Thebeerchaser

Since this blog is all about “chasing” beer at neighborhood bars as a retirement goal, it behooves thebeerchaser to recognize a retired gentleman who was quoted in a recent internet post. According to the article, Harold Schlumberg is a retired engineer who can be considered as a remarkable senior citizen.

He has found the courage to take on challenges that would make many folks pause or even wither. Harold is an example to those, who as they get older, sometimes begin to doubt their ability “to make a difference in the world.” He replied to an interviewer who asked, “What do you do now that you are retired?”

“Well, I’m fortunate to have a chemical engineering background and one of the things I enjoy most is converting beer, wine and vodka into urine. I do it every day and I really enjoy it.”

Harold should be an inspiration to us all……He also lends credence to the pundit who observed, “Inside every old person is a young person who wonders, What in the hell happened?'”

Harold

Brooklyn Pub Hat From Phoebe the Bartender

“The Beer Chaser – A Tour of Portland Pubs — Bar None!”

The Brooklyn!

The Brooklyn Park Pub on SE Milwaukie Avenue was the epitome of the neighborhood bar (see review below) and was recommended by my oboe instructor. Why I have an oboe instructor is another story.

It was a Thursday evening and there were few cars around the establishment so I thought it would be pretty dead — but to my surprise each of the eleven seats at the bar was filled. Phoebe, a delightful bartender with a distinctive laugh was manning the five taps – the most intriguing draft was Ft. George Brewery’s (Astoria) Working Girl Porter.

I want to identify what makes each bar distinctive and for the Brooklyn, the following makes the case:

A Whiskey Club – to become a member, one gets a punch-type card that will track the 30 different whiskeys required – 5 of which must be bourbon, 5 scotch and 5 ryes. There are approximately 130 members (reportedly, another 200 in process….) who proudly wear their t-shirts and also qualify for a life-time $1 discount on future shots. There were approximately 100 whiskey containers hanging on the wall to document participation.
Their mixed drinks were served in frosted mason jars.

Other nice touches to this bar were a “Go Cougs” sign because the owner’s family members are Washington State grads, a small library of military books and other historical non-fiction, a number of board games and a good dart board. Also six flat screen TVs and a number of posters with woodchucks, including one in which the buck-toothed critter states, “I hope dentistry is covered by ObamaCare.”

The Brooklyn as my initial stop, becomes a member of my honor roll and Phoebe, when I told her about my project, even gave me a Brooklyn Park Pub hat, which she signed and I now wear even more than my OSU Beaver cap.

While not posted in the Brooklyn, perhaps closing with two great W.C Fields’ quotes to commerorate the Whiskey Club are in order:

Always carry a flagon of whiskey in case of snakebite and furthermore always carry a small snake.
Drown in a cold vat of whiskey? Death, where is thy sting?

Brooklyn Park Pub

3400 SE Milwaukie Ave.

503-234-7772