This place was great. If you're from out of town and are looking for a beer, look no further. I'd heard about it on here as well as had two other sources vouch for it. When we arrived at our friend's place, he also praised it and joined us the next day for a couple of rounds. A great mix of outdoor seating and basement cool beer hall. We sat in both, as it began to rain while we were at a picnic table.
Review Source:Hello? Â Feeling parched over here. Â Sandwich and first beer consumed 40 minutes ago. Â Server vanished. Â Feeling thirsty and would like another round for me and my friends. Â Explains why they take your credit card when ordering, people must be skipping on the tab because the wait is so long. Â Too bad, the outdoor deck and beer menu are a great attraction. Â Not sure how they make any money on the bier deck without making sure patrons glasses are filled. Â To our server--that's why you got a sub-10% tip.
Review Source:Novare Res is an excellent craft beer bar. It has a wide array of different beers served properly. The decor and atmosphere are wonderful. It is obvious that the owners are passionate about beer and take great care in assembling their tap selections.
After first visiting the bar years ago, when it was far less popular, I was glad to see that it is thriving. It was crowded on all of my visits, but it was never overwhelming. The slightly less personalized attention is a small price to pay for the amazing list of beers. The staff has expanded since my first trip to the bar. One bartender, who comes across like the Guy Fieri of craft beer, was a bit much. With that said, the staff is attentive, knowledgeable, and helpful. I strongly recommend Novare Res to anyone with even a passing interest in craft beer.
Cool place, but for some reason I just couldn't warm up to it.
Beer selection was nice. Â Food selection was pretty limited although the lobstah roll I ingested was tasty and reasonably priced.
Sat on the patio and that was nice. Â Got to watch a bunch of frat boys playing
cornhole  so who wouldn't like that!
I think most people will like it and it was fine but I didn't think it was as awesome as some of the other reviewers felt.
Apparently they give out free cornholes, which we didn't receive. But I forgive Novare Res because it's truly a hidden gem in an otherwise fairly commercial block. The bar is attached to the side of an office building, so it kind of took a bit of looping back and forth to find the place (it's nestled near the small street in the back of the building). There's a pretty expensive outdoor area, but we opted to stay inside since it was a bit chilly that night.
The vibe of this place is great -- very laid back, and everyone pretty much keeps to their own group. It falls in the perfect not-too-crowded and not-too-empty zone. The music could've been better, and I wish they had some darts or some other activities to fill in the empty space in the back (there a couple of random couches there), but if you're looking for a good place to just catch up with friends this is the place. We came during the SmuttyFest, so the entire menu was Smuttynose...which is great because I love Smuttynose. Our waiter was super knowledgeable on every beer on the menu and, to top it all off, was hilarious. I recommend it for a local or anybody coming to visit Portland (like we were!)
I've been coming to this gem for years, and it gets more and more popular every time I go. I thought about giving it 1 star in an attempt to make sure I can get a seat at the bar, but Novare is just too good for that.
Do you like beer? Do you like a multitude of options? Do you like hipsters? What about walking down a creepy alley way and finding the best place ever? If you've said yes to any of these things, and especially if you've said yes to all of them, then Novare is the place for you!! Their beer menu is really overwhelming, but the staff is very knowledgeable and willing (usually) to help you pick something. Sometimes they can seem condescending, but I don't think it's ever intentional. Having to walk down an alley way to get there and then being in a dark, brick basement beer hall of sorts definitely adds to the experience, but the overall feel of Novare is great. Yeah there are hipsters, yeah it's crowded now, but I will always love Novare and make it one of my hangouts in dear old Portland.
Awesome list of craft beers!
Cool outside seating area and staff are prompt in checking on your drinks and bringing new ones.
Nice list of food to accompany drinks.
Chilled out atmosphere and nice to place to go with a group of friends or just to have a couple of drinks with your significant other.
Literally one of my favorite bars. I am a big fan of cider, and when I go hear I am able to try different brands (and get alternative recommendations outside of the category). The staff is friendly and really knowledgeable, which makes it worth the trip. They have a small food selection, which is perfect since we usually stop here after having dinner. By the end of the evening, you want a little bite to eat.
I can't say enough great things about this place.
Living in New York City spoils you with it's wonderful and gigantic selection of craft beer. Â But honestly, there is no beer bar there yet with a bottle list like Novare Res.
The bottle list is extensive to say the least, great whiskey selection, nice nibbly food to snack on, beautiful interior, great outdoor seating, WHAT ELSE COULD YOU WANT DAMNIT.
If I lived in this wonderful city, I'd be there every night. Â I can't wait to come back.
My boyfriend and I were in Portland for only two days. Sticking by my friend's recommendation, this was the ONE THING I wanted to do during our trip: sit in Novare Res and enjoy fancy beers.
It was a little difficult to find, as 1) Google Maps on my phone has the wrong location and 2) you need to go on a bit of a treasure hunt to get there anyway.
It was well worth it. The girl who waited our table was some high-spirited bar fairy in a green poncho. She was pleasant and efficient, and we somehow ended up getting a free cheese out of her for our cheese plate. We ran the gamut of Trappist beers and then had some Allagash just because it's local and we're in Maine. I only wish that Allagash Black was on draught.
Also, if you like Flemish sours, the Oud Bruin was the most delicious beer on the planet.
I just want to throw it there that the ladies room has the best, nerdiest, most high-brow wall graffiti I've ever seen. Rumi? Rabelais? Get it, ladies.
I visited Novare Res for the Gasharoo this weekend. Â They had 27 allagash beers on tap. Â I was able to try a bunch or Allagash I had never heard of and that was a great experience. Â I also ordered the Jappa Dogs, which isnt on their online menu, so I was pleasantly surprised when I saw it. Â It was two bright pink (like boneless spare ribs) hot dogs, with soy onions, japanese mayo, pickled ginger, wasabi and nori powder. Â I got chips but after seeing a side salad, probably should have ordered that. Â My boyfriend got the special mole goat sandwich which he liked but I was surprised when it didn't come with a side like the other sandwiches. Â Overall, I loved my experience and have been telling everyone about it!
Review Source:They have a great beer selection, but the service is severely lacking.
I went with a group of friends last night. It took nearly 20 minutes to get my beer from the bar. I normally would have no issue waiting, but I was the only one in line at that point. Once the bartender retrieved my order, she started pouring but stopped to take care of another customer, presumably a friend. If I were ordering a beer like a Guinness, I wouldn't have a problem letting it settle.
My friends experienced similar service from a different employee. One friend was scoffed for wanting a domestic light beer (craft beers aren't for everyone). Another friend was just treated rudely when he asked for a #9 Magic Hat.
I gave two stars for the ambiance (minus the plethora of skinny jeans) and the selection. That said, I'm married, ago off I want someone to be rude to me while they take my money, I'll stay at home.
Every other bar and restaurant we went to in Portland had phenomenal service and it will be reflected with much higher reviews. I would recommend Ri Ra or Gritty's.
Perhaps it's fitting that it's called "a new thing"in Latin. I think it's a new thing to speak pedanticly to customers with a level of pretensiousness typically reserved for reality TV stars.
Awesome beer cafe that very much reminds me of The Trappist back in Oakland, one of my absolute favorite places. Â The entrance is off the beaten path so to speak as its not directly off the street in downtown Portland - just keep your eyes peeled for the wooden stand on the sidewalk and you'll be all set.
Draft list? Â Varied and inclusive of both unique American craft brews and top notch foreign offerings. Â The bottle list? Â EPIC. Â Broken down by style and country of origin...there's even a special section at the end for alleged beer geeks and connoisseurs.
Rounded out with strong service, plentiful communal seating and a sizable outdoor patio for the warmer months, Novare Res has got it going on!
Gets 5 stars just for the beer selection, period. Â If you love beer, go here - the staff is knowledgeable and the list of choices is huge. Â Just huge. Â Talk about a place that takes their beer very, very seriously. Â The food is really good too - so it's not about just drinking, but if you come to Maine and love beer, this is one of the coolest places to hang out on a sunny day. Â Hard to find, but worth the search - ask a local at the Starbucks around the corner.
Review Source:This is  a beer lovers heaven.  You can find most of the hard to find US and Belgian  beers in this place.  Its biggest weakness seemed to be highly regarded Canadian beers, which is a shame because it is so close to Canada and the feel of the place is very reminiscent of Montreal.
Regardless of this fact, this place is really cool and a great place to grab a hard to find beer. Â However, be careful of what you order as you may have to pay a steep premium for any of those hard to find beers that are not on draft and come in bottle format. Â Some cost more than $20, which can be a surprise at the end of the night. Â That being said if you are looking for some hard to find beers and find yourself in Portland, this is the place to go. Â You will likely find what you are looking for and more.
I'd probably enjoy Novare Res a shade more if I wasn't already deeply cynical about the hipster penchant for Belgian beer fetishism from years of living in Brooklyn. Â There's a good, considered selection of taps and the lines are well maintained (usually overlooked in NY), so we can be thankful for that at least. Â Having a separate list of Maine brewed beers is smart, because we know that beer doesn't travel well. Â What else? Â Nothing really, it's a nice enough space with a low ceiling doing a passable job at looking like an authentic cellar, although the backroom is curiously sterile. Â Is there some reason it's taking 10 minutes to pour three beers, or am I a philistine who doesn't appreciate the arcane Trappist art of lever pulling?
Review Source:Novare Res is quite the haven for beer drinkers and good time-havers alike. Â It's perfectly hidden away, and I found it easy to breath over my crisp cider infused mead on a Thursday night. Â It was my boyfriend's birthday and we sat at the bar to get a couple drinks before heading out to dinner. Â He had the Chocolate Stout that was on draft ( I forget the brand, sorry) and I had the Cyser, a crisp cider infused mead from Maine Mead Works. Â They have an extensive beer menu filled with Belgium goodies for the beer fans, along with many other choices for whatever alcohol drinking personality you may be. Â
It was dark and rainy out so the patio wasn't looking so attractive, however inside it makes you feel like you're in Skyrim heading in to grab a pint from the innkeeper.
All nerdiness aside, check of Novare Res if you want to have a good time.
Beer lovers!!!!! if you ever find yourself in south portland this place is a must. Â they have a great huge selection of bottled beers and a good selection of draught beers.
didn't have any food, but took a look a their menu and was well impressed.
if your up for trying different beers you've never had this place is for you. Â
keep up the great job!!!!
If you like beer, you've found your Portland haven. Â For the curious, "Novare Res" means "to start a revolution" and the crew here certainly has got one brewing in Maine's beautiful capital. Â
They've got an infinitely long beer list, pretty good food, and a really nice outdoor patio area. Â Novare Res has also been known to partake in tap takeovers, which is what originally called me to this fine establishment. Â Known as "Smutfest 2012", Smuttynose Brewery took over the bar, bringing in some of their more difficult-to-find brews and serving them on tap. Plus they had a little BBQ going on out back with some burgers and German potato salad. Â Um, yeah, this kind of awesomeness really needs to happen more often.
So if you're reading this while standing awkward only a street corner yelping around looking for the best place for you and your buddies to to throw back a few brews in Portland, you got it right here.
I only came here for drinks and once I was able to actually find it, I loved it. Â Although this particular summer night allowed me to understand what it is like to drink an obscure Belgium beer in a sauna, I just took this an excuse to keep drinking, which I was happy to indulge.
It has an outside patio, but I like to sit at the bar, especially the first time I visit a place, so I walked down the stairs to the basement, opened up my sweat glands and began to traipse across Western European Beers eventually working my way back to local New England brews.
If ever I return to the area, I will definitely return. Â It felt like the cousin of the Porter Beer Bar in the Little Five Points neighborhood of Atlanta, which is one of my favorite local spots.
To Recap:
The Good: Â The beer. Â A great variety poured into the correct glass.
The Bad: Â I am still trying to rehydrate the fluids I lost sweating and the trip was five weeks ago. Â
The Band This Restaurant Most Resembles: Â Blur. Â From the sweat in my eyes and the fact that the only do one thing well, but it is great!
Definitely a very special place and a must-go-to place for all beer lovers! Â They have a very extensive menu - probably the longest and most varied beer menu I have ever seen. Â It was kinda overwhelming and made me wish I knew a little bit more about beers.
We didn't have too much time but grabbed a couple of beers while were there. Â We sat outside in the outdoor patio which was nice. Â I would imagine it's a happening place at night out there.
It's a little hard to find since it's sort of in an alley next to a parking lot, but there was a large sign advertising it from the main street.
Now, I like beer... a lot. But this place is unbelievable! The choices go on and on and on. Now most of that (and it's a book, literally) is in bottles, and a big chunk of that is obscure imported - a lot of belgiums) but the draught selections blow 99% of other barss away too. I had to limit myself to only US draught and then further limit it to just beer from Maine to even be able to easily pick something. And everything I had was good.
The food we had was excellent - mussels were yummy and the short rib sandwich was delicious.
We also loved the outdoor patio - a very nice atmosphere and met some great people too.
If you love beer and are in Portland, you have to come here
Get:
~Beers: they've got a huge menu, akin to cocktail or spirits menus you'd find at a speakeasy. Â Listed by type, it was pretty organized, but we still had a hard time choosing. Â They have a page of beers on draft to help you narrow your choices.
~Rabbit sandwich (4 stars): just slightly gamey but tender, and very savory. Â This went really well with the beers.
Skip:
~Meatballs (3.5 stars): cheesy and oniony, with a sriracha-like sauce, these meatballs were fun, but not worth the price. Â $9 for 4 small ones
~Arugula salad (3 stars): I ordered this mostly because I wanted some veggies on our meat-filled trip. Â This was satisfying, but a rather ordinary salad. Â Came with some pears and candied pecans, which would have been nice had they been caramelized instead. Â $9
Wait:
~none for 4 for a space in the patio at 5:45pm Friday. Â It was crowded, but not uncomfortably so. Â Nice open space with a breeze.
Possibly one of my favorite bars in the world. Novare Res introduced me to Allegash White, which has since become my favorite beer. The bartenders are skilled, friendly, and expert in their field. If every city had a Novare Res equivalent, the world would be a much better place.
If you're ever in Old Port, GO!
GREAT place to come and grab a brew and the bartenders are super knowledgeable about their selection. Â It's the kind of place where you can say, "Give me something crispy with Citra or Cascade," and the bartender will know exactly what you're talking about. Â It's also one of the only places I've seen where you can get some of the really small batch Allagash brews on tap. Â The beer tasted fresh and clean (hooray for clean tap lines!). Â Much appreciated.
Yes, everything about this place was rad but the best thing about Novare Res is their dog friendly patio. Â I sat and drank good beer with good people and watched dogs play. Â I'll definitely be back next time I'm in Portland.
If you're in town and care anything for beer, you must find your way here. And I literally mean, find. We were told to look for this place in alley off Exchange Street but my beloved remarked, "This isn't an alley! This is a parking lot!" Essentially, you want to walk through the iron gate next to the Key bank and meander through until you find a small walkway that leads you to the actual door. It's very well worth the hunt.
This dimly lit mecca for beer offers long wood seats, lots of glasses, a room for chalices of those whose livers have been well-tested, short list of simple but tasty beer bites, and a very very through selection of beer. Some guy asked for a beer list and when he walked away with just one sheet (filled with a long list of beers), I stopped him to offer him the fancy beer bible I had in my hands.
"I heard you needed a beer list," I said.
"Oh, thanks," he replied, holding onto the laminated sheet, "but I've already got one."
I held my spiraled beer bible up to him, "That's just the draught list. Here's the rest."
Other things I love: All the space, the couch room, the patio, the wooden stalls in the bathroom, their feelings on lambics, and the fact that, with a little dedication and a lot of drinking, one can earn their own spot in the chalice room.
I came here on a Friday night and it had a great chill vibe. Â The inside had a great cozy vibe, being dark lit with brick walls. Â There were long picnic tables and such with a few tables around. Â The outside had more picnic tables which must be perfect for the summer time!
The beer menu was pretty big with all the different brews. Â I got to taste the banana one which was interesting with a slight hint of banana. At $6, it was the usual price I'd pay for a beer.
The music was AMAZING! Great old school hip hop that you could easily chill to. Â Reminded me a lot of NYC's bOb bar except in Portland... Being from NY/NJ's diverse area, I was a bit thrown off because the people (hipster/Portlandia vibe/dread rockin/Mr. Brawny Man types) didn't match the music. It can get pretty loud, but I still was able to converse at a decent volume with the people around me.
For a place being in Maine, I'd definitely consider it trendier place to be. I'd definitely make it one of my stops the next time I head up to Old Port!
Super trendy, awesome beer selection, nice in the summer when you can sit outside. The bar staff are knowledgable for sure. A bit pricey, but that's why you go there.
FYI - no shots - which is understandable considering they are probably not appealing to the collegiate masses out on Fore Street. But, if you do want to sip on some silver tequila, they will gladly serve you some straight up. I just happened to start there for a bachelorette party when I learned that... so we all enjoyed a nice beer after "sipping" down some tequila very very quickly.
This place is basically a brothel for beer lovers. And I loved every second I was there.
An incredible selection on tap that focuses mostly on Belgians but also offers other great brews too. I went with an Allagash White (When in Portland!) followed by a Dogfish Head something or other. The building isn't easy to find your first time, but that could have easily been because it was dark and we had just finished sampling at Harvest on the Harbor. Guess that makes this place even cooler! Vibe is cozy and comfy with low ceilings, long wooden tables, chalkboard menus, and standard bar stools. There's also a back room with pool table and additional seating. We hunkered down on the stools and made friends pretty quick. Following a common theme of our trip, it seemed almost every guy I chatted with worked in a brewery, brewed his own at home, or was just a huge beer geek. No complaints but just sayin'. Def had some interesting convo's here with some pretty nice people.
It was pretty packed on a chilly Saturday night but I'm sure things spread out onto the awesome 'bier garden' patio when it's warmer. HUGE bonus points for having corn hole games outside. Perks for the gals: Â multiple stalls in bathrooms and large mirror. This place is a MUST bar visit when you're in P-town!
Novare Res is a world class beer bar specializing in Belgian beers.
I have been here about five times, most recently twice over the New Years holiday. There is an impressive selection with around 20+ taps which rotate regularly and a great bottle list. I also really appreciate that the list is, for the most part, kept up to date on their website. Bonus points. Non-Belgian beers are very strongly represented and there is something for everybody.
The food list is limited but what I have tried (various cheeses and meats; and other appetizers such as the hummus platter) is of high quality.
The bar also consistently offers the level of service you would expect from a "beer bar" - knowledgeable staff, proper glassware, etc.
Despite being a haven of beer drinking, this is a family friendly establishment. It can be hard to find, just follow the signs for the Key Bank. As to the vibe of the place, it can be a little intimidating when it is crowded (although there are some small two-tops, most of the seating is at long tables next to other patrons). Also, I am a pretty square-looking guy and so I have definitely received some condescending looks from the hipster clientele. However the service staff have always been top notch and made me feel comfortable.
Everything about Novare Res is special: the location, the setting, the beers... All seventeen million of them.
I had the pleasure of sitting out in the garden during the afternoon, and again in the evening. The picnic tables on the open porch gave it a very homey feel without being hokey -I really did feel as if I was in someones backyard, as the porch is surrounded by old brick buildings that make up some of the busiest streets in Portland! The picnic tables throw you into mixed groups of people, which is great as everyone who is there can't help but be in a good, friendly mood. While the service was a bit slow to start, once we struck up a banter with Wheaty (yes, really) our server, she was fabulous and event took to recommending beers for our palates.
I absolutely love this establishment. It's so special, well planned and put together, I don't have one negative thing to say about it. Â My companions partook in the local mead, some particularly potent brews, and a host of other items. I tried at least a half-dozen locally-brewed beers that day, and enjoyed every single on of them. Perfection, kids.
I have a man-crush on this bar. I could leave it at that but I'll continue.
Hidden away through a courtyard and in the basement of what looks to have been an old manufacturing building, its pretty difficult to find the first time. Once inside, the place embodies what I consider to be an ideal bar. For starters, no TVs. Bars shouldn't have these. Beer was all I was interested in and fortunately, that's all Novare Res was interested in too.
They have a jaw dropping selection of eclectic, local, foreign, obscure and just plain good beer. The menu was a nice compliment - not too heavy but sophisticated enough to offer some Iberico sausage and stinky cheese.
I was sad that I drove here, as it severely limited what would have been much of the IPA selection. We will meet again Novare Res, sans car.
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