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Deschutes Street Fare

Yes, we know the difference between “fair” and “fare”

Posted by: John Chandler on Aug 17, 2010 at 01:00PM Speech Bubble 2 Comments

Photo: John Chandler

More than 1500 folks showed up to the Deschutes Street Fare held last Thursday at NW 11th and Davis.

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When I first started working at Portland Monthly one of my duties was to attend local charity functions and report on how many people showed up, what went on, and how much money was raised. To be sure, the Portland nonprofit community is second to none in its dedication and generosity, but the events themselves tended to be a mixed bag. For every inspiring evening with bountiful auctions, exciting celebrities, dancing, and five-star cuisine, there was a corresponding night spent chained to a folding chair balancing a plate of rubber chicken while trying to distinguish between the monotones of all six guest speakers.

Well, Morrison Child and Family Services, the leading provider of children’s mental health services in Multnomah County, knows how to throw a proper shindig. A fortuitous team-up with Deschutes Brewing resulted in last week’s Deschutes Street Fare (spelled this way in reference to the all the different “fare” available), a street soiree that featured a whole squadron of food carts, a smart selection of bands, and plenty of Deschutes brews—good thing, ’cause the temperature crept into the low 90s and my thirst for hops hit critical mass.

In my opinion the presence of the food cart contingent was a stroke of genius because it gave a lot of Portlanders who weren’t familiar with these charming chuck wagons the chance to peck at some of the tastiest and most intriguing food around. And judging by the crowds around Whiffies Fried Pies and Garden State sandwiches, it was a very successful introduction. Some 1500 folks dropped by to sample the goodies, bob their heads to the likes of Loch Lomond and Sallie Ford, and $5000 was raised for Morrison’s coffers. Take a look at our web-exclusive slideshow for all the highlights.

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Tags: Food Carts, Craft Beers, Charity Events

Spirit Guide

It’s Rum Day!

So what are we having?

Posted by: John Chandler on Aug 16, 2010 at 10:00AM Speech Bubble 7 Comments

Today is National Rum Day! From what I’ve been able to determine the origins of this holiday are shrouded in mystery—which usually means it was something concocted by the rum industry in an effort to move more product. But far be it from me to rain on any event dedicated to the cocktail cause. If you’re in a celebratory mood, you can find specials on rum libations at any of the Rogue drinking establishments today.

Speaking of Rogue, today is also the day that the Green Dragon Bistro and Brewpub on SE Ninth Ave unveils its new in-house brewing operation which will be called Buckman Village Brewery. Rogue master distiller John Couchot will be the captain driving that particular boat. If you’re in the neighborhood, drop by for a pint or two of the Buckman Chamomile Ale.

And since it is National Rum Day, I’ve included an instructional video on how to make Hawaii’s most devastating cocktail, the mai tai. If you’ve got any lovely rum cocktail ideas knocking around in your noggin please send ’em along. Aloha!

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Tags: Cocktails, Craft Beers, Rum

Happy Hour

Happy Hour of the Week

Civilized eats and atmosphere at Accanto

Posted by: Caterina Purves on Aug 06, 2010 at 03:00PM Speech Bubble 0 Comments

Accanto is the little-sister cafe adjacent to decadent Italian eatery Genoa on SE Belmont. It’s in my neighborhood, and I walk by its large, scenic windows all the time, staring in at the tall, mirrored wall of liquors behind the stark wooden bar. I’ve even eaten there once—brunch, at the boyfriend’s behest. The atmosphere is convivial—quiet, low-lit, stylishly bistro-esque—and the food is decent: delicate, reserved, well made with fresh ingredients. So why can’t I bring myself to truly like you, Accanto?

Happy hour is daily from 3-6, weekdays from 9-10, and weekends from 10-midnight. Not bad. The nighttime stretch gives us working stiffs a decent window, which is great because honestly, if I have to rush to choke down a drink by 6, I’m not going to bother. Unfortunately, the menu isn’t particularly bountiful, with seven very civilized bites (i.e., small and painstakingly plated) ranging from $1.50 to $6; craft pints on draft (Everybody’s, Walking Man, Hopworks) for $3.50; “happy wine” (red or white) for $5; and a house-infused cocktail for $5. Last night the special happened to be gooseberry infused bourbon mixed with apricot puree and lemon juice, garnished with lime. Cue “danger” music.

Frankly, I’m not a whiskey gal. But by that time I had already decided that I wanted a cocktail, dagnabbit, so despite my belly’s brown-liquor dread, I ordered the daunting concoction. And guess what? I liked it. A delicious intro-to-bourbon drink, I decided. If you’ve had the Bye and Bye at the Bye and Bye, it tastes quite a bit like that—though less gut-wrenching and drunk-making, given the fact that it’s got only one spirit instead of two (and isn’t served in a jar the size of my head).

The boyfriend opted for the red, a light and refreshing Sangiovese that we both liked. Not being particularly drawn to any of the food items, like the marinated olives ($2) or the tomato, mozzarella, and rapini panini ($5), I ordered the “happy” soup of the day: a summery vegetable number, warm and broth-y with squash, kale, and zucchini, garnished with, to my best estimate, toasted baguette slices and shredded Parmesan cheese ($5). I wasn’t thrilled, but I also wasn’t disappointed.

Although it was only about an hour before close when we arrived (just in time for happy hour, naturally), and there was no exterior lighting, the server, rather hesitantly, let us sit outside. In retrospect, I think she made the right choice, because the boyfriend and I ended up getting into a heated philosophical debate about geometry, which probably would have disturbed the pristine nature of the indoors.

Not only did the server’s sound judgment win her points, but she was also very attentive at our table, and at the nearby table populated with Baby Boomers. And she was cute. I like places with an attractive wait staff—what can I say; I’ve got a well-developed aesthetic. Plus, her cute, trendy appearance was a great match to the cute, trendy décor.

Accanto’s not a bad place; it’s fine. I should like it and it’s not that I don’t. I think it’s the middle class, middle-aged bistro patron that fails to titillate me. God knows why (cue sarcasm). Accanto, I’m sorry—It’s not you, or your thoroughly modern fare, it’s me. If you want me back, you can find me down the street at the Vern, where I can yell about mathematics to my heart’s content.

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Tags: Happy Hour, Cocktails, Craft Beers, Cheap Eats

Beer Bulletin

Home Brouhaha

Beer and wine hobbyists advised to stay home

Posted by: Caterina Purves on Jul 13, 2010 at 10:00AM Speech Bubble 3 Comments

The Portland home-brew community is in a lather this month about a recent decision by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission, who backed up a Department of Justice ruling that home brewing (and home winemaking) competitions are, in effect, illegal.

Evidently long forgotten by everyone, the law in question is ORS 471.403, which reads: (1) No person shall brew, ferment, distill, blend … any alcoholic liquor unless licensed so to do by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission. However, the Liquor Control Act does not apply to the making or keeping of naturally fermented wines and fruit juices or beer in the home, for home consumption and not for sale.

So according to the exact letter of the law, a home brewer may legally brew and consume beer or wine within the confines of their own home. Anything between this narrow instance and the selling of a home brew to the public, which is expressly defined as illegal, has not been mandated over. Despite the fact that none of the in-betweens are addressed in the law itself, they still run the risk of violating the Liquor Control Act, pending judgment.

The problem originally surfaced when an Oregon State Fair committee brought the law to the attention of the OLCC, inquiring whether their popular home brewing and home winemaking competitions operate against the law, as they take place outside of the home and the brews/vints are sampled by a panel of judges. The OLCC deemed these judges members of the public and thus the competition is illegal. An even stricter ruling by the Department of Justice in consultation with the OLCC also pointed out that home brews may not be consumed outside of the home, adding another stitch in the Oregon State Fair’s side.

The State Fair’s home-brewing competition has been operating under this law for the last 22 years, and its winemaking competition has been doing so for 30. Why no one noticed before now is anyone’s guess and it appears that the committee would have been better off staying quiet on the subject. Oh well.

As things now stand, the OLCC is currently awaiting a final verdict from the Department of Justice, which is expected in the coming week. Joy Evensen with the OLCC has stated that the Commission is hopeful there might be some other way of interpreting ORS 471.403 that would allow these competitions to continue, but unfortunately it is anticipated that the initial analysis will hold.

Fortunately for home brewers and vintners, the OLCC has begun working with Rep. Mike Schaufler (D-Happy Valley) and Senator Floyd Prozanski (D-South Lane and North Douglas Counties) to draft language for consideration in the next session of the Oregon State Legislature. If the rewrite passes at this session, home-brewing competitions should be good to go for next year. To those concerned: let your voice be known. Contact your local representatives and senators and give them your two cents worth. Just remember, we beer/wine lovers will only find cooperation with local legislature if we demonstrate we’re deserving of it. You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.

We’ll keep you posted.

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Tags: Craft Beers

beer bender

Tour de Taps

Four breweries serve samples for Craft Beer Month

Posted by: John Chandler on Jun 30, 2010 at 12:00PM Speech Bubble 7 Comments

Photo: John Chandler

Now that’s a bus!

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I don’t drive—I ride the bus. And I consider myself a master of all things in the bus universe. I know when to ring the bell so as to give the driver plenty of time to stop. I enter in the front and exit in the back to alleviate corridor congestion. I cheerfully surrender my seat to the elderly and infirm. I am stoic when confronted by the hygienically challenged. I remain calm when fellow passengers are suffering from grand mal seizures, conniption fits, and full-blown psychotic episodes. In short, I am usually as serene as the Buddha beneath the bodhi tree.

However, that doesn’t mean I like riding the bus. In the cruel heart of winter, when the driver thoughtfully cranks up the heat to volcanic levels, and half the riders are sweating profusely while the rest are coughing like TB patients, I can envision better modes of travel. Like maybe being chained to a galley oar in the bowels of a tempest-tossed ship and beaten at 10-minute intervals while Yul Brynner keeps time on the drums. If anyone from TriMet is listening, there is a solution at hand: Try to adapt your vehicles so that they more closely resemble the bus I rode last week during the Craft Beer Month brewery tour.

Along with several other local beer bloggers, I was invited to ride along on a tasting tour of four breweries that had prepared special release beers in honor of Craft Beer Month (also known as July). That in itself would be reason enough to skip and jump, but it was our method of transport, a pimped out bus from a new Portland business called Double Decker PDX that proved to be the sprinkles on the cupcake. Spacious, comfy, and equipped with a fridge and a bumpin’ sound system, the double decker bus is the only way to fly.

With stops and samples at the Harborside Pilsner Room, Rock Bottom Brewery, the Sidebar tasting room adjacent to the Fifth Quadrant, and finally, Widmer Brothers Brewing, it was a stellar example of edutainment and the brilliant assortment of beers poured added to my already giddy anticipation of Craft Beer Month. Follow the action in our web-exclusive slideshow. You can almost feel the breeze and taste the hops.

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Tags: Craft Beers

Happy Hour

Happy Hour of the Week

Idle pursuits suit Mash Tun

Posted by: Logan Buckley on Jun 25, 2010 at 10:00AM Speech Bubble 2 Comments

The need for exploration drives us to relentlessly seek out new places; our desire for adventure causes the heart to beat stronger, faster, and sometimes, at the moment of discovery, to stop. Sorry to say that discovering the Mash Tun Brewpub will not cause your heart to stop, but it may, for a moment, fill you with the same sense of wonder you had as a kid when you found a rad treehouse or abandoned fort in the woods—an unexpected oasis to while away a summer day.

Tucked away in the Alberta Arts District between two of the more bustling zones of the strip, the Mash Tun has a perfectly serviceable Happy Hour for frittering away an afternoon in the company of a satisfying array of suds and snacks. From 3-6 pm Monday thru Friday patrons can satiate themselves with $3 house micros and well drinks. For the real deal, pop in on Tuesdays when house brews are only $2.50 during Happy Hour and pitchers are $8.50 all night long.

The main entrance is just off Alberta on 22nd Ave, seemingly hidden for those with eyes that are naturally accustomed to searching for likely locales to escape the traffic and sidewalk throngs. The lofty ceilings with numerous skylights and dotted with hanging plants complement the airy open floor plan and “local, sustainable” vibe. Follow the breeze to a sizable covered patio spiffed up with a mural of copper mash tuns nestled against a vivid backdrop of mountains. The overall effect is like being suspended well above terra firma.

After dutifully goggling at the scenic splendors, it’s time to replenish the inner man. When hunger strikes, be advised that the Happy Hour selections at Mash Tun are decidedly mundane, but thankfully well executed. Familiar foodstuffs generously portioned—fries, hummus, nachos, a burger, and salads—are all priced somewhere between $2.50-$6. Nothing earth-shatteringly spectacular, but no obvious bum steers either. Citizens worried about the specifics of what goes into their body, should rest assured that most of the ingredients are locally sourced. And peckish vegetarians will be thrilled by the number of entrees, including a vegan BLT sandwich. Mmm. Fake bacon.

When sifting through the six unfiltered, unpasteurized, and unprocessed directly-from-the-holding-tanks house brews on tap, don’t miss the Sam Jackson Pale Ale or the robust Razorback Red, both of which have the basic template of balance and flavor down pat, and also possess a bit more spice and soul than the darker offerings. There are also guest taps from Lagunitas, Ninkasi, and Anchor Steam, if you aren’t willing to root for the home team.

Speaking of which (soul), there is a well-stocked free juke for your sipping soundtrack playlist. Free pool, free wi-fi, darts, and a bookcase of games and reading material round out the entertainment options, but here, idle pursuits seem to be the activity of choice. You can practically feel your blood pressure ease downward while seated next to Mash Tun’s decorative waterfall leisurely mulling over your next pint.

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Tags: Happy Hour, Craft Beers, Cheap Eats

Beer Bulletin

June Under Glass

Train your liver with lager

Posted by: John Chandler on Jun 02, 2010 at 09:00AM Speech Bubble 5 Comments

Perhaps with the proper application of positive thinking, daily affirmations, and prayer, we can get the rain to cease and desist—and get the beer pouring in its place. July is the month that brings both the Oregon Brewers Festival and the Portland International Beer Fest, but June has plenty of opportunities to make the suds scene as well. Think of it as a month-long training regimen for the main events. Bottoms up!

The 4th Annual Zoo Brew
Oregon Zoo
Friday, June 4
5 PM – 10 PM

At the Oregon Zoo your $25 entry fee includes a glass and 10 beer tokens for sampling hoppy selections from Alameda Brewhouse, BridgePort Brewing, Cascade Brewing, Double Mountain Brewery, Full Sail, Hopworks, Lompoc, Widmer, Red Hook, and many more. Venerable funk and ska band the Crazy 8’s will provide some dance therapy and there’s a menagerie of critters that will stay up late to observe your antics. So be on your beast behavior!

Deschutes Brewery Barrel-Aged Beer Tasting
Deschutes Brewery Mountain Room
901 SW Simpson Ave. Bend, OR
Friday June 11
7 PM – 10 PM

If Eastern Oregon is on your travel itinerary, make it a point to drop by the Deschutes Brewery in Bend for a few rounds of Deschutes’s most potent beers that have been aging in oak barrels since the dawn of time (OK, they’re not that old). Abyss 09, Black Butte XXI, Bourbon Quad and more will be available, paired with an array of tempting hors d’oeuvres, all for the paltry sum of $45.

Third Annual McMinnville Area Habitat for Humanity Brews and BBQs
The Granary District in McMinnville
Friday June 18 – Saturday June 19
Friday 3 PM – 10 PM
Saturday Noon – 10 PM

Raise a glass while raising cash for Habitat for Humanity in picturesque McMinnville. Live music, wine, and food will be plentiful, as will brews from the likes of Heater Allen, Cascade Brewing, Golden Valley Brewery, Block 15, Caldera, Deschutes, and more.

Brewpublic Presents Microhopic
Saraveza Bottle Shop
1004 N. Killingsworth
Saturday June 19
4 PM – midnight

Just because they’re small doesn’t mean the beer should be overlooked. Reps from several area “nanobreweries” will be in the house at Saraveza Bottle Shop on North Killingsworth for an evening’s worth of small-batch sampling. Try worthy ales from Mt. Tabor Brewing, Big Horse Brewing (Hood River), Ambacht Brewing (Hillsboro), and Rivergate Brewing from North Portland, and give some love to the little guys.

North American Organic Brewers Festival
Overlook Park on N. Interstate Ave.
Friday June 25 – Sunday June 27
Friday – Saturday noon – 9 PM
Sunday noon – 5 PM

This is Year 6 for the Organic Brewers Fest, and lucky attendees can dip their beaks into some 75 different ales from all over the map. Fuel organic fervor by tasting brews from Laurelwood, Lompoc, New Belgium, Roots, Pelican, Lucky Lab, Oakshire, McMenamins, and Hopworks. Admission is free, but to get in the beer lines you’ll need to buy a (compostable cornstarch) glass for $6 with beer tokens for an additional buck apiece.

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Tags: Beer Festivals, Craft Beers

Happy Hour

Happy Hour of the Week

Hop over to the Hop & Vine

Posted by: John Chandler on May 20, 2010 at 11:00AM Speech Bubble 5 Comments

As a business model, trying to be everything to everyone is a guaranteed fail—unless you’re Applebee’s, of course. But occasionally someone with exceptional taste and modest ambitions can accomplish amazing things. This is certainly the case with owner Yetta Vorobik and her protean establishment The Hop and Vine on North Killingsworth.

Billed as a bottle shop that features local food and drink, Vorobik has created a charming oasis of comestible culture. Her shop combines the earthy elegance of a rustic French lunch counter, with the bonhomie of a neighborhood pub, and the casually Dockered sophistication of a wine bar. Here you have the option of relaxing with a smartly prepared cocktail from a small, but well-curated selection of spirits. Brew believers will squeal with delight over her six rotating taps and immense selection of craft beer by the bottle, which you are welcome to pop open and quaff on the premises. Vorobik’s discriminating eye extends to a wine collection that features hard-to-find vintages alongside regional varieties that are both palatable and reasonably priced.

OK, that’s all well and good. Now when do we get to the Happy Hour part of our program? It starts at 3 p.m. every day, but it’s especially captivating on Sundays (3-midnight) and Mondays and Tuesdays (3-8). The rest of the week it’s an all-too-brief 3-6.

Ever conscious of the Oregon Liquor Control Commission’s increasingly fickle ideas about Happy Hour advertising, Vorobik insists you must show up to find out about drink specials, but typically it’s a buck off of tap beer or one of the 20 or so wines available by the glass. Last time I was in, I enjoyed a frothy pint of Laurelwood’s outstanding Work Horse IPA for $3, and there were also pours from Lompoc Brewing, Oakshire Brewing, and Delaware’s renowned Dogfish Head Brewery. If none of the draughts are to your liking, simply reach into the cooler for anything from the Heater Allen Brewery in McMinnville. You won’t be sorry.

The food is light and savory, ranging from a plate of rosemary olives ($2) to bacon-wrapped dates ($3) to surprisingly filling comfort food, like the tomato soup with grilled cheese panini ($5). Currently on the menu there is a Nutella and peanut butter panini with vanilla ice cream for $6 that should make your heart flutter with delight—right before it stops.

At the front of the house there’s an assortment of comfy couches and for summer lollygagging, the Hop and Vine’s backyard patio is as serene as an English garden. The main thing I loved about the place was that I felt right at home about 30 seconds after I walked in. And that might be the best Happy Hour bargain of them all.

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Tags: Happy Hour, Wine, Cocktails, Craft Beers, Cheap Eats

Drinking & Dining

The Beer Belly Dinner

Dining event offers abundance of brews and foodstuffs

Posted by: Emma Hall on May 19, 2010 at 01:45PM Speech Bubble 3 Comments

Photo: Emma Hall

Starter: Fraga Farms Goat Cheeses with flat bread, pickled pear and habañero almonds. Served with Cascade’s Spring Gose.

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ON THE SECOND THURSDAY of each month, EastBurn plays host to the gastronomically challenging Beer Belly Dinner. Pairing a local brewery with the efforts of noteworthy chefs, it’s a four-course feast with accompanying beers for $35. The event is a smashing deal for the amount and quality of food—not to mention the sheer number of award-winning brews that are served—so much so that I almost reluctant to tell anyone about it. Plus, the proceeds all go to RideOn, a local nonprofit whose members will drive you and your car home anywhere in Portland proper for only $15. I admit that I placed one of their cards in my wallet—for a friend.

This month, the featured brewery was Cascade Brewing. Brewers Ron Gansberg and Curtis Bain were on hand to mingle and answer any questions, with Ron looking resplendent in his Hawaiian shirt embellished with hops, no less. Portland chefs Jeff Pagel and Joe Dougherty were also present to introduce each course and quell my fears about eating frog legs.

Cascade presented an amazing array of sour and fruit beers. For someone who only first tried sour beer a few weeks ago, I am now a true believer in these deliciously sweet, palate-cleansing beers.

Though the food and beers were out of this world, the best part of the Beer Belly Dinner is the company. You sit outside in EastBurn’s four-season patio at long tables, squashed in with an interesting array of folks: everyone from craft beer lovers to local beer celebrities. I was fortunate to be totally surrounded by good-natured beer lovers (including the Beer Goddess herself, Lisa Morrison), which made the event really fun and educational.

The starter course was assorted artisanal goat cheeses from Fraga Farm which paired perfectly with our first beer of the evening, the Spring Gose, a seasonal salty-sour ale with orange accents.

The first appetizer was Chef Jeff’s cold-smoked salmon rosettes, which were so tasty that when our waitress returned offering a tray of seconds, one-by-one our entire table snatched up them all up. The salmon was served with Cascade’s 2009 The Vine, a sour beer made with white chardonnay grapes.

The second appetizer was beer-battered frog legs swimming in a savory caramel sauce. “I’ve never had frog legs before-so I jumped all over it,” (har, har) explained brewer Curtis about his choice. I was also a frog-leg newbie, but the chefs insisted they tasted like a mix of halibut and chicken, which turned out to be an accurate description. Our table joked about the Schwarzenegger-sized legs as we scarfed them down, but I’m not sure I would eat them again if they weren’t covered in crispy beer batter. These were drizzled in a caramel sauce made from the paired beer, Busta Nut Brown. This malty beer was quite different from the sours, with its coffee-like aroma and dark-mahogany color.

The entrée was served buffet style, with plenty of extra helpings to go around. The main dish was pan-seared rack of lamb from SuDan Farm, which is available at the Portland Farmers Market. Vegetarians, avert your eyes: the chef proudly confided that the lamb had been slaughtered less that 24 hours before it hit our plates in all of its glory. The lamb was served with a cherry demi-glace that matched the accompanyin beer, 2009 Cascade Kriek, a fruity beer made from two different types of cherries.

Next up was the surprise taster that turned out to be the Noyeaux, an ale aged in white port barrels with 20 pounds of raspberries and toasted apricot pits. “In my opinion, it’s the one world-class beer we’ve made,” said brewer Ron. Though I would disagree about it being the only one, it was a true standout brew.

Finally, when we didn’t think we could fit any more food or beer in our swollen bellies, we were served white chocolate cheesecake served with a stone fruit compote, which of course paired perfectly with the 2009 Apricot Ale (A-ha! Thus the abundance of apricot pits that painstakingly were removed and used in the Noyeaux).

I’m not sure I could choose my favorite Cascade beer from the dinner, as The Vine, Noyeaux, and Kriek are now all very near and dear to my heart. I definitely recommend the Beer Belly Dinners for the vast array of food, top-notch beers, and terrific company. See you at the table!

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Tags: Beer, Slideshow, Portland Chefs, Craft Beers

Beer Bulletin

American Craft Beer Week

Just another excuse to chug a mug

Posted by: Emma Hall on May 17, 2010 at 04:00PM Speech Bubble 2 Comments

It could be argued that every week in Portland is craft beer week, but this week it’s official. Get yourself excited about toasting our mighty craft beer industry and then start wishing it was July (Oregon Craft Beer Month). Here are some local events to pour over:

Full Sail Brewing has come out with its own signature brew for the event, a German style weizen bock called the “Vendell Veizen.” You can belly up to the bar at the Harborside Pilsner Room if you’re craving a pint.

Lompoc Brewing will be pouring a special beer (read: tapping a limited-edition keg!) at each of their local pubs to celebrate the week. Today at Oaks Bottom, Wednesday at New Old Lompoc, Thursday at Fifth Quadrant and Friday/Saturday at Sidebar.

PDX Green Dragon is serving over 50 American craft beers this week, so head down to quaff a few and sign the Declaration of Beer Independence.

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Tags: Beer, Beer Festivals, Craft Beers

Random Notes

Dog Days

OK, ok, here’s a new post

Posted by: John Chandler on May 12, 2010 at 09:00AM Speech Bubble 9 Comments

We’ve been hit with a beer tsunami at the office and I’m still sifting through all the stouts, pilsners, porters, reds, browns, IPAs, Imperial IPAs, CDAs, IRAs, ESBs, and CSNYs. Hey! These beers ain’t gonna drink themselves! I’ve even been (gasp!) forced to take my work home with me.

But I am well aware of my duties as a blogger, to bring fresh, relevant content to our website. So…

This is my pug-hua-hua (half pug, half chihuahua) Phoebe trying to get the last bit of curry out of a to-go container. She’s so cute! And then she totally got her head stuck and pawed feebly at the container while whimpering piteously. I had to call the fire department and then pay a big fine for wasting their time ’cause the container actually came off before they got there but I was too embarrassed to call them back and cancel the emergency.

How does this relate to beer, booze, and bars? I was drinking a bottle of 10 Barrel Sinistor Black Ale at the time. Part of the CDA movement—Cascadian Dark Ales—it has many of the flavor characteristics of a bigger beer, like a porter, but overall it’s less aggressive and more drinkable. Highly recommended.

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Tags: Craft Beers, pug-hua-hua

Beer Bulletin

Brew Love

Apex pours its heart out

Posted by: John Chandler on Apr 29, 2010 at 11:00AM Speech Bubble 9 Comments

Apex, the new beer bar at SE 12th and Division. (Below) A dynamite pint of Upright No. 7

I didn’t bring a coat with a hood to work yesterday, so by the time I made it over to Apex, the new beer bar on SE Division, I resembled a waterlogged wombat. However the sight of 30 lovely taps pouring everything from Hopworks Imperial Red (9.3 percent ABV) to Thomas Kemper root beer (0 percent ABV) proved most revivifying. German and Belgian styles also are well represented here.

Located in the former home of Lovecraft Biofuels, Apex has abundant outdoor seating that sadly was going unused, just because the rain was coming down in bathtubs. Inside, the renovated industrial space is freshly painted and exploding with customer chatter. The room is dominated by a lengthy bar and there’s a trio of pinball machines in the foyer. Like Hopworks, Apex has identified itself as a bike-friendly establishment, with racks for helmets and a line of wall hooks for backpacks.

There’s no kitchen, but Apex abuts Los Gorditos a newish Mexican restaurant with scads of vegetarian options, and hungry visitors are encouraged to order chow there and bring it back. Since Apex doesn’t serve hard alcohol, they aren’t required by the OLCC to offer the ubiquitous salads and paninis found at every other start-up pub.

I was seated at the bar trying to ignore the puddles that were forming all around me when I was struck by Cupid’s arrow. The beer I was sipping was insanely tasty. I’ve had good fortune with beers from Portland’s Upright Brewing, and my luck was holding. Upright’s No. 7, described as a “strong farmhouse ale” is a burly and complex Belgian-style brew with a high, dry, sour taste cushioned with fruit and spice notes. “Holy crap, this is delicious,” I said to drinking buddy Lucy. Unconvinced she yanked the pint glass out of my mitt and took a healthy pull.

“Wow, that’s really good,” she agreed. We made plans to break into the Upright Brewery that very night and purloin the entire inventory of No. 7, but neither of us had access to a really big truck. Curses! Foiled again!

On that note, now is as good a time as any to let the brewing community know that myself and editor Brian Barker are working on a big beer feature for the July issue of Portland Monthly. We’re currently quaffing quality beers from both Portland and from around the state to determine a greatest hits pick list. Got some suggestions? Let us know. The only caveat is that the beer should be available to the public year-round.

If any brewers want to drop off samples at the office, please bring us your kegs, growlers, bottles, buckets, and to-go cups. This is called research and it’s something we journalists take great pride in. And if you could bring along a big sloppy pizza or two, we’d really appreciate it. Kisses!

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Tags: Craft Beers, Southeast Portland bars

BAR PILOT

Deschutes Street Fare

It’s Rum Day!

Happy Hour of the Week

Home Brouhaha

Tour de Taps

Happy Hour of the Week

June Under Glass

Happy Hour of the Week

The Beer Belly Dinner

American Craft Beer Week

Dog Days

Brew Love

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