Portsmouth Brewery

jamescain

Texas

4.33/5  rDev +2.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5 | $$

This place is kind of hidden, when compared to Red Hook, which is also in Portsmith. But find it...its so worth it. I went here for the beer, my girlfriend went here for the food...we were both satisfied. I was only slightly disappointed with the beer selection, not my favorite beers and they were out of the IPA, but it was a very diverse selection. The food was tasty and the beer was even better. We got a beer flight so we were able to try all 11 different beers they had on tap. They carried not only their own beers but also Smutty Nose. If you're in the area I suggest you stop by for a beer or a meal.

10-20-2009 20:38:03 | More by jamescain

mltobin

Connecticut

4.36/5  rDev +3.1%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.25 | food: 4 | $$

Over the years, I have been here several times. For me, it is usually a nice "rest stop" while driving to/from different parts of Maine. Thankfully, it is not very far off I-95. The only real trick is finding parking, especially during peak times when the weather is warm.

Anyways, they do a steady business and thus it can be hectic at times. Despite that, their staff is quite attentative to their thirsty patrons. And for those who are unsure about a certain beer on type, they will give you a small sample before you commit, which is always appreciated. Aside from Portsmouth beers, they always have a few Smuttynose options and small selection from other craft brewers such as Founders on tap.

The food is above average, they have the typical burgers and sandwiches, but also mussels and few other offerings that aren`t typical "pub grub". The meals have always hit the spot for me and are a good thing to have when one has a couple beers here. For those who want to same brew home, they will fill a growler to go. Or you can grab a bomber at the adjoining retail, as well as shirts, glassware and other swag.

05-16-2013 00:38:05 | More by mltobin

JuliusCaesar

New Hampshire

4.53/5  rDev +7.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.75 | $$

This is my favorite place to go in the NH seacoast area. The atmosphere is great. I like the open feel of the main dining room and the bar. It's usually pretty packed and lively during dinner hours. The beer selection is good, with brews from both the brewpub and Smuttynose. Lastly, the food is phenomenal. Everything I've had has been delicious and well presented. Their chef and kitchen also do a great job changing up the specials daily and they make a lot of beer inspired dishes. Awesome place.

05-13-2013 21:17:09 | More by JuliusCaesar

MThiele360

New Hampshire

4.63/5  rDev +9.5%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5 | $$

What can I say about the Portsmouth Brewery that hasn't already been said? I live about 40 minutes away in the Manchester area but I still manage to be a regular here.

The atmosphere at the Portsmouth Brewery can often hinge on when you're there. The upstairs restaurant attracts everyone from college kids to families with small children. On summer nights and weekends, the wait for a table can be lengthy. On weekday afternoons, you can't go wrong with Donna behind the upstairs bar. I also like the lounge for early evenings and weekend afternoons, but it can attract a bit of a college "bro" crowd in the late evenings (like most places in Portsmouth).

The quality of the beers is very high, and dare I say has even stepped up since Tyler Jones has taken over for Tod Mott. It's a brewpub so there's going to be good ones and not-so-good ones, but Tyler is doing a nice job keeping the beers consistently good as well as introducing some new beers and styles. We all know Tod did a fantastic job, but Tyler is breathing some new life into the place.

The service is one of the best aspects of the Brewery, and is what keeps us locals coming back in. Even if you're only in once every couple of weeks, they remember you and are all very friendly. All of the bartenders are knowledgable about the beers and you can often find Tyler sitting at the lounge bar in the early evenings.

Selection is varied. Typically they have 6 of their own brews on tap as well as 4 "guest" taps (usually from sister brewery Smuttynose but they often have other brews on). On occasion, some of the guest taps get pushed out in favor of more house beers. They also have one cask engine. The styles vary by season - they usually have some entry-level stuff (a pale, a blonde) on for the tourists and novices that wander in, but the styles they have in rotation run the gamut. I gravitate towards the IPAs and farmhouse ales they do.

I give high rankings to the food. Everything is very well crafted and they have something from everyone, whether you have vegetarians in your party or you're looking for a steak. They have weekly specials, a catch of the day, as well as a different cheap food item Sun-Thu in the lounge. $1 taco Tuesdays can't be beat.

Overall, the Portsmouth Brewery is still a must-stop in what is becoming a clogged Portsmouth craft beer market.

05-10-2013 19:58:44 | More by MThiele360

Kit

Maine

4.59/5  rDev +8.5%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.75 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5 | $$

Portsmouth Brewery is a great place to grab a beer, lunch, dinner, or a quick snack. They also serve good cocktails, wine, and local sodas. Their scratch kitchen serves up locally sourced seafood, veggies, and meats, with regular daily specials, and other "special specials." It is one of my fave places to eat and drink, and a regular lunch stop!

It's a little loud--old brick and metal, but the side dining room is a bit quieter. Beers are posted in large, colorful chalked letters in several locations in the establishment. The bathroom doors are made from old brewing tanks!

Their food is really tasty and made from scratch right there. There's an Asian-fusion influence--(curried mussels, Korean beef tacos, miso soup), some Mediterranean touches (falafel, hummus), and great bar food snacky staples--a daily devilled egg, Ploughman's plate of in house charcuterie that's a cheese, a couple meats, a jam made with one of the beers, coarse mustard, cornichons, and a pretzel roll (today's had Capicola, Pork House Pate, NH Brie, and Orange Marmalade with Sage and Hefeweizen.)

The servers are friendly and know a lot about their beer, and beer in general. It's a popular, busy place, and service is efficient. They don't take reservations, except if you want to reserve the "big table" in the back for a good sized group--check the website for more info! ALSO they validate parking in the shop, and have 2 gender neutral bathrooms by the shop, in addition to the restrooms in the main dining area.

They post their specials on Facebook, including what's on tap, in the cask and wine and beer cocktail daily specials.

They have an imperial pint club for a fee, and a rewards program. They have tasting paddles, and it's usually possible to taste a beer before you order it, as well as to order a half (8 oz) beer. They use proper glassware--ie Pilseners are served in pilsener glasses, saisons in globes, etc. And there is glassware, t-shirts, beer ephemera from both PB and SmuttyNose Brewery in the shop next door.

05-07-2013 02:33:42 | More by Kit

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.26/5  rDev -22.9%
vibe: 2.25 | quality: 2.5 | service: 4 | selection: 3.75 | food: 3.5 | $$

This place was definitely not at all what I expected. Atmosphere was pretty much like a full-blown chain restaurant, Rock Bottom, Applebee's, what have you. A lot of brosephs. I guess I expected something a bit more low-key and intimate for some reason. Oh well. The bar seemed disproportionately small, but there were plenty of dining tables, as well as some of those intermediate bar/table hybrids, which is where I parked myself.

There was a good selection of beers on tap, including a few Smuttynoses. However, overall I was quite disappointed by the quality of the beer. Again, I guess I just expected more. With all the hype over the now-gone Kate the Great, I thought there would be some other good brews, but there was really nothing better than your common amateur homebrew, with a few exceptions. And having never actually had KtG, I can almost come to the conclusion that it is/was probably nothing more than an overhyped/homerized beer as well. Not that the beer was terrible, I just didn't have anything that I thought was very good or distinctive, and I sampled everything they had to offer.

The service was fine, and our waitress was on the ball the whole time. The menu consisted mainly of comfort foods, but everything was pretty tasty. the waitress saved me from almost ordering a vegan meal. Well sorry if I know what "reuben" means but not "tempeh." I'm just not in that loop. Prices overall were reasonable. Nice merch shop as well.

I'm glad I took the trip up to visit, but honestly I'd never go back here for any reason. It's just not my kind of place, and the beer was mediocre at best. In the unlikely event that I ever find myself in Portsmouth again, I will be right around the corner at Earth Eagle, which is definitely worth revisiting.

03-10-2013 01:40:18 | More by Rifugium

seplo

Connecticut

4.55/5  rDev +7.6%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5 | $$

I've been here a bunch of times over the years and nothing ever changes, in fact it might get better.
the atmosphere about this brewery is one of the main reasons i keep on coming back. My friends and i always seem to chat it up with the friendly locals that inhabit this place.Everytime i've been here everyone is so nice.
the service is superb even when the is a wait to get a seat.They really know how to train their waitresses, you never wait more than a couple of minutes before being waited on.
they have a great food selection ranging from burgers, seafood, salads, sandwiches and soups(no disrespect to them, i cant remember everything).Their clam chowder and fish chowder is the best ive had.
They have a great beer selection from beers they brew themselves(that is constantly changing) to a local brewery called Smuttynose, they always have 4-7 beers i can easily drink.
the quality of the beer and food is unmatched by any other place i have reviewed or been to. i will be making many more trips up there and i suggest that you do too

10-30-2012 23:24:07 | More by seplo

NHSURF60

New Hampshire

5/5  rDev +18.2%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 5 | $$

This is one of my favorite places within the Portsmouth area. They rarely ever make a beer that I don't like, and their beer selection is always great (and always changing!). The food is exceptional. Make sure you try the Black Bean Dip.

I usually refill my growler every time I visit, usually once a week. The growler itself requires a $4 deposit. It then costs $10 to fill the growler with a "regular" beer and $18 dollars for a "premium" beer. Rinse out your growler when you return and they will provide you with a brand new, freshly cleaned one for your refill.

The brewery tours are free and very fun. It is interesting to see how they make their beer in such a small area.

I have never had a problem with service on either floor and the bar tenders, waiters and waitresses all seem to have a decent knowledge of all the beer they sell.

Visit the brewery, if you have not already. You won't be disappointed!

05-09-2012 01:14:18 | More by NHSURF60

TurdFurgison

Ohio

4.14/5  rDev -2.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | $$

I stopped here on a normal weekday, not a beer release. Open and inviting atmosphere, split level with plenty of seating. Quiet folksy music playing in the background, lots of good American wholesome types and families eating, a very comfortable place.

There were 6 house beers on tap, another 3 Smuttynose beers and a Southern Tier. Nothing crazy special, they hit all the regular styles you expect at a brewpub. Two IPAs was a plus (one was Finest Kind), definitely no complaints with beer quality.

Overall an excellent brewpub, similar to many other fine establishments (it reminded me strongly of Bethlehem Brew Works). Nice stop.

03-09-2012 20:06:15 | More by TurdFurgison

arktos

Massachusetts

4.3/5  rDev +1.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4 | $$

Second time stopping in here, even more impressed. Upstairs and down are completely different vibes, up is open atmosphere and more restaurant like than bar, downstairs is no frills cozy/lounge, basement bar, which is fine with me... same food and draft selections. Selections are mostly their own and sister company Smuttynose so always solid choices there. Also mix in a few others from coast to coast. Decent beer and food prices. Our meal was tasty and the beers were delicious. Ended up settling into a few pints of their oatmeal stout (best oat ever had - silky smooth). Also picked up a milk stout to go from their little shop next door. It's a sin to stop in Portsmouth and not visit this place, just be sure to get there early cuz its a busy busy place but for good reason.

02-25-2012 18:10:01 | More by arktos