Portland Beer Week Starts Today

| Posted in Events

pbwToday is the official start of Portland Beer Week. You can find a detailed schedule on the Portland Beer Week website. Here are a few events that look especially interesting:

  • On Saturday Austin Street is releasing their new beer called Grist Mill, an “interpretation of a classic saison. Brewed with a blend of grains, hopped with Sterling and fermented with a blend of saison yeast and brettanomyces, this beer features a rustic malt base complimented by a spicy hop character and earthy brett funk”
  • On Sunday is holding Freshmen Orientation, an event to celebrate the new class of brewers that opened in 2014, and the Maine Brew Bus is leading the 2nd Annual Home Brew Tour.
  • On Monday Oxbow will be at Novare Res for a special bottle tasting of their beer.
  • On Tuesday there will be a blind IPA tasting with a $500 prize for whomever can name all ten correctly.
  • On Wednesday Bill Murray themed beers will be on tap throughout the city. Proceeds will be going to a charity of Bill Murray’s choosing.

Review of Dock Fore

| Posted in Reviews

Drink Up and Get Happy has reviewed Dock Fore.

The day we chose to go to Dock Fore was cloudy and chilly so it was a great choice to cozy up to the bar and enjoy some $1.95 Shipyard Pumpkinheads. The atmosphere inside is that of a neighborhood bar. As a staple of the Portland bar scene it’s a great place to go and get away from the more touristy hot spots.

Under Construction: Ebb & Flow

| Posted in Under Construction

diningroom

Maine Today, Urban Eye and Eater Maine have all published photos and background details on Ebb & Flow.

D’Auvray’s partner is Angelo Ciocca, longtime proprietor of Nova Seafood, a Portland-based wholesaler who has supplied D’Auvray’s previous restaurants for years. Most recently, D’Auvray was the chef at Thasos Greek Restaurant in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. A native of Los Angeles, he helmed kitchens in Raleigh, North Carolina, including two of his own — the seafood restaurant Fins and the international street food eatery bu.ku — before moving to Florida. In 2008, Fins was named one of the 10 best seafood restaurants in the country by Bon Appetit. [Maine Today]

Reviews: Bramhall, Golden Lotus, Bramhall

| Posted in Reviews

Peter Peter Portland Eater has reviewed Bramhall,

When all was said and done, my portion of the bill came to around $30 including tax and tip.  Bramhall was really fun, reasonably priced, and had an incredible atmosphere and decor. It would definitely qualify as an anytime hangout. The place wowed me as soon as I walked in which is also when the party started. From there it just got better. I would undoubtedly recommended this place to anyone for a great drink and some unique snacks.

the Press Herald has reviewed Golden Lotus,

White rice, or as my brother-in-law likes to call it, “the candy of grain,” is something I could also do a lot of damage with, and this certainly was the case with what I consumed at Golden Lotus. Cooked to perfection, it didn’t stand a chance, even with my less-than-stellar chopsticks skills. Also, the portions were generous. Not enormous, but plenty of food to satisfy the bottomless pit of my stomach.

and published a bar review of Bonfire.

Aside from the Solo cups and the self-serve beer wall, another exclusive detail at Bonfire is the choice of seats. Ever sipped a beer from a Solo cup on a cowboy saddle seat? (Don’t answer that.) Well, here, in the dim glow of Mason jar candles and the blue glare of 12 flat screen TVs, you finally can.

Maine Pie Line Closing (Updated)

| Posted in Closings

mpl_logoMaine Pie Line owner Briana Warner has announced that she’s closing the business as of November 8.

…After a fantastic run, the Maine Pie Line will be closing our doors permanently on November 8th. I can’t explain how much we have appreciated all of you as customers and supporters, but new exciting opportunities have opened up for me and I decided to close the company on a high note…

Update: Eater Maine has published an extended interview with Warner about her decision, MPL in general and her next job.