Portland Brewery Week-Day 3

We continue our exploration of a few of Portland’s craft breweries today with a rather new brewery, Great Notion. Don’t be fooled by Great Notion’s age, however. This brewery is making great beer, and we were very happy to have been able to try a few of them.

The brewery is located in an old storefront, which they have since converted into a brewery and brewpub. The exterior retains its character, while the interior has been converted into a large, open space with lots of windows to both the outside and the brewing equipment inside. Where there aren’t windows, warm colors and dark wood fill the walls, while bits of metal, exposed beams, and simplistic lighting lend an industrial vibe to the space. The brewery also has a large outdoor patio area.

As it was dinner time, we decided to eat at Great Notion, as well as get a tasting flight. The brewery offers a small menu, though with some variety, including salads, sandwiches, burgers, and other pub-style food, although with an artisan flair. Our food was very good, especially the waffle fries that come with most meals. For as good as the food was though, the beers were what really stood out. We were impressed with all of the beers, including Juice Box, a hazy New England-style IPA that was flavorful and nuanced, and Double Stack, an imperial stout brewed with coffee and maple syrup that was bold, but not too sweet or syrupy. Our favorite, however, was the Vanilla Latte Mochi, a coffee flavored IPA that blended a tasteful coffee flavor with an excellent, juicy IPA.

We were quite satisfied with our experience at Great Notion and considered it a highlight of our tour of Portland breweries. We recommend it as one of the top breweries to visit in the city.