Divey (as in resembling a dive bar) isn’t the best descriptor, but it’s the closest I could get to describing the essence of these bars, where the bathrooms may be covered in graffiti and the bartenders can be slightly surly. While the craft-beer selection is far and away better than any dive bar and the scene is generally less unsavory, these bars still maintain the vibes of a neighborhood dive: just a comfortable, unpretentious, and straightforward bar that also serves really good craft beer. Here are four that fall into that category and a few more worth mentioning.
Mama’s CrowBar
Portland, Maine
Mama’s is a bar that’s knows what it wants to be—and that’s a “beer only/cash only” neighborhood bar with six local drafts (e.g., Allagash, Oxbow, Rising Tide and more from Maine), a solid bottle and can selection, and a variety of casual entertainment, from a stack of board games to darts to a small book selection. It’s small, but not cramped, quiet, but always comfortable, and perfect for both an afternoon beer with a book or a low-key night with friends. They’ve also embedded themselves in the local arts community and regularly host open-mic and comedy nights and poetry readings.