BAR PILOT

Crack A Cold One!

Beer Can Appreciation Day

Posted by: John Chandler on Jan 24, 2011 at 11:00AM 5 Comments

It was on this day in 1935 that New Jersey’s Gottfried Krueger Brewing Company put beer in a can—for the very first time! And thus was born Beer Can Appreciation Day. Though I’m normally a relentless cheerleader for our regional craft beer community, for today I’ll grant you a special dispensation to schlep down to the market and pick up a sixer of cans.

Conventional brew wisdom holds that beer in a bottle tastes better than beer in a can, though cans outsell bottles. How do you account for this? Also, please share your favorite beer in a can brand with me and the rest of the drinking buddies. I’ve always been partial to Rainier in the can, myself.

Now let’s enjoy a little holiday music!

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Tags: Beer, Beck

Booze News

A roundup of potable press

Posted by: John Chandler on Jan 21, 2011 at 03:00PM 4 Comments

You like me! You really like me!

ITEM: Congratulations to Clyde Common mixologist Jeffrey Morganthaler, the winner in Portland Monthly‘s inaugural Best Bartender contest. The public has spoken and Morgenthaler, aka, the blogging bartender, outdistanced some stiff competition, including Mint’s Lucy Brennan, who finished second, with Beaker and Flask bartender David Shenaut coming in third. Hats off also to our two top write-in candidates, Matt Stiles from Three Doors Down, and Jimmy Mak’s mixing maestro J.D. Stubenberg. My liver says you’re all winners, but the Bar Pilot has been a fan of Morgenthaler’s swizzling skills for a few years.

ITEM: Ezra Johnson-Greenough over at the New School blog reports that Hopworks Brewing’s Christian Ettinger is set to open the Bike Bar, a new venue on North Williams Street, just one building down from Lompoc’s 5th Quadrant. Already the home of Pix Patisserie and Tasty & Sons, along with 5th Quadrant, North Williams shall now be known as Temptation Avenue. The Bike Bar is aiming for a mid-May opening.

ITEM Caught this story in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer about the coming of Sir Edwin’s Blended Whisky in a can, a bold new product from Scottish Spirits Ltd. Christie Scott, the OLCC’s media liaison, says she’s heard of it, but points out that Sir Edwin hasn’t come up for a listing review before the board yet. “I can’t imagine the market for such a thing,” she says. Oh come now! The 330 ml can contains about eight shots of whiskey, perfect for the the lunch-hour dipsomaniac or the busy tippler on the go. Of course, as a distilled beverage, it would be sold in liquor stores, so any hopes we had of skipping down to Plaid Pantry for a can of whiskey will have to wait.

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Happy Hour of the Week

Warming up to the Bonfire

Posted by: John Chandler on Jan 18, 2011 at 01:00PM 8 Comments

Yes, I am listening. When I ask friends, family, and weirdos I meet on the bus about Happy Hour, I take note of their responses—and I’m always asking. Seriously, I was considering "Where do you go? and “What do you like about it?” as facial tattoos in order to save time. It is because of my manic insistence on due diligence that I approached the Bonfire Lounge on SE Stark St with mixed feelings. It’s definitely a popular spot—but not for everybody, apparently. “Oh, it’s full of insufferable hipsters,” was the litany that was repeated to me with the frequency of a Buddhist serenity chant.

The Bonfire Lounge is a hipster haven. This is not a matter of opinion. During my initial visit I couldn’t help noticing that all six of the other customers were at least 20 years my junior and I was the only one present without a bike messenger bag. Not only that, but one of the chaps at the bar was reciting dialogue from the debut episode of Portlandia, a new TV show about—what else?—the quirky nature of Portland bohemian culture. Is it just me or is it getting awfully meta in here?

Even so, I didn’t feel conspicuous or out of place, and the bartender/waitress was both sunny and swift. Besides, Happy Hour there is a whopping five hours long from 2-7 daily, with food and drink options aplenty. And anyone feeling alienated by the current face of youth culture would do well to spread out a little, since there are four distinct areas for your lollygagging pleasure. The picnic tables out front are usually occupied by animated small groups and loners with dogs or bike helmets. The bar area is for the FOTB (friends of the bartender) crowd, where conversation topics include current events (who hooked up with who) sports (what they did after hooking up), and the whether (whether or not they’re still at it). There’s also a slender dining nook and a game room with pool tables and a few video games. The tomato-soup walls keep the interior suitably dim, and the black-and-white checkered tile gives one the impression of being a sentient chess piece on the way to the restroom (especially after a few pints).

The Happy Hour items aren’t especially brilliant or innovative, but a hungry fellow can do quite well here for under $5. The menu features a pair of zesty chicken verde tacos (jerked pork and ahi tuna versions also available for a little extra coin), hummus and pita, chicken or cheese quesadilla, gyros, and a perfectly serivceable hamburger for $3.50 apiece. The latter was reasonably sized and quite tasty (neither a slider nor a behemoth) in its own humble bar burger fashion. When I asked the waitress where the meat was sourced, she looked amused. “It’s just basic beef,” she explained, as if I was the winner of the World’s Biggest Schmuck competition.

Beer is a buck off during Happy Hour which means $3 pints of local libations such as Alameda Wheat or Hopworks DOA strong ale, along with Trumer Pils, Terminal Gravity IPA, and Red Seal Ale. For more proletarian tastes, pints of Miller High Life are a mere $1.50. So for $5 you can have a burger and a pint. When the good Lord created lunch, this is what he had in mind. And if you’re in the mood for a stronger spirit, there’s usually a featured brand for a dollar off, in this case, it was Basil Hayden’s bourbon, always a good call. I selected a Hoté Maté ($7) from the hot drink menu and was rewarded with a potent pick-me-up (yerba maté tea serves as the basis for this cocktail) that sports a shot of house-infused cinnamon and vanilla rum. All good except the vanilla. Taste-wise, it just didn’t belong in such heady company.

If you’re really and truly freaked out about bending an elbow with the young ‘uns you can, of course, seek your pleasures elsewhere. But as a well-intentioned geezer myself, I tell you this: I will be back. The duration of the Happy Hour is generous and $3 pints are a big fat bargain. Besides, it’s imperative in these uncertain times to keep the cross-generational lines of communication open. How else are we supposed to learn anything? Get over yourself and get over to Bonfire Lounge.

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Tags: Happy Hour, Craft Beers, Cheap Eats, Bonfire Lounge, Portlandia

People’s Party

Democrat Jesse Cornett becomes a publican

Posted by: John Chandler on Jan 14, 2011 at 11:00AM 4 Comments

Home of the Guild Public House.

“I was thinking our slogan should be, ‘For the rest of us,’” laughs erstwhile city council candidate Jesse Cornett. He’s referring to the spanking-new Guild Public House on Lower East Burnside, where most neighborhood businesses are, for lack of a better description, hipster-focused. “I’m not a hipster,” he confesses.

Kind of a shocking thing for a would-be politician to admit, especially in Portland, where cozying up to the youth vote is critical. But you won’t find this fledgling bar owner dashing about in Chuck Taylor’s or gibbering with excitement over the previous night’s Animal Collective concert. Instead, he’s following in the tradition of ex-mayor and publican Bud Clark (who’s famous “Expose Yourself to Art” poster graces the wall here), as a businessman who understands that political debates are best hashed out in public (as in “public house”).

Guild proprietor Jesse Cornett.

At the “soft” opening for the Guild, in addition to the usual assortment of lowlife freeloaders (me) and frantic first-nighters, there was the unmistakable presence of party politics. Former Democratic secretary of state Bill Bradbury was in the house, paying his respects to his pal Jesse Cornett, who worked diligently on Bradbury’s recent campaign for governor. Congressman Earl Blumenauer also did a walk through, but I was so busy searching the crowd for a bowtie, that I must have missed him. Drat the luck!

The Guild is the third incarnation of the space that occupies the first floor of the snazzy Rocket building, where Noble Rot reigns benevolently two levels up. The interior is still dominated by reds and blacks, but the bohemian accouterments from its early days as the Chesterfield, like wall-mounted skateboards, pastel-colored stools, and a circular 20-person orgy couch are long gone. Instead, the furniture is functional and sturdy, and the beer list is local (Double Moutain, Oakshire, Everybody’s Brewing; $3 pints during Happy Hour, 4-6 daily).

Former secretary of state Bill Bradbury (left).

Small-bite samples from the Guild’s kitchen, including pulled-pork Cuban sandwiches with Rogue bleu cheese crumbles (winner of the evening’s “yummy” award), cider-braised chorizo, and some really mustardy deviled eggs, were circulated and duly devoured. Cornett tells me, unsurprisingly, that the food menu will be small and seasonal, with an emphasis on locally sourced goodies. Think cheese plates, huge salads, and sandwiches rather than coronary inducing nachos and fries. Shut up! It’s good for you!

The pulled pork Cuban sandwiches vanished quickly.

I’m hopeful that politicos will continue to frequent the Guild for beer and banter. A bar is the perfect place to approach and chat up elected officials about any bees currently residing in your bonnet—a practice that might be increasingly difficult in light of recent tragic events in Arizona. And if a heated barroom argument about feckless Democrats and corporate-shilling Republicans should erupt, owner Cornett, no stranger to partisan politics, can probably restore order with a round on the house.

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Tags: Happy Hour, Bar Openings, Bill Bradbury, Earl Blumenauer, Double Mountain Brewing, Guild Public House

Choosing Sides

The tale of two pubs

Posted by: John Chandler on Jan 11, 2011 at 11:00AM 10 Comments

Breakside’s house beers.

It’s all in a night’s work. I devoted Saturday evening to checking out a pair of newish brew pubs, Breakside Brewing on NE Dekum, as well as the freshly opened Burnside Brewing, and found them to be a study in contrasts. Me? I don’t have a problem with contrasts—sure beats dull uniformity.

Breakside Brewery It’s been open since the summer but I don’t get over to that part of town as often as I’d like. Breakside is exactly as I imagined a contemporary neighborhood pub; a stylish, upmarket industrial space replete with loading dock garage doors and tables made from rustic barrels. It’s dark and woody inside, and despite the presence of a TV tuned to ESPN, it’s a sedate scene. There’s an upstairs dining room, and a slightly more casual bar area, both of which emphasize the space between you and the other patrons. This is the spot for a romantic rendezvous for lovers who love beer more than a sophisticated list of the latest pinots.

I tried a pair of the house beers with mixed results. The dry stout compares favorably to a good ol’ Guinness; the roasted barley gives it that smoky disposition in the mouth, but it’s a relatively light beer at only 4.5 percent alcohol. To me, this is the sort of beer that proves an ideal accompaniment to a blustery night of threatening weather—a dark, distinctive brew that can ward off the damp and chill. The Aztec, an American strong ale, was less successful. The presence of malt and honey gave it plenty of body, but the menu description indicated that Thai chilies and habanero peppers were part of the mix. My mouth was all set for some sizzle that sadly didn’t arrive. Sad face emoticon.

The mac and cheese at Breakside is for serious appetites only.

Not feeling ravenously hungry, I opted for the “carnivore” mac and cheese ($9). I’m not sure why I thought this starchy staple would be something I could casually graze on, but it turned out to be a seriously hefty serving. Loaded with Tillamook white cheddar, gruyere, parmesan, romano, and asiago cheeses, sun-dried Roma tomatoes, Andouille sausage and bacon, this dish proved to be my Waterloo. I should have boxed it up and taken it home, but the piping-hot, rich confluence of cheeses and pig parts was impossible to resist. I envisioned my leftovers in the morning, shrunken into a shivery and sticky state nestled in my fridge next to the Arm & Hammer, which inspired me to bravely soldier on till I was stuffed like a Christmas goose. Other items that teased my attention were the steak dip sandwich ($12) and the beer-braised short ribs ($15) which I spied being greedily devoured at nearby barrels (tables).

A final observation-slash-complaint. This joint needs better signage. On a dark night it’s tough to spot through the gloom.

Burnside Brewing It’s only been open two weeks, but this joint is jumping. The transition from Breakside’s comparative tranquility to the loud, rowdy crowd all up in each others’ grills at Burnside was like jumping into an icy stream after a night in a toasty feather bed. Suddenly, you’re social! When I peeked and saw how many people were inside, I assumed it was closed for a private party. There were groups of folks standing, drinking, and chatting all over the 90 degree-angle room. On this night at least, there was no hope of being snugly sequestered in a zone of your own. The breathless waiter zipped over to our booth to announce that several items on the menu (cured meats are the specialty) were sold out. I was still groaning over my mac and cheese so I settled for a beer, though the Kobe burger cooked in duck fat ($10) was a strong persuader. But I would have died. Then where would we be?

The waiter told us that Burnside’s menu is augmented with driftwood gathered from beneath the Fremont Bridge. Notice several items are crossed off. Arrive early if you want to eat!

At the moment, Burnside only offers one house beer (there are more to follow), a very sturdy IPA that should satisfy anyone’s cravings for hops. From the guest taps I selected a darn good kolsch from Double Mountain. The $5 price tag was a bitter pill to swallow, but at least management has the good taste to pour the beers into 20-ounce glasses, which greatly elongates one’s visit. That’s no accident.

So make note: Here we have two very different venues for your consideration. The Breakside beckons to small groups or parties of two that are kenn on each others’ undivided attention. At Burnside, there’s a party goin’ on—and everyone’s invited.

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Duck Dives

Watering holes for the Fiesta Bowl

Posted by: John Chandler on Jan 07, 2011 at 11:00AM 1 Comments

It’s been a while since a local sports team was involved in any sort of nationally televised championship scenario, so naturally the furor over the Oregon Ducks battling the Auburn Tigers for the Bowl Championship Series title has reached a fever pitch. I would just like to remind everyone that it’s also an opportunity to drink beer, carouse, and carry on with your comrades. After all, the Ducks are in the Fiesta Bowl, and as we all know, “fiesta” means “party.” So here’s a list of possible places to pass the time during the pigskin pageant along with a few notes on specials designed to further entice the game-day patron.

Buffalo Gap Just by showing up you have a chance to win a new Budweiser kayak. If you stay home to watch the game there will be no kayak for you. Bud Light pitchers $6, 30¢ buffalo wings.

Champions A Samuel Adams rep will be present to distribute Sam Adams (the beer, not the mayor) swag to fortunate attendees. Tailgate party food menu and pints of Sam Adams $3.25.

Cheerful Tortoise A Jameson’s whiskey rep will be present to distribute Jameson’s swag (glasses, T-shirts, hats) to fortunate attendees. Jameson’s by the glass $4.50-5.

Chipotle Stop by wearing Oregon Ducks gear and you’re entitled to a buy-one-get-one-free burrito special.

Grand Central Bowl Just by showing up you have a chance to win a new Bridgeport Brewing snowboard. If you stay home to watch the game there will be no snowboard for you. Happy Hour prices, $2.95-4.95 food menu, during first hour of the game.

Hollywood Theatre Will be showing the game. Doors at 4:30, no cover, and kids welcome.

McMenamins Theaters The Mission, the Bagdad, and St Johns Theater and Pub also will be showing the game. Doors at 4:30, no cover, and kids welcome.

Nick’s Famous Coney Island: Happy Hour prices all day; three sliders for $2.50, 50¢ chicken wings. Glasses and T-shirts will be distributed.

On Deck Sports Bar & Grill: A Smirnoff’s vodka rep will be present to distribute Smirnoff’s swag (glasses, T-shirts, hats) to fortunate attendees. Smirnoff’s drink specials TBA.

Spirit of 77 Food and drink specials and custom-made beer cozies for lucky guests.

39th St Sports Pub (Tom’s) A Pabst rep will be present to distribute Pabst swag (glasses, T-shirts, hats) to fortunate attendees. Pabst pints $2.

Triple Nickel Tacos are a measly 50¢ each.

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Tags: Sports bars, Oregon Ducks, Where to Watch the Game

Magic Moments 2010

A few things that made me love my job this year

Posted by: John Chandler on Jan 04, 2011 at 10:00AM 5 Comments

The Bar Pilot Special from Big-Ass Sandwiches

Gads, is it 2011 already? My, how quickly the sands of time swirl away during the pursuit of Happy Hour excellence and bar bounty. Please understand that I’ve had to chew my way through some ghastly grub (the memory of Ash Street Saloon’s evil grilled-cheese sandwich still causes me to wake up screaming) and sample some really underwhelming cocktails in order to bring you, my drinking buddies, the latest intelligence from the front lines. But let’s accentuate the positive, shall we? Here then is a list of particularly noteworthy menu moments from this past year.

Big-Ass Sandwiches A Big-Ass Sandwich is like telling your stomach, “Here! Suck on this!” This is not a food cart that you can hit on a daily basis. The sandwiches are just too extreme. But if you’re having one of those days and you can feel a gnawing hunger in your gut that cries out in primordial fashion to be satisfied, you can do no better.

Cafe Nell The best service in town. Super-efficient waiters who appear as if summoned from a lamp.

Cascade Barrelhouse I adore Ron Gansberg’s sour beers and I greatly look forward to exploring their flavor mystique with an assortment of food pairings.

Hawthorne Hophouse A welcome addition to my neighborhood with exceptional pub grub (the Red Dragon Burger, with ham, spicy mustard, and cheddar atop Angus beef is a new addiction) and a rotating beer selection that pays loving tribute to the region. On Sundays, local brews are only $3!

The sampler tray at Hawthorne Hophouse.

Hop & Vine Really, this modest little shop offers the best of everything. A well-curated wine list, terrific rotating taps, intriguing cocktails, and a sturdy food menu, for starters, but the atmosphere is congenial and cozy. And if you want to stalk local beer celebrities chances are they’re hanging out there—right now!

Jade Lounge’s Banana Fritters On Tuesdays and Thursdays, Jade Lounge offers a cunning array of $3 plates all day. In this case I recommend dessert first. For a fleeting instant, the delicate cornmeal shell rolled in cinnamon, bursting with gooey banana splendor will bring to mind delightful domestic scenes from childhood. Perhaps not yours, but somebody’s.

Metrovino’s Seafood Chowder: True, I first encountered this sensational soup in 2009, but I return periodically to slurp of its goodness and fortify my ravaged soul. Fatty smoked bacon adrift in a sea of oysters, clams, tuna, and halibut for $5. Why aren’t you eating it now?

Metrovino’s Seafood Chowder.

Miho Izakaya For sheer menu audacity, I have to give it up for the little Japanese pub on N Interstate. The ingredients are always cracking fresh, and the 25 or so small-plate offerings ($2-10) are not only uniformly tasty, but extremely interesting to boot. The slow-cooked pork, spicy noodles, and beguiling fish entrees will reel you in and turn you into a homing pigeon for this coop.

Three Doors Down Bartender Matt Stiles is an unsung hero in my book. He’s never served me a drink that was anything less than spectacular. And the quality of the Happy Hour chow, from the habit-forming Tuscan white bean spread to the vodka sausage penne, is incomparable. Happy Hour is available all night on Sundays and Tue-Thur.

Upright Brewing Alex Ganum’s bold and yeasty farmhouse ales provided a welcome respite from the hops arms race.

I’m as human as the next gink and I can’t be everywhere at once. So by all means, if I’ve missed something that deserves a round of applause, please speak up!

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Tags: Happy Hour, Hop and Vine, Three Doors Down, Metrovino, Best of 2010, Hawthorne Hophouse, Miho Izakaya, Upright Brewing, Cascade Brewing, Big Ass Sandwiches, Cafe Nell, Jade Lounge

Best Bars Best Bets for New Year’s Eve

Posted by: Geoff Earl on Dec 30, 2010 at 01:00PM 2 Comments

Is procrastinating on your list of New Year’s resolutions (again)? Since you still haven’t made plans, here are a few destinations that will save you from a lonely night spent the couch with Dick Clark and Ryan Seacrest.

Again, you waited until all the cheap flights to Vegas were gone. You can still pretend you’re in Vegas at Grand Central Bowl’s Vegas Style New Year’s Eve Party. Craps tables and Elvis and Joan Jett impersonators, along with Grand Central’s usual Best Bars-worthy sensory overload of dance videos on the joint’s gigantic TVs, should recreate at least some of that Vegas vibe. And when the balloons drop at midnight, you’ll swear you’re in Sin City.

If eating grapes seems like a more dignified NYE ritual than being pelted with balloons, ring in the new year at Andina, one of Portland Monthly’s Best Bars of 2010. New Year’s Eve at Andina offers early and late seatings for live Latin jazz over fine wine and champagne worthy of a pairing with three courses of Peruvian cuisine. At midnight you can duck under the table to partake in the age-old Peruvian tradition of eating twelve grapes at midnight. Reservations are required.

While we deemed Beauty Bar one of the best bars to hide out in, the downtown Portland newcomer’s free New Year’s Eve Blowout will draw a crowd with DJ Nathaniel Knows playing hip-hop, dance, indie, disco and electro. Also document that New Year’s Eve kiss in Beauty Bar’s “live” photo booth.

To hip to hoist champagne with the masses? Of course not. But if your New Year’s Eve is better spent sans fanfare and ritual, the segue into oh-eleven is still worthy of good music and food. Chomp on one of Bunk Bar’s infamous (and Best Bar-worthy) sandwiches as the Americana-tinged indie folk of Arcers of Loaf/Crooked Fingers leader Eric Bachmann sets the tone for the new year.

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Brews on Burnside

Burnside Brewing’s soft opening tonight

Posted by: John Chandler on Dec 28, 2010 at 01:00PM 1 Comments

Brew pubs are sprouting like dandelions around these parts, what with Cascade Barrelhouse, Migration Brewing, Coalition Brewing, Breakside Brewing, and Hair of the Dog all putting up their “Open” signs in the last few months. Joining this august company is Burnside Brewing, located at 701 East Burnside, right across the street from the Farm Cafe. Burnside’s “soft” opening is today at 4 pm. (Soft openings are a brilliant idea; if something goes horribly wrong staffers have a grace period to iron out the kinks).

Co-owner Adam Cassie, who’s partnered up with former Roots Organic brewer Jason McAdam, and Jay Gilbert from Full Sail, tells me Burnside’s inaugural IPA should be ready to pour just after New Year’s, but in the meantime they’ve got guest taps of Upright 5, Full Sail’s Wreck the Halls, and even Magners Irish cider for those who inexplicably poo-poo the brew.

The advance buzz from the New School blog has been substantial and if you’ve got a case of “first-nighter” syndrome then by all means show up and spring for an ale or two.

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Tags: Bar Openings, Craft Beers

Last Minute Gifts!

Suitable presents for the tippler on your list

Posted by: John Chandler on Dec 20, 2010 at 10:00AM 6 Comments

I am a notoriously lousy gifter. When wandering the stores at Christmastime I become hypnotized with possibilities and all thoughts of the actual recipient vanish. My eyes glaze over, and like a crow, I am drawn to the shiniest bauble on the shelf. Perhaps it’s my narcissism or shocking lack of empathy, but I frequently bestow presents on friends and family that would be better suited to… someone like me.

With that in mind, I’m undoubtedly the perfect guy to cobble together a list of gift possibilities for that hale and hearty soul in everyone’s life; the individual who simply looks naked (shudder!) without a mug or a highball glass in their hand. Of course, you can always ignore these notions and simply buy them a spendy bottle of hooch, but I already grazed that pasture last year. I realize this post is arriving rather late in the season. It’s yet another symptom of the careless gifter—sloth. Thanks to Lisa Morrison (aka The Beer Goddess) for not getting riled that I’m freely pilfering a couple entries from her own gift guide. It’s all about the circulation of ideas, folks!

1. Old Lompoc Snuggies. The perfect present for that special someone who can’t always be bothered with pants. You’ll be the nattiest dresser at your house in this handsome and comfy mu-mu embroidered with the logo of Portland’s own Old Lompoc Brewing. Slip it on and commence swilling a C-Note IPA! $25. Available at 5th Quadrant.

2. What to Drink iPhone App. How many times has this happened to you? You’re sitting down to an elegant meal at a posh dining establishment and you’re stymied by wine choices to go with your Lobster Thermidor? Based on the popular book What to Drink With What You Eat by Andrew Dornenburg and Karen Page, this handy application will magically transform you from slob to sophisticate in no time!

3. Oregon Beer Odyssey. Speaking of sophistication, it’s high time you educated your palate to the myriad beer styles available in your local cooler. From amber to zymurgy, Oregon Beer Odyssey’s classes will get you up to speed in all things ale-related.

4. Absinthe Kits. Delve into the mysterious world of the drink known as “The Green Fairy,” referred to as such for its rumored psychoactive properties! Only recently legalized in this country after being banned for nearly 100 years, absinthe preparation is as much ritual as it is routine.

5. 33 Beers Pocket Journal. No more blurry notes on napkins! Now beer snobs have a useful drinking companion who can remember what you did last night. This pocket-sized journal helps you take meticulous notes on the various properties (IBU, ABV, OG, etc) of every ale you’ve ever tasted. Also available at local beer emporiums all over town.

6. Portland Happy Hour Guide. Even yours truly is in awe of Cindy Anderson, Portland’s heroine of Happy Hour. Never again will you have to choke down stale chips or vulcanized chicken wings while unwinding after a miserable work day. 2011 edition now available.

7. Heavy Duty Juicer. If you’re serious about being the best home bartender on the block, then let me introduce you to my little friend. Fresh fruit juice is a requirement for cocktails that will be the life of the party.

8. Ultimate Home Bar Set-up Hello basement tiki bar! Between this and the juicer, you’re ready for anything—including all the new friends you’ll have.

9. Old Man Drinks: Recipes, Advice and Barstool Wisdom Enough with the fancy-pants cocktails! This indispensable primer from author Robert Schnakenberg will have you cranking out sidecars, rusty nails, and monte carlos just like the legendary Jimmie Charters.

10. iPhone Case Bottle Opener. Even if you’re not getting a signal, you can still crack open a cold one—as long as you’re not behind the wheel!

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Tags: Cocktails, Holiday Events, Craft Beers, Bartenders, Gift Giving, New Old Lompoc Brewing

Happy Hour of the Week

Star Bar nails the details

Posted by: John Chandler on Dec 14, 2010 at 11:00AM 9 Comments

Take a long look at Star Bar. What do you see? Located on the corner of SE Morrison Street and Sixth Avenue, from the outside you get nothing, other than the blinking neon star that says, “BAR.” (For those not hep enough to know such things, the design is based on artwork created for the highly influential 70s rock band, Big Star, thus informing nerdy rock fans that they are indeed welcome. Go and buy all of their records right now.)

Once inside, darkness reigns—as it should. A bar is one of those places where dim lighting is the rule, not the exception. Remember what a drag it was when the lights came up at the end of a school dance and you could actually see the person you were dancing with? Same principle. The primary decorative motif is the impressive collection of black velvet paintings that cover much of the wall space, though the dusky hanging lamps manage to retain a bit of the nautical bar ambiance of its former incarnation, Maiden in the Mist. So far, everything is as it should be. And that, in a nutshell, is what makes Happy Hour at Star Bar a worthwhile investment.

While there are no mind-blowingly innovative ideas at work, Star Bar staffers understand that it’s the amenities, the attention to detail, that brings back the thirsty traveler. Happy Hour is from 4-7—all day Sunday—and includes a smart selection of reduced-price chow, $3 wells, and PBR for a buck-fifty a pint. Bonus: the well drinks get a heavy pour.

Last time I was there, the Star Bar’s signature cocktails were all named after Big Star songs (“September Gurls,” “Back of a Car”, etc). This time around, Brit-punk pioneers the Buzzcocks were the featured group on the menu (another subtle nod to the rock-obsessed!) I had the Orgasm Addict ($8), a cheeky take on a sazerac with rye whiskey, pernod, and lemon zest. It was blended with an expert touch; the smoky rye granted plenty of room and respect from the supporting players. The draft beers number only a half-dozen, but the Double Mountain IRA ($4) is a guaranteed good time in a glass, and you won’t catch me griping about $2 bottles of Mickey’s.

The Happy Hour eats, again, are not remarkable in any way, other than being prepared by someone who understands quality ingredients (the manager tells us that he takes pains to make sure all of the food is locally sourced). There are three slider options, pork, beef patty, and vegetarian (white bean and potato) for $1.50 each. The pork is sweet with sneaky heat, and the veggie version comes alive with a helpful dab of stoneground mustard. I missed the actual presentation, but my friend Harold emailed me that his fried risotto cake ($3) was exceptional; cooked all the way through, creamy, and sporting a zippy dollop of tomato coulis. And when was the last time someone recommended a salad for Happy Hour? For $4, you get a munificent mess of greens, gorgonzola crumbles, dates, onions, candied walnuts, and bacon, tossed in a dazzling champagne vinaigrette. It’s sweet, crunchy, acidic, with just a hint of the hot. Other items to consider are chili ($3), garlic bread ($3). and a plate of fries—either potato or yam—also for $3.

But let’s not forget those extra touches that lets the customer know that they’re in a bar where the staff is willing to go the extra mile. My brother’s wayward elbow knocked over the last few swallows of his beer making a sad little puddle on the floor. Instead of flinging a filthy rag in his face and telling him to clean up that @#$%!* mess, the bartender came around and cheerfully soaked up the suds, even going so far as to refill the last third of the overturned pint. That guy gets my vote for pope! The jukebox is another perk, as it’s full of esoteric artists like The Fall, Melvins, along with a decent assortment of punk and indie weirdos. Most importantly, the volume remains at a conversational level so that patrons needn’t resort to pantomime or hastily scrawled notes in order to communicate. In such a dark room, I’m not sure either method would fly.

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Trader Vic’s in the Pearl?

Tiki titan’s return in the works

Posted by: John Chandler on Dec 09, 2010 at 10:00AM 16 Comments

Jeff Manning at the Oregonian is reporting that a local group of investors headed by J. Clayton Herring, president of real estate firm Norris Beggs & Simpson, is doing some legwork to bring Trader Vic’s back to Portland. As town elders will recall, the famed Polynesian restaurant and bar chain had a local outpost situated beneath the Benson Hotel in the space now occupied by El Gaucho, but it closed up shop in 1996.

According to Manning’s article, the new locale would be in the 7,900 square-foot building that was home to Manzana restaurant at NW 12th and Glisan. I have calls in to some of the players involved and more details will follow as they materialize.

As anyone who knows me can attest, I love me some tiki bars. I dig the Fog Cutter and pupu platter at Thatch, and I’ve crooned Steely Dan at The Alibi on a number of occasions, despite their tendency to serve weak cocktails. While I generally don’t patronize national chains (boo!) I have to admit I have a soft spot in my head for Trader Vic’s. I was spirited there by some record company publicists upon being named Oregon Editor of The Rocket in 1995 and plied with exotic rum drinks. I remember marveling at the prices and thinking, Holy cow! Some of these cocktails cost $7!

What do you think drinking buddies? Is there room in our hearts for Trader Vic’s? Should it be in the Pearl? Are Portland’s homegrown tiki bars good enough to serve all of our tropical needs? Discuss.

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Tags: Bar Openings, Tropical Bars, Trader Vic's, Tiki Bars