Novare Res Bier Cafe — Restaurant in Portland

I'd probably give this a 3.5 for my overall experience. I came for Zwanze Day (specifically for this event, from out of state) and it was poorly executed, IMO.

Pros: Amazing beer list Competent bartenders who know which type of glass to serve which beers in, how to operate a corkscrew, put lambic in lambic baskets, etc. Nice patio, cozy 'cellar' type of feel.

Cons: Patio servers and some staff had no idea what they were doing and were totally overwhelmed and clueless. Multiple times the patio server would forget beers or have to ask guests which beer they ordered when delivering. He stated he only works there occasionally so kind of poor planning to throw him to the wolves on a day when the place is packed to capacity with beer nerds. No clear line or spot at the bar to order. People were pushing up to the bar in between other guests, bartenders were taking order from whoever. Some bartenders would tell you they were out of a certain beer while another bartender would pour you one. Just kind of unorganized and sloppy. One or two people were vastly over served - I witnessed one lady passed out / sleeping on a patio table. My biggest gripe though, was the way the Zwanze event was handled in regards to special tappings. I had heard great things about Novare Res and traveled cross country to attend the event. They didn't even tap some of the kegs they advertised and others were tapped randomly so you couldn't plan on trying them. I spent a total of 5 or 6 hours there between noon and 8pm and was only able to try two of the special taps out of the 5 or 6 they were supposed to serve. I walked around the pier / touristy area with my wife and missed one. And missed another when we left for dinner (Duckfat down the street is awesome) Another one that was advertised never ended up being served, which was a real disappointment. The bartender said only the owner was allowed to tap it and he left for the night around 8pm to go to a beer event elsewhere.

I'm sure the place is better when not so crowded, but overall I was generally disappointed that I chose to do Zwanze at Novare as opposed to Trillium or Armsby Abbey which were on our short list. Even my friends from the midwest who went to the Elkader, Iowa event reported that they got to try all of the taps and the bar sold bottles both on-site and to-go. Could have saved myself hundreds of dollars and had a better...

Novare Res is, in many ways, two separate experiences. There is the indoor bar and beer hall area which is used primarily in the cold months, and the outdoor "bier cafe" in the summer. Both are exquisite in their own ways and for their own reasons, but are entirely unique experiences to one another.

The indoor section is rather small, and setup sort of as a traditional beer hall-style with a 'hipster' flair, with long tables and benches, low ceilings, and features board games and jenga. The inside is not large at all, but can fit many people, and the bar is setup in a way where it is easy to get attention from the bartenders and several bartenders can easily work a shift. There's a very cozy, community feel in there. Everyone is treated with a ton of respect by the bartenders and you can tell that each and every one of them has a genuine love of pouring good beers and wanting people to enjoy them.

The outside is not so much of a community atmosphere, but a lovely outdoor paradise in the middle of the Old Port, slightly off the beaten path. There are tables, shade, and plenty of greenery to make this place seem like its own secret garden with delicious beers. Both experiences are very comfortable, but unique in their own ways.

Regarding the beers, the selection is divine. There is a great diversity of style to suit all tastes, but no diversity of quality. Only the best is served. Novare Res prides itself in finding quality beers from all over the world, and may be one of the only places inside America where the Düsseldorf Altbier style is readily served and staff can speak about it at length. This is one of the few bars outside Cologne that will serve a proper Kölsch beer in a true kölsch glass, which provides an experience unparalleled elsewhere. These folks know how to make beer more than just beer, and ensure it is a wildly...

Came here for a dinner. I have mixed feelings. The staff is very friendly, and attentive. The selection of beers is great - you can find all sorts of unusual, delicious beers coming from German or Belgian local artsy breweries. However, the food was really not great. We had something they call Mixte plate, which is basically a bunch of raw salami and cheap cheese with two toothpicks. Even though it was an appetizer, it came together with the rest of the food. I had a wrap with chicken and rice, only half way good, and my husband had a sandwich which he didn't care for much. As a side, you get store bought potato chips, which were the most delicious food on the table. The vibe is such that I could see myself getting afterwork beers here with colleagues, or going there early in the night if I was going out. It's a casual place. It has a lot of bar seating. So I would go back definitely, only not for food. I gotta mention the waffle we had for dessert - that was...