Marshall Wharf Brewing Company / Three Tides Restaurant

slander

New York

4.75/5  rDev +7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5 | $$

So I'm hiding in Maine from an impending job, it's true. Left Karl & Nance's house in Monmouth late morning with some suggestion of returning at some point some days from now. Lunch, and through Augusta and out the other side, and then you just run 3 for like ever 'til you come to Belfast, it's cool little shops of stuff to see. The shortest distance cutting through but the looong way around to Southwest Harbor, I now totally understand that whole "as the crow flies" thing. Still, quite necessary to come through this way, from some of the things I'd heard...

Up the stairs, around the back, past the little glass room over the deck on the bay and in; my new favorite place. Owner David was behind the bar and asst brewer Jared showed up after a bit. As I'd arrived just after opening, it was quiet and we got talkin' plenty; beer, the brewery, the local scene, and I now know what a lobster pound is. A crazy "M" shaped green concrete topped bar seats 10, with a frosted plastic base and a curved piping foot rail; pint & shot glasses and growlers displayed atop. Cool glass candles on the bar, colors, sizes, shapes. Barback is a collection of racking for glassware and coolers holding bottled selections; wines & booze lining the tops and the sills of the paneled windows above overlooking the Passagassawakeag River. Glassware racked above, a tap blackboard strung with white xmas lighting, and a raised wine rack to one side. A 6 gallon carboy sits on the end filled with blueberry vodka in the making, and a tiny food prep and kitchen area in the corner somewhat concealed. Plank wood and some foldy metal corrugated walls, and wood rafter ceilings. 4 booths sit adjacent to the length of the bar and a corner table. Some drop blue cup lamps on center, track spots, mounted red bulb lighting on the walls and mismatched drop lampshade lighting over the tables. Space heatered outside glass walled room with seating for the dirty smokers. The deck area beyond has long wooden benches on both sides and is tarped/canopied in the summer months. Mismatched lampshade lighting strung on a line, and Bocce & a fire pit below.

Hardboiled eggs for bar snacks, and what with no thank you, I look to the small tight menu with tapas goods, salads, quesadillas, pizzettes, sandwiches, scallops & mussels. Had me a garlic sautéed shrimp quesadilla of awesome, just to hold me over 'til the dinner I'm going to be very, very late for.

12 tap stainless steel box on the center of the bar with doubles on the end to pour 14 in all. Currently, one's off so it's 13 beers on tap. Seems you only get 5 beers on a sampler, so I'll have to get 3 of them, fact finding research and whatnot. Okay, I'm thinking these 5 to start with (Sea Level Stout, 4.5% Irish stout on nitro, dry & roasty; Pemaquid Oyster Stout, also on nitro, 5.4% sweet & chocolatey; Phil Brown Ale, 6.2% smoked malts, a bit peaty, you get some smoke, yes; Wrecking Ball Baltic Porter, molasses, inky 8.5% goodness, win!; Happy Dog Coffee Porter, 8.2% the Baltic on coffee, just amazing), okay, next up, I'll have these 5 (Little Toot, a second runnings small beer made from the barleywine, light & dry at 4%; Tug Pale Ale, a pleasant 4.3% APA, good hoppiness; Illegal Ale-Ian, a 6.4% hybrid wheat with blue agave, strange, this one, but sweet & tasty; Old No 55, a dark, malty 7.7% birthday beer old ale; Attenuator Doppelbock, big 8.5% malty & caramel, nice), and well, I'll take the remaining 3 (Big Twitch IPA, 8.2% dry hopped and nicely assertive; Cant Dog Imperial IPA, not overly sweet at 10%, very tasty; Chaos Chaos Russian Imperial Stout, chocolatey & big alcohol at 11.3%, reeeeal nice), and double up on this one and this one to fill up the sampler. And then he let me try the Root Beer, which was solid, and that's it, nothing else, I don't apple porn know what you're talking about. My favorites were the Phil Brown Ale, Old No 55, Wrecking Ball Baltic Porter, Happy Dog Coffee Porter, Chaos Chaos RIA & Cant Dog Impy IPA, but there really wasn't a crap beer in the lot; just a great range, nearly ½ of them coming in over 8%.

Also, a small bottled list with a dozen plus entries; an interesting handful of craft selections (DogFishHead Midas Touch, Old School Barleywine & 120 Minute IPA, Unibroue La Fin Du Monde & Maudite, Sea Dog Blueberry Ale), a couple 'o blah imports, a few macros, an N/A, sodas, and then a tight little list of about 2 dozen wines. But there ain't no need for any of that 'cause, did I mention the beer here?

Seriously, this was supposed to be an in and out stop but still here 3 hours later, I find myself trying to forget the rash of shit I'm going to take for flat out missing dinner (again). Good chill tunes and a great vibe, I do dig this space, and the beers are excellent. Simply one of the best goddamn brewpubs I've ever seen.

06-05-2009 02:51:43 | More by slander

geocool

Massachusetts

4.09/5  rDev -7.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3 | $$

I finally visited Marshall Wharf brewery. It was a nice stop on the way up to Acadia, and great to pick up some growlers to enjoy during our week long stay there. They had just been at the Belfast Harbor Fest the day before where they sold out of a bunch of stuff so they only had five taps on. Their Phil Brown Ale was delicious and drinkable (really had to drink a full pint from the growler to appreciate how great it is). Also Big Twitch IPA was fantastic, I got two growlers of that one. At 9% I'd call it a DIPA, though. They also had Deep Purple Rauchbier which was nice and smokey, but I decided against getting a whole growler of it, bottles would be better for that one IMHO. They also had a 4% stout made from second runnings from their RIS, (Little Mayhem) and a 3% red ale (Pinchy Red) that I didn't care for. On the trip back to return the emptys I also sampled a Kolsch that was pretty good.
I was hoping their RIS Chaos Chaos would be available, but it wasn't. I was told that their restaurant next door has 17 of their beers on tap. I thought it was a little irksome that the beers were on tap just twenty feet away but still not available for tasting or growler fills in the brewery tasting room. But it is what it is. I'll be making this a regular stop every year from now on.

08-31-2012 13:01:48 | More by geocool

rderedin

Maine

4.16/5  rDev -6.3%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $$

I actually attended the Marshall Wharf Brewing New Release/Tasting get together(albeit briefly). I went in to buy some growler's only, I had my little girl with me or I would have stayed for the tasting. I knew going in I wanted to try one of their stouts, little did I know they had multiple stouts. Personally, I didn't expect that, I thought they might have one and a small selection of other brews. I literally had to scan their board for a few minutes(to make sure I wasn't missing anything) to select the beer I wanted. I probably should have done some research before going in.

I've actually never had their beer and when I asked for a general description the owner(again, presumably) gave a relatively precise description and I think after realizing he went over my head dumbed it down for me. He was very down to earth about it. The guy doing the pouring for the tasting also seemed very knowledgable as well and I wouldn't have any hesitation about asking him for recommendations. They actually had a bunch of empty growlers behind the counter and when I asked about one of them he immediately knew what it was.

I'm saving the two growlers I bought for a later date. The service itself was excellent. Having my hands full with my daughter, the owner(presumably) offered to box up my growlers for me and bring them out to the car. That was really cool because I really did need a hand.

I work about 45 minutes away and during my routine beer shopping lunch breaks I was told by one of the owners about their excellent brews. I'll have to say that I'm totally geeked out about being able to get growler's so close to my home. Even if I try their beer and it's mediocre I'm definitely going back just due to their service and selection.

I don't hand out 5's just for fun. I like knowing that I can go to a place where they are knowledgable enough to give you recommendations, the service is great and the selection is wide.

I'm only rating the quality as a 3.0 because I haven't actually tasted their product yet. However, I'll rate each beer I've tried after tasting it.

03-11-2012 00:03:37 | More by rderedin

Bierman9

New Hampshire

4.63/5  rDev +4.3%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5 | $$$

Stopped by here twice with Alewife at the start of the month, on 09 and 10DEC11. Glad we did!

We found Three Tides down by the waterfront, near the lobstah pound. As the photo here shows, this place is quite ordinary looking from the outside, a three-story, weathered, salt-box type structure. First floor is who knows what - storage? Third is actually living quarters, for the owners, I believe. Second floor it is, then. Up the stairs on the side of the building one flight to the rear deck (which MUST kick butt in the summer!); turn 180º left and you're in. The pub itself is rather small. Once inside, it is about 25'x60', running long from left to right. It is mostly unfinished, raw wood, with big, roughly hewn posts and ceiling beams. The bar is on the right side, a large slab of granite topping things and doing a double zig-zag to the rear, seating about 12 or so total. There's a large table on the left corner as you enter, and about 4-5 smaller tables on the back wall. At the very rear are the WCs and a small kitchen. Lighting is low and warm, with some soft incandescent bulbs above the tables, and some small track-lights above the bar-back. Many (many!!) small candles are strewn about on shelves and the bar; this was way cool! The bar had a few towers serving up the 17 house-biers available, and the bar-back had many a bottle of top-shelf liquor, plus assorted wines.

We were served both by the owner, David Carlson, and his top man, Seth, on these two nights. As Nick would say: "Fantastic!". Couldn't ask for more, from prompt, friendly service, to bier and food suggestions, as well as generous samples of their wares. Our food was well-made, plentiful and tasty. We had swedish meatballs and garlic smashed potatoes, steak & cheese quesedillas, and caesar salad with chicken breast. Mmmm!! Prices were a little high for some things, like $9 for a pint of Old # 58, but it's nothing that would deter me from returning any time soon. In fact, I can't wait to get back! I hope they still have their T2-R9 Barleywine on, which kicked some serious ass. Great pub; great times! Prosit!!

4.63/5 rDev +3.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5 | $$$

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12-21-2011 00:58:55 | More by Bierman9

jnezda

Texas

4.43/5  rDev -0.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3 | $$

Searching for a brewery in North Central Maine and was introduced to Three Tides first for dinner and drinks then to Marshall Wharf for a couple growlers. The atomsphe of the place is vibrant right on the Belfast water front good view great use of the space with a lively outdoor area including a large outdoor fireplace made out of an old grain auger. I tried at least 8 of there beers took two growlers home over a weekend and had some of the food as well. The bar service at Three Tides was impeccable with the bar tender recalling my name after only one visit. I am not into cocktails but there was a great liqour selection and the bartenders took the time to squeeze fresh juices and make cocktails that are crafted as well as the beers.

I will stop back here every summer I am in Maine

09-05-2011 11:23:08 | More by jnezda

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

4.1/5  rDev -7.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5 | $$$

My folks live in Belfast, so we are able to get over here quite a bit. This is a slick little place down on the waterfront, with a great amount of deck seating and a decent inside area, as well. There is also a little biergarten below the deck where you can hang out and enjoy some beers. Indoors, there is a decent bar, and it's all concrete, which is pretty gool. The deck is usually where we end up sitting so we can enjoy the waterfront. The service is very good. The restaurant portion is a tapas service, so don't go if you are extremely hungry. Other than that, there are no complaints. The food is unique and delicious. There is usually a decent amount of local fare available. If you are there, get the crab quesadillas....trust me. The beer selection is always changing and updating, and the last time I was there they had 12+ on tap. The brewery is in the building next door, where you can get growlers filled. Overall, a great little gem in Belfast, a city that seems to finally be growing a bit. Worth a visit if you are in the area.

08-16-2011 03:15:03 | More by GarthDanielson

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev -0.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 5 | $$

Wow... A tiny, little bar/restaurant in Maine. The bar held maybe 12 people, with a total capacity of about 50 in the restaurant, if that. As such, we had to wait about 1.5 hours to get a seat, but it was well worth it when we did. You can also hang outside on their ample deck with riverside view, as long as it's not too cold for you. Staff was very accommodating considering how busy it was.

The brews were all made next door at Marshall Wharf Brewing Co. I had at least a sample of all 17 beers on tap, and I must say that overall, these are the best microbrews I've ever had. EVERY beer here was between great and amazing, even the lighter beers, which I generally don't go for.

Then the food. So good... Not the best mussels I've ever had (a title still reserved for Eulogy and/or Monk's in Philly), but amazingly fresh, clean and beautiful. I also split an app with my wife and whatever it was was extremely tasty.

Seriously, this place was great. A bit off the beaten trail, but well worth the trip. I would love to go back here if I ever visit Maine again.

05-03-2011 04:14:33 | More by Rifugium

Chowdahead

Maine

4.55/5  rDev +2.5%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5 | $$

Visited Marshall Wharf and Three Tides for the first time last summer. Had been to Belfast a few times and always loved the town but was excited to finally check out Marshall Wharf and Three Tides.

Situated right on the working waterfront of Belfast the location is quintessential Maine. We visited the Marshall Wharf tasting room while waiting for Three Tides to open. The tasting room shares the space with a small, local fish market so we sampled some great Marshall Wharf beers and bought some haddock right off the boat for dinner back at home that evening. At what other brewery can you do that? Just one reason why Marshall Wharf is one of my favorite locations in Maine. No bottles for sale at the tasting room but they do offer growler fills.

Once Three Tides opened next door we retired over to the large outside deck for some more beers and apps. Three Tides is laid out with a small seating area inside, a nice spacious deck off of that with a nice view of the river and then a larger patio-esque area below. With a collection of chimneas and a slight industrial vibe down on the patio it kind of looks like a Transformer came along and took a dump but as strange as that may sound it really works for the place and fits the atmosphere.

At Three Tides I had the sampler from a choice of twelve Marshall Wharf beers and my wife had a few pints. Both of us loved every beer but for me the best were the T2R9 Barleywine and the Chaos Chaos. We had a great seafood appetizer and then splurged on some fresh raw oysters which were fantastic. We didn't eat dinner but the entrees looked great.

We had to leave to get home to our dogs but I can't wait to head back again this summer as often as possible. In my opinion, Marshall Wharf is the second best brewery in Maine after Allagash and Three Tides is one of the best and most original restaurants in the state.

02-19-2011 01:25:44 | More by Chowdahead

mtnbikerpa

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +1.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

It is certainly a real joy to stop by Three Tides Restaurant, David and his wife are very welcoming and friendly. The bar has an awesome atmosphere, a great back deck that overlooks the the Bay in which you can enjoy a beer and watch the tide come in or go out. When I stopped they had 17 beers on tap. I enjoyed a T2R9 Barlywine, it was aged for 2 years. My wife had a coffee infused porter which was also fantastic. Danny McGovern, has an wonderful oatmeal stout in his honor, is one of the brewers at the Marshall Wharf Brewing. All and all it is a must stop when I am visiting family in Belfast.

11-20-2010 02:54:00 | More by mtnbikerpa

sprucetip

Alaska

4.63/5  rDev +4.3%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4 | $$

Maine has a pretty kickass craft brew scene, especially considering its small population and depressed economy. Alllagash, obviously, maintains a prominent position in this rapidly evolving beer culture. Beer bars such as Ebenezer's and the Great Lost Bear are legendary either on this site or with the local populace, and the Lion's Pride and Novare Res are certain to gain similar status.

There is another one that should be on the regional, if not national, radar screen, and that is Marshall Wharf Brewing Company and the associated Three Tides Restaurant in Belfast.

I had been there once before, the night before their annual late winter/early spring break shut down in 2009, and was very impressed with the beer, atmosphere and service. I looked forward to returning, and was somewhat surprised that so few seemed to be in the know. Passing through in January on a Sunday night, we were denied the privilege of a visit as they are closed on Sundays and Mondays.

This last weekend we made a purposeful visit to Belfast, partly because of my desire to re-check the Marshall Wharf brews. Went there as part of a foursome. While the gals poked around some local shops, my buddy and I went to the brewery, as the restaurant, where the full glasses are served, didn't open til 4. We had free samples of the beer available in growlers at the time, and watched a steady flow of locals come in and fill up gowlers. We also learned that the brewery had suffered a flood from a storm surge over the winter, and was just getting back on its feet.

Later at the bar, the owner David said they were actually in the process of an expansion that would double their capacity, and were just waiting on an insurance check from the flood to get that moving again. Three Tides has 12 taps, and had 11 flowing the other day. They ranged from the light and dry but sharply hoppy Tug Pale (at 4.3% nearly legitimately a "session" beer as peer Ding and the Brits) to the big, bold bastards upwards of 11% such Chaos Chaos Imperial Stout and the R2 D9 Barleywhine (one with 10 months on it, the latter with 14 as per David).

Everything I tasted was at least good, if not better, and they cover a wide range of the style spectrum, including a big dopplebock, IIPA, a couple of different APA, and second running (5.0%) of the Chaos Chaos stout on nitro, and something called Illegal Ale-Ien, a hard to classify, high gravity "kolsch-wheat hybrid" weighing in at 7.2%. Asked about the the 7.2% "Kolsch", David said, in so many words, that they were doing that to screw with people, as it is their lightest colored beer. He said it is common to be asked "what is your lightest beer?" They have the lightest abv in the Tug Pale at 4.3%, but it is pretty hopped up. And then there is the lightest in color, the 7.2 Ale-ien described above. He said they intentionally made the Ale-ien light colored and high gravity so that they make the "lightest" beer selection less straight forward for folks. Left unstated, but fairly clear to me, was the opportunity for beer education and advocacy opened up in such a situation.

Prices are reasonable, full pints (limit 2) of the higher abv beers were never more than $8, and half pints were available as well. A five beer sampler is $6, and they are happy to let you sample before ordering. Additionally, when having to make the tough call between one high gravity nightcap and another, a little nip of the one not chosen can be provided with a polite request. So that's why the perfect score for service.

The place is very loose, the locals friendly, and the whole town has a great sense of community. The kitchen is tiny and menu mostly tapas and smaller plates, but even a big guy should be able to get his belly full. There are only about 5 or 6 tables, and when the place opened at 4 the first dinner seating was all reserved, and there wasn't much left for the second. So reservations are suggested if you want to eat there. Generally a good sign about the food. We all enjoyed the food.

Atmosphere, again, is super loose and friendly. Earlier David's wife made a comment about a dance party after they closed at midnight. I didn't know if it was flippant or serious. We saw them and their daughters the next day at a Maine Maple Sunday sugar shack event, and she said we shoulda stayed for the dance party.

Looking forward to my next visit to Belfast, and if they ever get around to bottling, it will be good news for New England. For now, if you can't get up to Balfast, look for it at Great Lost Bear and Novare Res in Portland.

03-29-2010 12:51:48 | More by sprucetip