More than a funny name: Three Dollar Deweys
Well known for its massive beer selection (36 to be exact), pub grub and free popcorn, Three Dollar Deweys is one of the Old Port’s flagship bars, a name just about everyone in Greater Portland is familiar with. But what about that name?
The Dewey’s Web page reads: Back in the Yukon, nights were long and lonely. If a man didn’t want to spend the night alone he might try one of the local “houses of pleasure,” where the ladies would smile coyly & point to the following list.
“That’s just a fun fact,” says general manager Tom Fiorini. “But ironically enough, up above (at the original location on Fore Street) was a massage parlor.”
Another popular notion, particularly among tourists and other non-regulars, is that all the beers are $3.
“We get that all the time. ‘I thought everything was $3,’” Fironi says. Not true, though during Happy Hour (4 to 8 p.m.) and after 9 p.m. there is almost always a premium draft for $2.75.
So the name may be a bit misleading, but it does the job by being provocative. Fiorini says the bar is a Maine icon, joked about by 97.9 FM in Boston and recognized by people across the country. But when it comes down to it, Deweys is all about the beer.
In fact, Fiorini is so in tune with his brews, he monitors how each one is selling, down to the pint, through an intuitive computer system. He then swaps them for new beers “if anything is slipping in sales.”
The beers are changed up about four times a year, and the selection includes Maine micro brews, national macro brews and imports from afar like Italy and Germany. Even with all those choices, the bestsellers so far this year are Shipyard Export and Allagash White.
Our visit came on a Sunday night (Shipyard Sunday, with $2.75 Shipyard drafts), a good time to sit back and relax in a bar normally pretty crowded. This night Deweys was relatively empty, the bouncer dazed from a long and busy spring weekend.
After downing a Shipyard, my adventurous spirit lured me to the Black List, a selection of drinks concocted with Guinness displayed on a chalkboard. A Black & Tan (Guinness and Bass) was necessary, but there are more ridiculous blends to sample.
Even I wasn’t brave enough to try a possibly disgusting Guinness and Champagne mix. Instead, I went with the Black Dog: Guinness and Seadog Apricot. Sounds gross, right? Nah, it was delicious. It was the booze form of consuming a delicious fruit cake. If you are willing to try something new, this blend comes highly recommended.
After the name and the beer selection, free popcorn is a big draw. Buttery and totally unhealthy, this stuff is a must-have after a couple o’ pints. It is all over the floor already, which made me feel better after I inevitably spilled it.
Long on content (beers, food and popcorn), Deweys is a bit light on atmosphere. The lights are the brightest (as far as I know) in Portland and the seating is uncomfortable. The music was 80s rock, most of which should have been left in 80s. The bar is, however, a big open space, which lends itself to partying with lots of friends and meeting new people, but probably not to bringing a date.
“We don’t have music anymore. We dispensed with our entertainment license,” Fiorini says. “Now it’s a place where people come and talk and meet.”
Deweys is Portland’s original brew pub. Opened by Allen Eames in 1981 on Fore Street, the pub eventually moved to Commercial Street and expanded its draft beer selection from eight to 36. But other bars have moved in on a market that Three Dollar Deweys invented back in the day.
“The pie hasn’t gotten bigger. If anything, it’s gotten smaller. Obviously since we opened our doors in ‘81 there’s a lot more (nightlife opportunities),” Fiorini explains. “Our number one thing is providing a draft line that’s entertaining.”
The free popcorn doesn’t hurt, either.
Comments
The black list is fantastic, and reminds me of my nights out in London after a soccer match. The Black Velvet(guinness/champagne) is definitely an acquired taste, but is really not too bad.
Posted by U.S. GoonerApril 15, 2008 12:27 AM
Nothing like leaving a bar and having kernels in between your teeth. Works well with the ladies on the bar at the Iguana. Ow!
Posted by Fat BoyApril 15, 2008 05:57 PM
FORMER PEAKS ISLANDER WHO GETS HOME 3 OR 4 TIMES A YEAR...JUST LIKE "CHEERS"..THEY ALWAYS REMEMBER YOU AND YOU ALWAYS RUN INTO SOMEONE YOU HAVE'T SEEN FOR AGES...BOTH THE FORMER AND NEWER LOCATION...GOOD BEAH TOO!!
Posted by VALApril 17, 2008 11:57 AM





North of the Border
Recently Seen
Taste of Maine Food Fest
Mothers Day Baseball in Buxton
Trout and Heads
'What Happens in Vegas'
The Baker's Bench
Reverb
Where's the beach?
Casting Call
As a former Mainer, Dewey's is one of my favorite place to go and have a drink and catch up with people. Its a great bar, no too loud that you cannot have a conversation, but it still has a good atmosphere and great selection of drinks and beer. The free popcorn is a huge plus and the food there is more than decent!
Posted by Former MainerApril 14, 2008 01:59 PM