During summer I just can’t deal with the crowds very often so I mostly spend my time in the woods or grilling and drinking beers in my backyard.

 

Not only that, but I’d bet (actually I know) that if you asked most of the breweries in the area, they’d give you stories of Rob Todd giving them hops, loaning equipment, and sharing expertise and advice. A Seattle-based brewery owner once told me, “Everyone in the industry has a Rob Todd story.”

And then their beer is f’n world-class.

How anyone can even consider another brewery in New England as the “best” is beyond me. In terms of prolificacy, availability, experience, quality, and overall influence on the industry (what else is there?), they’re tops.

 

To be completely honest though, every time I head there in the summer (including this past June) I have no issue getting in anywhere.

Of course maybe I'm just used to it. Breweries in MA (and to a lesser degree restaurants) are busy like that year-round. With much worse lines than anything I've seen in Portland.

 

From the op - "waisting" - excellent freudian slip