Downeast Beverage Co.

slander

New York

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%
quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5

Kicking around the Old Port area last week and "Hey, I've never seen that place before". Unsuspecting and low key. I'm no pro on the Maine beer scene but I think I saw every Maine brewery I know of represented here as well as some good New Englanders and some fine Belgians. I like the mix your own six pack crates in the middle of the store where you get to try different Maine brews at a decent price. The front window displays the various glassware for sale. They've also got teas and juices and sodas and the like. A fine beer store and I haven't seen too many of those up North.
Got me the goods!!

03-03-2003 17:04:49 | More by slander

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.86/5  rDev -8.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | $$$

A nice "gourmet food" setup, and a decent number of bottles in the trendy West district. Not as many bottles as Tulley's, by a big margin. More pricey distributed bottles. More Shelton Brothers bottles than anything else. But that was good for me, and passed over bottles of Stillwater and of Dugges enabled me to catch up on his saisons. A little pricey. Still nice street to shop.Smaler bottles only by the six pack and in the cooler. It was the bombers and 500 ml. at a good temperature.

08-16-2012 23:15:52 | More by northyorksammy

morebeergood

Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev -9%
quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | $$

We were checking out of our hotel on a Sunday, so my wife and I walked down here just to check it out and to see what else we could thrown in the car to bring back to MA. We walked in and were greeted with a hello. The beer is in the back of the store. There are a few coolers for cold six packs. Right up front, there is a nice display for Allagash products and next to that, a shelf for other Maine beers. Behind, there are shelves for other US craft beers and imported brews. I was hoping to find some really obscure Maine beers, and while there were some to choose from, it wasn't a large selection. I picked up a bottle of Maine Brewing Company's Peeper Ale for $4.75 to add to the haul from the weekend. We were greeted again at the register. Downeast seemed like the best beer store in the immediate Old Port area.

05-24-2010 19:11:17 | More by morebeergood

Bierman9

New Hampshire

4.46/5  rDev +5.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | $$

This is a nice little place down by the waterfront in Portland. Yesterday VENOM, JohnnyP, LondonPride, Davo and myself made a raid on this place. They have a real nice selection, with good emphasis on local Maine bier as well as some very nice Belgians like Piraat and Gulden Drak, among other things. As I said, they have a wide array of Maine bier, including Cadillac Mtn Stout. You can make a mix-six of Maine 12oz bottles for $7.95. Stop by if you're nearby to stock up on some good, fresh Maine bier!

overall: 4.46
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | $$

44

11-04-2002 05:23:21 | More by Bierman9

UncleJimbo

Massachusetts

4.2/5  rDev -0.7%
quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4

Located on Commercial St. near the far end near India St. There is a parking lot adjacent. Very comfortable, old-tyme country store decor.

This a decent sized liquor store, with the beer near the back along one wall. The emphasis of the beer is on Maine with many Maine breweries represented, including many beers in bombers (I picked up a range of Bar Harbor beers, incl. Cadillac Mtn. Stout). Other than Maine beers there is a decent smattering of other micros and Unibroue offerings. Some imports, but not a huge variety of non-Maine beer.

The store also has a large wine selection and various snack and food items. The service was good, and the staff was helpful.

11-07-2003 06:16:19 | More by UncleJimbo

blackie

Virginia

4.2/5  rDev -0.7%
quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $$$

last stop on the way out of town after a really solid breakfast at the Public Market House

cool old building with creaky wooden floors and old brick walls, especially like the 100+ year old mortar dust that seems to settle on bottles placed close to the wall

as an out of towner I was specifically interested in local and regional beers, of which a pretty nice representation is found here, singles available and breaking six-packs is allowed, probably won't find the entire portfolio of any particular brewery but the selections were quality, solid representation from Belgium and the rest of Europe but those received only a quick glance, I left with a few different selections from Atlantic Brewing but you'll also find stuff from Gritty's, Long Trail, Belfast Bay, Geary's, Sebago, Allagash of course...

not much floor service, but the gentleman working seemed to be restricted to the register by a constant stream of checkouts

07-19-2010 14:33:48 | More by blackie

Hibernator

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%
quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

This place is phenomenal.

Now on to the review:

Located on the Portland waterfront on Commercial Street, this place is built to impress anyone who appreciates beer. It has a country store feel with wooden floors and shelves. Upon entering the store you see cigars, glassware and some food. There is also a shelf that invites you to make a 6 pack of local Maine beer. One of the many great things about this place is that you can purchase singles from any of the beers available in six packs. I love to see this option.

The selection at Downeast Beverage is outstanding. They carry some incredible Belgian beers and New England's finest craft beers. In addition they have an awesome selection of Dogfish Head, Sierra Nevada and Unibroue. Here are some of the many highlights... SN Bigfoot, DFH World Wide Stout, Geary's, Magic Hat Chaotic Chemistry, Allagash (Four, Curieux, Grand Cru, White, Dubbel, etc), Cadillac Mountain Stout, Long Trail, Piraat, Smuttynose Big Beer Series (Scotch Ale & S'muttonator), Brother Adam's Bragget Ale, Shipyard, Geary's and the list goes on.

The service was friendly and very attentive. Staff were responsive with any questions I had and offered input & suggestions. It was also clear that they were knowledgeable.

This place is awesome and I can't wait to go back again and stock up next time I am in Portland. This place is doing it right.

02-21-2005 16:10:53 | More by Hibernator

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4.35/5  rDev +2.8%
quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | $$

I was happy to be able to check out Downeast Bev Co with my friends FooFaa and ffejherb. We strolled in after having a bite at 3 Dollar Deweys and befor heading to Novare Res Bier Cafe.

The place is not huge,but what they lack in size they make up for in selection. They have quality stuff like a whole rack of very reasonably priced Trappist and Lambics and they cover the gamut with locals and Europen choices as well. The coolers are pretty well stocked with craft brews including some Allagash and ffejherb got the last bottle of Spring Peeper they had. I was very happy with the prices in comparison to PA as I saved over 3 dollars after tax on a bottle of Orval.

The quality and selection are both good, but the service was limited to ringing us up when we were done. I don't have a problem with that since everything is well displayed and we were having a good time marvelling at the varity of things we can't get in PA. They have seasonals grouped together but some hoppy beers were displayed in the light -my only gripe. I would not hesitate to recommend them - I left my wallet sit absentmindedly and the cashier picked it up for me -Thanks! If you want to try some out of the ordinary brews like gruit, Zwickel and rauchbier they have them too --nice place and you won't be dissapointed.

03-19-2010 13:56:52 | More by Slatetank

indiapaleale

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -5.4%
quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3.5 | $$

I work upstairs from DBC and go there quite a bit so I thought I'd write a review finally. Downeast Beverage seems to function as three types of liquor store all at one time. It is definitely a wine and liquor store first, a pretty good beer store second and definitely a summertime stop-off for people buying booze before either getting on a boat or leaving town with something from Maine. That being said, if you are there for beer it has as good as a selection as you will find in Portland and is the only place worth going in the Old Port. They are currently shifting things around so hopefully they will accommodate for more beer in the future! They have mix a six if you want random Maine beers, a bunch of bombers and if you are lucky you can find some local growlers in the fridge. They have the usual suspects in the coolers along with some good Belgian and German beers. (I believe you can get all the Trappists available in the States). . Ask for Adam when you are there, he will be able to help you out with stuff and is an all around nice guy and beer lover.

01-15-2008 02:16:21 | More by indiapaleale

sulldaddy

Connecticut

4.65/5  rDev +9.9%
quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

I stopped here on the way to a friends cabin near Lewiston to stock up on ME brews. I wasnt disappointed.
The store is easy to find just across from RiRa in downtown Portland. Walking in there are a few tables of room temp local/regional bombers and a mix and match 6er table. I spent most of my time here. The owner/manager was stocking shelves so we chatted about beers and I asked about Brother Adams Braggot and he apologized saying they were out. He answered questions about brews I havent heard of (Black Bear brewing) and told me about the growlers in the coolers. Walking past the tables there is a row of 4-6 cooler doors with locals regionals first some growlers and then finally the big 3 and the like in the last cooler. There were growlers from two very small breweries and also most of the same brews that are on the tables at room temp. I scored some Allagash Musellete, Black Bear stuff, Bar Harbor, and a smattering of other brews. I also asked about a large magnum from Belgium, the owner said he'd drop $5 off the price (only 28 anyway) if I bought it...SOLD! He then comped me two of my 15 bombers. QUite a great little shop, that obviously has a focus on craft brews and quality products and service.
Easily worth a visit.

07-08-2006 16:30:39 | More by sulldaddy