BAR PILOT

Cocktails: The Price We Pay

How much is too much?

Posted by: John Chandler on Aug 31, 2011 at 11:00AM 14 Comments

Art by Michael Godard

Along with the usual barrage of email requests I get about “the best happy hour,” there are two other topics that erupt with the regularity of Old Faithful. The first is about the presence of children at brew pubs. Me? I’m against it. If parents want to go out for a beer, hire a sitter. Or just leave ‘em in the car for several hours, like my Uncle Red did with me and my brothers. To his credit, he did crack a window and bring us the occasional bag of chips or a Dr. Pepper, so I can’t really complain. This is a subject I’ll no doubt return to at some point in time.

But today’s topic has to do with the price of a cocktail. If I recommend a place like Teardrop Lounge or Secret Society, typically someone will angrily let me know that these temples of mixology aren’t within their budget. Variations of “I’m not spending $10 for a @#$!%?* drink!” is the usual tenor of the response. And I can understand that. Hell, I’m on a budget too. I’ve embedded a video courtesy of liquor.com from San Francisco’s renowned Bourbon & Branch bar that sensibly addresses this topic.

On the other hand, if a place wants to charge me more than, say, $8 for a cocktail with standard, store-bought ingredients, I’m out of there. I know from my many conversations with waitstaff and bartenders, that a hefty percentage of restaurants make the profits they need to stay in business with $8-plus cocktails. The price point on food is just too high. And that’s fine—up to a point.

What do you think, drinking buddies? Should folks who want cheap drinks simply stay home with a bottle of Hood River vodka? Or are we merely hapless pawns of “Big Liquor?”

Behind the Drink: The $13 Cocktail from Liquor.com on Vimeo.

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Tags: Cocktails, Cocktail Prices, Cocktail Culture

Tall Boys & Tiny Taps

A weekend of artisan ales and cheap suds

Posted by: John Chandler on Aug 25, 2011 at 11:00AM 1 Comments

In Portland, the beer flows in perpetuity. Too much of a good thing? Baloney. If I had my way, every day of the week would have a sudsy soiree dedicated to a different brew, from the mightiest mass-market swill to artisan ales for the most elite of imbibers. And I’m not the only one who thinks so. In addition to the final days of PDX Beer Week, the next few days include the Nano Beer Fest at the Green Dragon, a confluence of courageous cottage-industry brewers like Natian, Captured By Porches, Heater Allen, and Coalition. In direct contrast to this salute to the “little guys,” starting tonight there is a most unlikely beer bash bubbling over at O’Malley’s (6535 SE Foster Rd) —the Macro Brewfest. I say unlikely, because Portland is justifiably famous for its regional craft beers, though once upon a time we were the land of Blitz, Rainier, Heidelberg, and many other modestly priced and mild-mannered lagers.

Now in its second year, the Macro Brewfest, in the words of O’Malley’s proprietor and fest founder Glen Wallace, is a celebration of “budget beer.” From his vantage point behind the bar, Wallace has observed his customers consistently opting for less-expensive beer options during these calamitous economic times, and in a city teeming with foamy festivals, decided to create his own. “Bigger is not necessarily better,” he admits, “but it certainly is cheaper.” For the next three days customers can toast tall boys from 14 different breweries from around the country—and vote for their favorite. Among the 16-ounce offerings will be familiar Northwest names like Rainier, Pabst, and Olympia, as well as Hamm’s, Rolling Rock, Old German, and Iron City. Stand tall, boys!

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Tags: Beer Festivals, Beer Culture, O'Malley's Saloon & Grill, Tall Boys

Pony Show

Good service and a $3 menu that cooks at Dig A Pony

Posted by: Max Gelber on Aug 23, 2011 at 10:00AM 1 Comments

One of the rules I’ve established for myself in my short (legal) drinking career, is that silently tolerating abysmal service in the name of a good buzz is just not happening. Even if I find myself at the diviest of dives, a rolled eye or annoyed huff when I politely ask for another gin and tonic isn’t going to fly. Luckily, I am able to say that one of the newest additions to the Portland bar scene, Dig A Pony (SE Morrison & Grand), apparently feels exactly the same way.

The first things you notice upon entering the former Niki’s Diner is the bar’s distressed, old-school saloon look. The booth tables and giant u-shaped bar top have a rough, unvarnished look, and the floors of refurbished tile and wood maintain a beat, weathered look. Braided rope hangs from sections of the bar; one wall contains a smattering of dusty bookshelves, and air vents crisscross the exposed ceiling. The turntable at the end of the bar was spinning soul and UK garage records, a rather overt hipster touch that still worked without pretense.

96 Tears ($7) and Anthem Cherry Cider ($3)

The happy hour menu greets you with a $3 pricing system that can’t help but make this already happy hour downright ecstatic. The drink specials include all well drinks and a nicely curated list of 8 beers, ranging from Caldera IPA to the Anthem Cherry Cider. One member of my table jumped at the Anthem Cherry for her drink of choice, which we all agreed was quite a tasty, dry cider that eschewed the overpowering sweetness found in most run-of-the-mill ciders.

With my thirst mood driving me toward the cocktail list, my eyes landed on the 96 Tears ($7), a more subdued Moscow Mule-esque mix of muddled ginger and lime, vodka and ginger beer. If you can only risk trying one more buoyant, summer-inspired drink before the cold embrace of October hits, this one will serve you very well.

Corn bread with chili honey butter

The food menu also contains an impressive and thoughtful selection for the meager $3 asking price. We started off with hand-cut French fries with malt vinegar mayo. While our eyebrows were slightly raised at the notion of combining malt vinegar and mayonnaise, we found ourselves nothing but pleasantly surprised at the pleasant, citrusy tartar sauce taste. The sauce also had a very nice consistency to it that coated the fries nicely without being overly thick and rich. The fries themselves were wonderfully seasoned and cooked, not a single spud ran the risk of tasting over or under cooked.

We continued the comfort food vibe with the Warm Corn Bread served with Chili Honey Butter. The rest of my group, no strangers to the classics of southern cuisine, noted the texture of the corn bread to be spot on, not overly dense or fluffy. The butter worked wonderfully as an accompaniment, a very light, whipped texture sprinkled with chili flakes that gave it a formidable heat.

Four cheese mac & cheese with jalapenos and caramelized onions

Veering slightly away from the happy hour selection we ordered up the Four Cheese Mac & Cheese with caramelized onions and jalapenos ($8). Right away the smell of jalapenos smacks you upside the head, though they’re used more as garnish than ingredient. This also resulted in an inconsistency in terms of heat, with some bites registering nothing and others packing a punch. The sauce had a an agreeable texture, but was a little over salted.

I once again must tip my glass to the lady and gentleman behind the bar on this particular Friday afternoon. Even with our handful of questions about everything from the menu to the beer selection (10 on tap, 21 by the bottle), they were more than willing to explain and answer our multiple queries. It’s a little sad that such standards of good service are hard to come by these days, but makes us appreciate the places that break the mold.

Happy hour runs from 5-7 pm, and toward the end we did find the bar’s hipster population begin to soar. Depending on your tolerance of irony, let this be a warning or welcome sign. Otherwise, this is a solid choice to add to your happy hour routine, and we’ll even spare you the “you’ll dig it” puns (…oops!).

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More Beer & Best Bartenders

Two more events to add to an already crowded calendar.

Posted by: John Chandler on Aug 19, 2011 at 11:00AM 4 Comments

So PDX Beer Week is here. And we’re awaiting the arrival of the Lagunitas Beer Circus. You’re probably thinking to yourself, “There’s no way to cram anymore hooch happenings into the coming weekend. I’m already calling in sick on Monday.” Well, I hate to be the bearer of good news, but there’s even more in store over the next 60-plus hours.

Drinking buddy and former Portland Monthly editor Bart Blasengame, who traded in his journalism gig to work behind the bar at his own watering hole, the very excellent Fixin’ To in St Johns, dropped me a line about the First Annual North Portland Bartender Invitational, taking place tomorrow (Saturday) at the Fixin’ To (8218 N. Lombard St) from 3–5. Mixologists representing Liberty Glass, Slim’s, Red Fox, Vendetta, and the Florida Room, among others, will compete for the honor of being known as North Portland’s most bad-ass barkeep. Your $10 cover includes free pizza, voting rights, and a raffle ticket for an assortment of faboo prizes. Most importantly, the money goes to Family Dogs New Life Shelter, a no-kill shelter dedicating to rehoming dogs regardless of age, breed, or history. And if that isn’t enough, there will be adorable adoptable pooches on the premises looking for their forever homes. Do it for the dogs!

One of my breweries of choice, New Old Lompoc, will be celebrating its 15th anniversary on Saturday starting at 11 am, at the New Old Lompoc (1616 NW 23rd Ave). The name of the soiree is “15 Beers for 15 Years” and will feature taps dedicated to a whole slew of New Old Lompoc brews past and present, such as Saazall Pilsner, 2008 Jolly Bock, Caribbean Coffee Stout, Bourbon Barrel-Aged LSD, Old Tavern Rat Barleywine, Alpha Blonde Dry Hopped Belgian Golden, and lots more. On a bittersweet note, the press release reads, The anniversary party may be a swan song of sorts – demolition of the New Old Lompoc is certain for 2012 to make way for apartments and upscale retail.Whether or not Lompoc returns to the new building remains to be seen.

In the words of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, “Into each life some rain must fall…” Obviously Longfellow never spent a year in Portland.

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Tags: Beer Festivals, The Fixin' To, St Johns, New Old Lompoc Brewing

Bazi is Boss!

Come for the beer—stay for all the rest

Posted by: John Chandler on Aug 18, 2011 at 01:00PM 2 Comments

The Bosteels Quak, served in its own signature glass.

The value of a reliable neighborhood drinking establishment cannot be overstated. With Belgian beer bar Bazi Bierbrasserie (1522 SE 32nd Ave) only a couple blocks from my house, my outlook on life has improved tremendously. Perhaps it’s the Cheers factor: a cozy watering hole staffed by amiable folks. When I’m sitting at a sidewalk table casually sipping a malty, nourishing Delerium Tremens Ale, the weather always seems ideal, with just a suggestion of a breeze tousling my locks.

Could be it’s the head-spinning selection of Belgian beers —of the 17 rotating taps available, roughly 15 are dedicated to wild yeasty, complex ales brewed in Old World fashion. Most are imports (Duchesse de Bourgogne, Bosteels, Sint Canarus, to name a few), but a handful of regional breweries like Upright, Oakshire, and Double Mountain routinely appear. And if for some strange reason Belgians aren’t your cup of tea, the helpful servers are knowledgeable enough to guide you to something in your comfort zone.

Certainly the excellence of Bazi’s happy hour, which stretches leisurely between 3 pm and 7 pm daily, plays a significant role in my adoration. The specials include a $5 cocktail, usually something potent and tropical, along the lines of a blood orange mojito, or pepper-infused marguerita. Speaking of which, it would be perfectly understandable at such a bastion of beer if the cocktails were merely phoned in, but that is definitely not the case here. Johnny the bartender is as consistent as sundown in his mixological prowess and the Schipperke—Cruzan rum, blood orange, fresh lemon juice, and splash of simple syrup, served up—has become my girlfriend’s go-to drink. (And she’s ultra-picky!) In an effort to bridge the beverage gap, Bazi also boasts a dynamite beer cocktail, the Jeanneke, a Belgian beer-infused elixir that combines a tripel style beer, Monopolowa vodka, Aperol and Demerara simple syrup. It’s a real corker, as the fruit notes from the ale blend seamlessly with the apricot liqueur, resulting in a very robust refresher. The majority of the cocktails fall into the $7-8 range.

Stoemp of the day—pureed potatoes, green apples, bacon, and gruyere.

The happy hour menu has plenty of choice chow, such as the GAB burger ($6), an efficiently sized and thoroughly filling patty of beef from Highland Oaks Farm near Salem, topped with an egg. Normally, I don’t cotton to having yolk splashed all over my kisser, but here the egg works as a hearty binder for the juicy burger, and the flavors dance delightfully. There’s also a daily Stoemp special for $5, based on the traditional Belgian dish of pureed mash potatoes and an assortment of cheese and vegetables. On my last visit, the special featured potatoes, green apple slices, and gruyere. I should mention that paying the extra three $3 for bacon, ham, or sausage is money well spent. It’s an avalanche of tastes and textures that still manages to annihilate the pesky hunger pangs.

And then there are the frites (you know, French fries) which I count as being among the best in town. The Flemish frites ($2.50) are blanched and tossed with sea salt. They’re small and cooked to a severe crunch, but retain a delicate spudfulness (new word, write it down) especially when plopped into the silky house-made mayonnaise. (I prefer the invigorating curry variety.) The truffle frites are a little more expensive, but they’re earthier and more fragrant. Even the humble olive plate (marinated in garlic! Yum! $2) offers a superb alliance of flavors.

Frites to die for.

Never fear drinking buddies, I will continue to fearlessly patronize bars, taverns, pubs, and dives from Alberta Street to Wanker’s Corner, but I’ll tell you this: I sleep better at night knowing that my frites and beer needs are so brilliantly met, and so close to home.

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Tags: Southeast Portland, Happy Hour, Cheap Eats, Belgian Beer, Bazi Bierbrasserie

Brand Loyalty

They don’t sell ’em like they used to

Posted by: John Chandler on Aug 16, 2011 at 01:00PM 7 Comments

We’re on the verge of PDX Beer Week, a celebration of beer, food, and community. But for just a moment, let’s discuss those alternately clever and confusing beer advertising campaigns, past and present. I have to admit that as a youngster, it was the enchanting beer signs, with neon waterfalls and impossibly foamy heads, as well as other ale artifacts like belt buckles and T-shirts, that really fueled my desire to give up my former life as teetotaler—at age 15.

Are there any beer campaigns from days gone by that you were particularly fond of? Please share. What was it that made you pick up your first cold one? I myself dug those old Stalking the Wild Rainier ads from the late ‘70s and early ’80s. I just seem to remember beer culture itself as something I really wanted to be a part of, and it was the iconic nature of the branding that really did a number on me. The Schlitz Malt Liquor Bull; the Hamm’s Bear; and more recently, the Most Interesting Man in the World from Dos Equis. All of them like gods to me.

By the way, if you have a serious yen for browsing through vintage breweriana, check out these fine fellows.

I’m also a fan of Newcastle Brown Ale—especially on tap. For some reason, bottled Newcastle doesn’t cut it, for me. Anyway, here is a fairly cool video depicting the creation of a Newcastle billboard in Brooklyn. If all beer signage was this thoughtfully produced, the world would be a better place. After all, that beer ain’t gonna sell itself. Or maybe it will.

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Charles in Charge

Night of the Bluebird: Bukowski’s Birthday and Barfly screening

Posted by: Griffin Funk on Aug 15, 2011 at 03:00PM 0 Comments

I could see the road ahead of me. I was poor and I was going to stay poor. But I didn’t particularly want money. I didn’t know what I wanted. Yes, I did. I wanted someplace to hide out, someplace where one didn’t have to do anything. The thought of being something didn’t only appall me, it sickened me . . . To do things, to be part of family picnics, Christmas, the 4th of July, Labor Day, Mother’s Day . . . was a man born just to endure those things and then die? I would rather be a dishwasher, return alone to a tiny room and drink myself to sleep. -Charles Bukowski

Half-empty liquor bottles, tumultuous relationships with dangerous women and a haggard-literary-proletariat persona. No, this is not my OK Cupid profile (I swear). It’s all about poet and writer Charles Bukowski.

The hard-drinking womanizer and horse racing aficionado, who was aptly dubbed “The Laureate of the American Lowlife” by Time magazine would have been 91 years old tomorrow. If you love stories of hopeless, hedonistic alky-degens as much as we do—or just want to roister and revel with like-minded lost souls, fall by the Mission Theatre (1624 NW Glisan) tonight for readings, writings, and a screening of the semi-autobiographical (and Bukowski penned) film Barfly, starring Mickey Rourke (who else?) as Bukowski’s alter ego Henry Chinaski.

21 and over only, $5. Doors at 8:30, readings at 9pm and Barfly at 9:30pm.

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Beer and Circuses

Oregon Brewers Fest is over but there are plenty more pours in store

Posted by: Max Gelber & John Chandler on Aug 11, 2011 at 09:00AM 4 Comments

To quote Al Pacino, “Every time I think I’m out—they pull me back in.”

For us beer drinkers, the weeks following the conclusion of the Oregon Brewers Festival is normally a time to renew our commitments to family, fitness, and drinking something other than fermented grains. This year, not so much.

As Allison Jones reported, we’ve got the debut of PDX Beer Week right around the corner. I chatted with beer entrepreneur and New School blogger Ezra Johnson-Greenough about this fledgling fest and he told me that it’s going to be more of a celebration of beer itself, as opposed to focusing on the locals. “We love Oregon Craft Beer Month, but we wanted to do something more creative, more curated,” he says. “We wanted to actually curate a week of events that explored different aspects of beer and food.”

To that end, Ezra and co-conspirator Lisa Morrison (aka The Beer Goddess, and the author of the excellent book Craft Beers of the Pacific Northwest) have created a whole string of events at venues all over town. The following info comes from their press release:

Hopworks & Double Mountain Beer Brunch at Spirit of 77 (8/20) Brewers behind two of Oregon’s best breweries Hopworks Urban Brewery and Double Mountain have teamed up with Spirit of 77 chef and PDX Beer Week to concoct an epic individually priced beer brunch pairing menu available for one day only.

Beer Ice Cream’s at Salt & Straw (Daily Monday-Friday) Alberta Street’s acclaimed ice cream auteurs have teamed up with PDX Beer Week to design 5 different Ice Cream’s.

The Love of Beer Premiere at the Bagdad Theater (8/20) A documentary celebrating women in the craft beer industry. Featuring $3 beer specials from Deschutes Brewery and Bend Brewing and a panel of some of the most prominent women in Oregon craft beer speaking before the film.

Coaliton Brewing’s One Year Anniversary Party (8/20) This all-day celebration extravaganza has all the hallmarks of what Coalition Brewing is all about: Cheap Happy Hour priced beers, Cornhole Tournament, Live Music and specials from the Grilled Cheese Grill. To top it off they will be releasing a special small batch Cascadian Dark Ale.

Washington Brewers Night at Bailey’s Taproom (8/21) A special Sunday evening event featuring beers and breweries never available in Oregon before. Meet-the-Brewers and try the beers from Washington’s best: Elysian, Naked City, Odin, Big Al and Sound Brewing.

Beer & Sushi Pairing at Roscoe’s (8/22) Taplister and Behind the Pint have teamed up with Roscoe’s and Miyamoto Sushi to design a special beer and sushi pairing menu.

CDAbe Festival at Belmont Station (8/22) A benefit for beer writer Abram Goldman-Armstrong to help pay medical bills featuring an extensive lineup for the style he helped create: Cascadian Dark Ales.

Brewers Burger Brawl at The Hop and Vine (8/23) Five of Portland’s best brewers go head-to-head with their own burger recipes and one of their breweries beers in a battle to see who is the Brewer Burger Champion! Participating breweries: Hopworks, Burnside, Upright, Breakside and Laurelwood.

Barrel-Aging Beer Panel at Hopworks Urban Brewery (8/24) Breakside Brewer Ben Edmunds MC’s a panel of brewmasters skilled at the art of barrel-aging beer. Sit in and listen to the talk and ask your own questions of these masters while being served a selection of their finest barrel-aged brews. Featuring: Ben Love (Hopworks), John Harris (Full Sail) and Nick Arzner (Block 15) and more.

Breakfast Beers Night at Breakside Brewery (8/25) Brewers will tap a Breakfast Stout with coffee and a Whiskey for Breakfast Porter. Additionally a special breakfast menu will be presented for the evening and there may be a few more tricks up brewers sleeves.

California Brewers Night at Apex (8/26) One of Portland’s premier taphouses plays host to many of the best breweries and beers of California. Try a selection of beers not available in the state of Oregon and meet many brewers and representatives including Stone Brewing Vice President, Sierra Nevada and for the first time in the state Ballast Point, Magnolia, Telegraph, Craftsman and Beachwood BBQ Breweries. Plus many other fan favorites.

Mighty Mites – Session Beer Festival at Coalition Brewing (8/27) Jeff Alworth of popular local beer blog Beervana has teamed up with Coalition Brewing and PDX Beer Week to explore the underrated wealth of creativity and flavor of session beers (beers of 5 percent abv or less).

Ninkasi Brewers Brunch at East Burn (8/28) Brewers dinners are common but what happens when you take the same concept and apply it to Brunch? Beer Week organizers approached Ninkasi Brewing’s Jamie Floyd and the fantastic team at East Burn to take on just such a challenge and they have came up with 3 outstanding brunch plates and beer pairings. Tickets are $30.

Closing Street Party at Bazi Bierbrasserie (8/28) During the Hawthorne Street Fair PDX Beer Week and new European/Belgian inspired bier bar Bazi Bierbrasserie will be closing off 32nd street to set up an outdoor beer garden featuring many of Oregon’s best Belgian-styled beers including offerings from: Double Mountain, Upright Brewing, Beetje Brewing and Full Sail as well as ALL 5 beer ice creams from Salt & Straw and the beers they were made from.

As if this wasn’t more than enough to doom any thoughts you might have had for a possible return to sobriety—the circus is coming to town! And beer will be in the center ring. Even in a city full of seasoned drinkers we can’t help but wonder to ourselves after polishing off that second (…okay, fifth) IPA, “where is the whimsy?!” Well, fret no longer! Lagunitas Brewing and the PDX Bridge Festival have got it under control with the Lagunitas Beer Circus, a hoppy happening that combines beer with big-top-style entertainment by San Franciscan vaudeville troupe Vau De Vire Society and Portland’s own cabaret sensation Wanderlust Circus & Orchestra. The festivities take place under the east side of the Hawthorne (Salmon @ Water St.) next weekend, with a 21+, adults-only circus on Saturday (burlesque in the house!), and an all ages family-friendly carnival Sunday. Though we can’t make promises, we are all crossing our fingers for a beer dunk tank.

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Tags: Beer Festivals, PDX Beer Week, Lagunitas Brewing, wanderlust

Church Service

New McMenamins in Wilsonville is a church change-up

Posted by: Griffin Funk on Aug 08, 2011 at 02:00PM 1 Comments

Surprise, surprise, Mike and Brian McMenamin are at it again, expanding, converting and preserving; this time in an old church in Wilsonville.

Working hand in hand with the Wilsonville Historical Society, the ambitious brew brethren will bring a 100-year old church back to life while enshrining a piece of Wilsonville history. Wilsonvillians may remember this property as the Wilsonville United Methodist Church or after the Methodists relocated, the Christ Community Church. The building has been empty since 1996.

The property will serve as part outdoor music venue, part church, part museum, and part brewery. So if you have a hankering to get hitched while drinking your weight in Hammerhead or just want to hear Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside in an outside amphitheater (Thursday, August 18) well, the McMenamins have got you covered.

The renovated church pub includes an abundance of Wilsonville historical artifacts with tons of photos and memorabilia on display. The decor also will pay homage to the famed first deacon of the church, John W. Exon, who was also (possibly more famously) a riverboat pilot.

The grand opening of McMenamins Old Church & Pub, August 17-20, also happens to coincide with the anniversary of the building’s creation in August 1911.

Be sure to check out the McMenafication of the old church in the video below.

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Tags: New Construction, McMenamins, Wilsonville

In Cider Information

Bushwhacker taps into burgeoning market

Posted by: Christine Bedenis on Aug 05, 2011 at 01:00PM 2 Comments

No question about it, Portland is one beer-soaked burgh—and proud of it. But let’s talk “hard” cider for a minute; there’s nothing wrong with a little diversity for those of us born without a craving for hops, or who have dietary restrictions, like gluten-intolerance, a populace that’s approaching critical mass and adding new members daily. For the most part, we locals pride ourselves on being adventurous drinkers with taste buds that are easily bored. Naturally this restlessness leads to a proliferation of every kind of beer you can possibly imagine, as well as “alternative” spirits like coffee rum, apple brandy, mead, and cider. A tasting weekend on Distillery Row gives you a chance to try the first two, yet up until 10 months ago, there was no place in Portland to delve deep into the cider scene.

Enter Jeff and Erin Smith, the owners of Bushwhacker Cider Bar (1212-D SE Powell,) in the Brooklyn neighborhood. “We originally wanted to start our own cidery, but after talking to some other local cideries we learned that it can be really hard,” Erin says. “Most bars only have one cider on tap that they know sells really well and won’t rotate it.” Seeing an opportunity to fill a niche, the Smiths vowed to create a bar that would be able to guarantee every cider maker a tap. It’s clear that establishing a cider community is the focus of this converted garage watering hole, with a bottle cooler of 113 (soon to be 140) different cider varieties greeting you as you enter. Guests are here for the cider, as there are no video poker machines and no televisions to distract from your learning curve. The Smiths brew their own cider (with all-Oregon apples) in the fenced-off back area and Jeff is experimenting with a slew of flavor variations, like honey-sweetened cider, strawberry cider, and ciders made in a rum, wine, and whiskey barrels.

Photo:

And it’s not just gluten-free drinkers that frequent Bushwhacker. In fact, Jeff estimates that particular demographic makes up only about 25 percent of his clientele. So who are these people that pack the place, shoulder to shoulder, each weekend? The bartenders say that they get people who are burned out on hops as well as established drinkers who are looking for something lighter and less filling. “We get a lot of people who come in here looking for something different,” Jeff says. “Or we get some people who are expecting all ciders to be this really sweet, and I hate to say it, but ‘girly’ drink—here we can show them the variety that cider has, and recommend a drier one.” Bushwhacker also has established itself as a drinking destination, being the only dedicated cider bar in the country. As a result, the Smiths have met customers from across the states, Canada, and even England.

Even with their seven-tap bar, the Smiths are looking to expand in their present location and possibly open a second, an indication that cider is not just a fad drink or a dietary alternative, but a growing market all its own. “We get all kinds of people in here, and a lot of new people that end up sticking around,” says Amber, the friendly bartender. “I think cider is proving to be something pretty awesome.”

Photo:

Recommended

If you’ve only had mass-market ciders, like Woodchuck, Hornsby’s or Strongbow, your opinion of cider probably runs along the lines of a sweet sip of something when you’re not in the mood for malt and barley. In that case, a Bushwhacker sampler of six will expose you to a vibrant continuum that goes from bone-dry to sugar sweet, and from feather-light to surprisingly puissant. The variety of fruit found in these ciders is likewise lengthy, with apricot, cranberry, huckleberry, and cherry among the more offbeat offerings. If you can’t take the sweet, try Blue Mountain’s subtle and satisfying Dry Creek, which has earned a permanent tap. At the other end of the spectrum is Finnriver’s pear cider, which was cloying enough to make me wonder whether I needed to be carded for it. But don’t be fooled; the ABVs of these ciders range from 4.5 to 8-plus percent. Cider is not now, nor has it ever been “kid stuff.”

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Franks and Beers

Hot dogs and craft beers go together. Who knew?

Posted by: Griffin Funk on Aug 03, 2011 at 03:00PM 1 Comments

Hot dog shish kabobs

As soon as web editor John Chandler announced he needed a volunteer to attend a beer and hot dog dinner at the Original “Dinerant” last Friday, I stood up in the middle of the room and began clearing my throat loudly. This was an assignment I could sink my teeth into. See, I love hot dogs. And I love beer.

Furthermore: You love hot dogs. And you love beer.

Conventional wisdom holds that the frankfurter is nothing more than mysterious meat parts stuffed inside a sausage casing. If so, then there was something truly inspired about these wieners. The combination of locally sourced artisan sausage with elevated ideas of originality and innovation is something that you don’t see very often when it comes to hot dogs—but with food costs spiraling into the stratosphere, it’s high time we reassess our methods of production and preparation for this most basic and beloved of American entrees.

The goal of this collaborative feast between the Original’s new head chef Ryan Bleibtrey and Fort George Brewery of Astoria was to produce unusual and distinctive summer pairings of Northwest craft beer with our old friend, the humble hot dog, an idea very much in keeping with the Original’s aim of updating comfort food staples. My usual approach to hot dog cookery consists of building a fire, sharpening a stick (followed by making a field bandage out of my sock), slathering the frank with French’s mustard and washing the whole thing down with a lukewarm lager from the folks at Anheuser Busch. Clearly I had much to learn.

Round #1

Hotdog shish-kabobs, ratatouille, panzanella, and pesto paired with Sunrise Oatmeal Pale Ale.

At first, seeing plates of hot dogs, a food for the commoner and usually consumed with the hands in the outdoors, presented with a knife, fork, and cloth napkin, seemed strange. Out of place, a bit unnecessary. Then it became delicious. The first course was light, cool and definitely as refreshing as a dish containing a hot dog can be.

The kabobs were accompanied by Fort George’s Sunrise Oatmeal Pale Ale, a sessionable brew with fresh floral aromas and a subtle creaminess that played nicely with the cool panzanella, seasonal vegetables, and chicken apple sausage of the ratatouille, driving home the point that this was indeed a summer repast.

Knackwurst & Bierocks

Round #2

Knackwurst & Bierocks, braised cabbage, honey mustard paired with Fort George Spruce Budd Ale.

The crisp, gentle piney flavor of the Spruce Budd Ale was a fitting companion to the hearty pork filled knackwurst & bierrocks. The seasonal Spruce Ale is unique; in the brewing process hand picked Sitka Spruce tips replace hops resulting in citrusy ale with a pine nose. The sweetness of the house-made honey mustard especially contrasted the light tanginess of the lemony aAle.

Round #3

BBQ brisket corn dogs, fried mac n cheese, tomato marmalade paired with an unnamed Double IPA.

This was no corn dog I ever had, crunchy corn on the outside with moist, flavorful beef brisket on the inside.

By this time there was not much room left in my stomach, but I still devoured every centimeter of the rich beef brisket. My eyes were clouding over, and I felt myself creeping inevitably toward a food and brew coma.

It could be because my stomach was approaching capacity but I thought the 10 percent ABV IPA was a bit much for a course of such substantial heft.

Photo: McKenna Johnson

Maple bacon dog

Round #4

Maple bacon sausage, figs, ricotta, and bourbon glaze paired with Working Girl Coffee Porter.

The Working Girl Porter had a big roasty coffee flavor that felt right at home with the breakfast-y charms of the maple and bacon. The ricotta and bourbon were a welcome inclusion, adding a bit more flavor complexity to this powerhouse dessert dish.

As I looked around for a friendly someone to wheel me home on a hand truck, it struck me that my opinion of the hot dog was rapidly evolving—from ubiquitous snack best savored when broke or at a ballpark, to something that could serve as the foundation for some legitimate culinary artistry. At the same time, the appeal of hot dogs and beer is definitely a nostalgic one: sun burns, gulping down questionable lake water, inner tubes, blisters from new flip flops, Coleman grills, the smell of sunscreen, and gathering together with friends and family. It’s a classic paring that is inherently summer, and this meal captured that nostalgia. And the improvements and alterations didn’t diminish the memories one bit.

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Brew Fest Still Growing

Numbers don’t lie—OBF is a monster success

Posted by: John Chandler on Aug 02, 2011 at 11:00AM 5 Comments

You’re never lost at the Oregon Brewers Festival.

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You’re never lost at the Oregon Brewers Festival.

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Yes, it can get a little “in tents” at times. But anyone afraid of a crowd just doesn’t want beer bad enough.

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Plenty of snappy dressers at OBF—like this pilsner pilgrim.

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Or this Tyrolean tippler.

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Of course, on hot days it pays to protect your pate. Thanks to all the cheerful volunteers, the backbone of the OBF.

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There was a stand manned by the Cascade Breweriana Association, collectors of Northwest “breweriana,” those beloved beer tchotchkes from yesteryear.

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Apparently, the original Rainier brewmaster looked an awful lot like the Monopoly Man. Who knew?

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Golden Valley Brewery’s Cote de Or (“Golden Slope”) was a magnificent Belgian-style Golden Ale, with a potpourri of fruit and spice flavors. Just a hair too sweet, though.

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Of course, it’s not all beer and skittles. Reps from Everyday Prevention, a group focused on curtailing underage drinking, were also present.

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Not all of the beer at the festival was served in mugs.

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Endgame.

View Slideshow » Photo: McKenna Johnson

The 24th annual Oregon Brewers Festival had 85 different craft beers from 14 states across the country. Featured here is the Laughing Dog Anubis Imperial Coffee Porter from Idaho.

View Slideshow » Photo: McKenna Johnson

Policemen closed down streets for the 800 soon-to-be-drunk passerby to parade from 13th and Stark down to the Tom McCall Waterfront Park on July 28. Portland is home to 40 breweries—more than any other city in the world.

View Slideshow » Photo: McKenna Johnson

Along with an accompanied band, the parade featured hammerheads, Vikings, and friars—all in the good name of beer. The event generates close to $2 million according to the Brewers Festival.

View Slideshow » Photo: McKenna Johnson

In the hiatus of people that would soon overrun the red tent on popular days of Saturday and Sunday, these beer lovers relaxingly sampled brews in the “red” tent on the much less crowded Thursday. This was the fourth year in a row that the OBF held record attendance, this time reaching a high of 80,000.

View Slideshow » Photo: McKenna Johnson

The token and beer sales tent was overrun on kickoff day July 28 with eager beer enthusiasts waiting to get their hands on a souvenir mug and tokens. With just $6, you can have the souvenir 2011 mug. And with that mug and $1, you can have a token and a tasting. And with four tokens, you can have a full pint.

View Slideshow » Photo: McKenna Johnson

On Thursday, July 28, I was lucky enough to find the Viking Beer Maiden, also known as Josh Gardner. He was getting married on Saturday, July 30.

View Slideshow » Photo: McKenna Johnson

Only on the first day would a treat such as free be found. In spirit of brew fest, Jeff Cooley was rapidly filling up mugs of free Hammerhead to the crowd.

View Slideshow » Photo: McKenna Johnson

Only on the first day would a treat such as free be found. In spirit of brew fest, Jeff Cooley was rapidly filling up mugs of free Hammerhead to the crowd.

View Slideshow » Photo: McKenna Johnson

A brewfester hands up the precious one token for a free tasting outside the North tent—blue tent to keep it even simpler.

View Slideshow » Photo: McKenna Johnson

The lines were long and it was hot, but this did not dissuade brew lovers to wait for the cold taste of a beer. Also, to this year to many gluten intolerants’ delight, Deschutes Gluten free NW Pale Ale dry was available. It was one of the beers that ran out due to popular demand.

View Slideshow » Photo: McKenna Johnson

The golden color of beer in sunlight was enough to keep those lines long, but the beer also served a purpose—on Sunday, festival director and founder Art Larrance handed a check worth $10,000 to the Oregon Brewers Festival for Pints for Prostates to spread the message to men that it’s important to have regular prostate health screenings and PSA testing.

View Slideshow » Photo: McKenna Johnson
View Slideshow » Photo: McKenna Johnson

In spirit of celebrating beer, Bobby Fox, Jack Tolmachoff, and Mark Hadson, sported gladiator like helmets and pretzel necklaces.

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Bobby Fox having a great time on Friday, July 29, despite the heat and lines.

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People were encouraged to drink, and drink they shall. Everyone else that was sober, including the 2,000 volunteers, minors and designated drivers were given free root beer and face painting—gotta stay safe y’all.

View Slideshow » Photo: McKenna Johnson

Ben Hennes, Josh “Torch” Edgerton, and Andy Hennes raised a toast to double fisting to avoid long lines on Saturday. Come back next year, always the last weekend in July.

I spent two days at the Oregon Brewers Festival, and I drank my fill. I fired off summary tweets, snapped a few photos, and joined in the spontaneous group whooping, a periodic exclamation (“woooooo!”) that seemed to express the idea of, “We’re here, there’s beer, and we’re not working.” A Dionysian declaration of defiance, if you will.

My only regret was drinking three citrus-based beers in a row on Friday; the Ginger & Meyer Ann from Blue Frog Grog & Grill (meh), 10 Barrel’s Zitrone Kolsch (zesty), and Cascade Brewing’s Buzz Tent entry, a head-snapping honey, ginger, and lime hybrid that tasted like it came from a Norman Rockwell soda fountain. Who knew beer could be thirst quenching? Despite subsequently sucking down two bottles of water, my palate was whack.

As usual, navigating the beer tents took the balletic grace of Baryshnikov and a storm trooper’s indifference to one’s fellow man, but it was a manageable chaos. If the crowd seemed more substantial than in year’s past, it’s because it was. According to numbers released today by brew fest organizers, this was the fourth year in a row that new attendance records were set, with more than 80,000 brew believers from all parts of the planet landing in Tom McCall Waterfront Park. Guests guzzled 85 craft beers from 14 different states, not to mention another 40 small-batch specialty beers in the Buzz Tent. Moreover, a growing number of Portlanders exercised the two-wheeled option. Members of the Washington County Bicycle Transportation Coalition counted 1200 bikes in the bicycle parking area.

On the philanthropy front, the event raised $10,000 for Pints for Prostates an organization dedicated to getting the word out to men of a certain age (the dominant brew fest demographic, by far) that regular prostate screenings are a really good idea.

So what’s in store for OBF’s 25th anniversary next year? New, bigger, location? Sedan chair taxis? Ale dunk tank? Ponder a while, drinking buddies, and peruse our web exclusive slideshow from the 2011 Oregon Brewers Festival. Cheers!

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Tags: Beer Festivals, Oregon Craft Beer Month, Oregon Brewers Festival