Tuesday 15th of November 2016 09:09:35 PM

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Wife Persimmon and I, along with our #1 Son Lewis, had occasion to spend the day in Portland Maine in the Fall of November 2016

He had wanted to take us to a beer bar he found a few months prior called Novare Res.

I'm not a fan of such places. They normally tout their incredible selection of brews and, upon entering, I find that the most exquisite and unique beer is something by Stone or Ballast Point Brewing.

Now I'm sure in Portland, Maine...those are highly sought-after items but being from Southern Calfiornia, I've had them all and find them all to be way to hoppy (West Coast IPA inspired, whatever the hell that has come to mean) so I was not looking forward to this trip.

Still, #1 son has similar tastes to Persimmon and myself so we indulged his desire.

On the way, we discovered an unknown brewery down by the waterfront. I am always thrilled when I happen upon a new discovery just by chance. However, we didn't spend much time there and hurried on to our destination.

Novare Res is off the beaten path but apparently beer geeks know and love this place...and I have a sneaking suspicion, you will too.

Their beer "menu" is more a book; 6 pages of everything on tap and in bottles including, yes...Stone and Ballast Point but local brews as well and some from as far off as Norway, which we decided to sample.

Sweet Horizons comes from the frozen north and all 3 of us had had Dark Horizons a few years back (before 2016) at Stone Brewings "Pour It Black" annual fest...and we all immediately swooned. It was thick and full of flavor, viscous on the tongue, lasting on the palate so the idea of having yet another from Nogne Brewing was a no-brainer.

We were not disappointed. Not as sweet as his little brother but bursting with character and flavor.

The bar itself is dark, laid back (#1 son reported that his previous trip including drinking with a few thousand of his closest friends one afternoon...so our "party" this day was a delight with mebbe a half-dozen others ordering and imbibing)...the service was terrific....the snacks were a perfect compliment to the beers.

After a bit more than 2 hours later, Portland had turned dark and cold and we had a 2 hour drive back to the confines of Boston so we had to say adios.

But all of us (and perhaps #2 son as well if we can pull him out of Denver for a week!) will return to see what new offerings the place has.

And maybe do so in the Spring when we can sit outside in their beer "garden."

Or maybe not.

Doesn't matter.

Just flip another page, close our eyes, let our fingers scan the page, and wait to drink another amazing brew.