207-761-bier (2437)
http://www.novareresbiercafe.com
Hours: M-Th: 4-1, F: 3-1, S-S: 12-1
If you can’t find this place at first glace, don’t despair. Walk down lower Exchange St. and turn down the alley at the Key Bank sign.
25 Rotating taps, 2 hand pumps, 300+ bottles, red and white Port, and meat and cheese plates!
Location: Old Port
Amenities:
FAVORITE BAR IN PORTLAND! i love it. amazing atmosphere, awesome patio, hundreds of beers, great wine, great bartenders. i don’t remember a night when my friends and i went out in portland and didn’t make a stop here. perfect.
The patio is cool, but the inside is too loud, makes it hard to talk. The beer menu is massive and can be intimidating. Everyone seemed to know the servers by a first name basis, it was kind of creepy. Trying beer from all over the world with other beer enthusiasts is great, however, the vibe for me seems to be leaning toward pretentious. Sometimes you just want a cold domestic in 2 minutes, not a $12 stout in 15 minutes.
Awesome deck, great vibe, always a good place to go with friends. Great beer selection but takes a while to get a drink.
I think I’m supposed to like this place and be impressed by it’s incredible level of cool, but I felt like I was a senior citizen at age 30. It’s overrun with college kids in huge groups being obnoxious. The location is great, and the patio is awesome. I’ll have to give it another chance.