Stride-for-Stride with Seattle Brew?

800px-Rainier_and_Olympic_Beers_(1895)_(ADVERT_408)

Welcome back to Thebeerchaser. If you are seeing this post through an e-mail, please visit the blog by clicking on the title above to see all of the photos and so the narrative is not clipped or shortened.  External photo attribution at the end of the post.  (#1 – #3)

Nostalgia…

When I started Thebeerchaser blog in 2011, the goal was to visit and review bars and breweries just in the Portland metropolitan area.  I figured with hundreds to choose, I would have new options for years.  However, we started traveling in retirement…

Janet and I could not resist the allure of watering holes throughout the State of Oregon and then when we took some road trips – across the country.   We even hit a few, as you can see from the photos below, in our 2013 Rick Steve’s Best of Europe Tour where we visited six countries in twenty-one days.

These included the Devils Forest Pub and Bacaro Jazz in Venice, Amsterdam’s historic Café Karpershoek and the Horner Pub in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland.

We can’t forget the Miscellanea Pub in Rome and one of our favorites – Hell’s Tavern (Zur Höll) in Rautenberg, Germany – as one reviewer stated, “I didn’t think Hell would be so awesome!”

Others included the Publican Pub in Beaune, France and in Vernazza, Italy (The Cinque’ Terra) – the Blue Marlin Bar..  

So I abandoned the logo that Teresa Lovegren, my former assistant, so generously provided when I started Beerchasing and prevailed upon my fraternity brother and friend of almost sixty years, Jud Blakely, to design a new logo. 

Jud’s great effort has stood the test of time although my hair color has changed slightly.

But in reminiscing recently, I realized that although I’ve visited and reviewed over 400 watering holes, throughout the USA, only a handful of those have been in my neighboring state – Washington.

Perhaps one reason is my older daughter, Lisa and her husband, Jamie, who live in Lake Forest Park have two beautiful granddaughters and although Beerchasing is an avid pursuit, it would never replace time we can spend seeing these two little angels.

On one of our trips in 2012, before the granddaughters came along, we visited The Pour House in Port Townsend and then not another pub in the Evergreen State until 2016 when we stopped at the Ice Harbor Brewery in Kennewick on the way to a wedding in Coeur d’Alene.

Then a three-year lapse until a visit to the Loowit Brewery in downtown Vancouver – right across the Columbia River from Portland. 

I was with my retired colleague “General” Larry Paulson, who I first met as a lawyer when we both worked in the Schwabe Williamson & Wyatt firm.  He then served with distinction as the Executive Director of the Port of Vancouver when we

We affectionally called him “General” because he also had a career and retired as a Brigadier General in the Oregon Air National Guard.  (#4 – #5)

Assuming you’re still with me on this Beerchase down Memory Lane, fast forward to a trip in the fall of 2019 when we visited Lisa and her family.  Her husband, Jamie, his brother, Rob and dad, Jon and I hit the historic Caroline Tavern and then had dinner at Elliot Bay Brewery’s Lake City Pub.  (#6)

2019-07-22 20.10.07

I finished that trip the next night with a memorable visit to Daphne’s in Edmonds in which I got to meet the legendary bartender, Desmond van Rensberg

The bar is a hole-in-wall, but Desmond’s personality radiates and seems to expand the structure!  (#7 – #9)

Coming out of COVID

Jump ahead four years and the full-scale resumption of Beerchasing after the pandemic waned. Another Seattle trip provided an opportunity to visit two new establishments.

The granddaughters were both in school, so it didn’t interfere with my time to visit them and see a swim meet, a piano recital and marvel at their wonderful personalities.

As happens on a number of occasions, the enjoyment of spending time with my Beerchasing companions heightened the discovery of a new bar or brewery – in this case Salish Sea Brewing Pub in Edmonds and Stack 571 Burger and Whiskey Bar in Bothell.

Salish Sea Brewing

Salish Sea Brewing is owned by a husband and wife team – Jeff and Erika Barnett who started their enterprise in 2013 and were foresighted when they purchased  American Brewery.

They acquired a competitor brewery and taproom including brewing equipment – a short distance away in Edmonds – in 2021 American struggled during the pandemic.

“The purchase of American was made possible by Salish Sea’s ability to navigate the pandemic. The brewery’s downtown location resulted in regular walk-up business and, despite having a limited distribution network, Salish Sea made use of 32-ounce mason jars to sell beer-to-go.”

The brewing equipment was moved down the street to what is now the Salish Sea Boathouse near Edmond’s picturesque waterfront. (#10 – #11)

The brewpub was very pleasant and it’s obvious from the reviews and just observing, that they have built a loyal community in and around Edmonds.  Dawn, our friendly server, told us about a running club which uses the pub as a base and it is definitely family oriented.

I was there with my colleague on the Board of the Abbey Foundation of Oregon, Rex Wardlaw who lives in Edmonds although he and his wife migrate to Kona for most of the bad weather months in Washington – a good portion of the year.

I didn’t eat but Rex had a great looking green salad and we split a gigantic soft pretzel ($11).  Salish has a good varied menu of moderately priced pub food ranging from soups, salads, burgers, flatbreads and standbys such as Fish & Chips and Mac & Cheese in addition to a nice kid’s menu.

Photo May 24 2023, 2 36 40 PM

I didn’t bother to write down the specific beers either of us had, but we were able to choose from eleven of Salish’s own beers and both of us enjoyed our drafts.  

As was the case with my Beerchasing companion the next day at lunch, I always learn a lot from just listening to Rex who had a remarkable career in investment banking and wealth management – one reason he is now Chair of the Abbey’s Investment Committee which manages its endowment fund.

He ran his own investment research and consulting company for ten years after retiring as managing director/portfolio manager at Wells, US Trust and then First Republic.

Rex attended NW Nazarene Collège and then earned his MBA at the University of Oregon. (#12 – #16)

And Rex’s self demands are not modest.  For example, in 2015, he successfully completed the Swiss Jura Challenge on a 4000 feet of daily climbing.

Rex is a man of faith – he also completed two pilgrimages – hiking  the Portuguese Caminho from Lisbon to Santiago, Spain in 2018.

He followed with the Via Francigena Pilgrimage from Canterbury, UK to Roma, Italia in 2022 – solo hiking the first 560 miles of the VF, a pilgrimage route incorporating parts of the ancient Roman Road across France and Switzerland. 

As we were leaving the brewpub, Rex asked me if I wanted to go for a twenty-mile jog to work off our beer and pretzel.  I politely demurred… 

Stack 571 Burger and Whiskey Bar

When Jon Magnusson asked me if I wanted to go to lunch at Stack 571 in Bothell, I was curious about the derivation of the name.  A bit of internet searching revealed that it’s named after the ASARCO  smokestack – once the world’s largest which had an interesting demise according to Historylink.org.

“At 12:40 p.m. on January 17, 1993, demolition experts collapse the landmark American Smelter and Refining Company (ASARCO) smokestack as part of a Superfund toxic cleanup of the old copper smelter in Ruston.

As many as 100,000 people gather to witness the detonation that, with one push of a plunger, sets off charges that in eight seconds reduces the structure to rubble and dust.”   (#17)

2_DMDHPA_asarco

I wondered why the bar’s President and Operating PartnerAttila Szabo, chose that symbol for the name of  his new venture in 2016.

(Further searching revealed that it is because their burgers are “stacked” or tall).  They have five locations including Vancouver, WA  and emphasize organic, free-range and locally sourced ingredients. 

Just as Rex Wardlaw’s intellect and experience is worth noting, my older daughter’s father-in-law always makes a very stimulating dining companion.  

While Jon ate one of the Stack’s good cheeseburgers (single patty…) I had a chicken sandwich with what I assume was a diminutive chicken.  The French fries and onion rings were delicious, although I don’t know under what conditions they were grown.

Jon Magnusson is now a Senior Principal with the Magnusson Klemencic Associates  structural engineering firm which he joined in 1976 and:

“….advanced to CEO, and ultimately Chairman of the Board, a role he held for 18 years. Now a Senior Principal, Jon has been structural engineer-in-charge for over $2.5 billion of construction in the last 10 years alone.

He has worked on projects in 47 states and 49 countries, including major sports stadiums, healthcare facilities, signature convention centers, and high-rise buildings. 

Over the course of his career, Jon has been an invited speaker for over 240 presentations and participated in more than 100 media interviews.”

Jon also donates a lot of time and travels extensively for professional associations.  He’s a second generation Washington Husky (both his son and my daughter share the same alma mater) and we always enjoy talking about the Pac12

The one football game I attended with him in Seattle (in the renovated and expanded Husky Stadium that his firm managed as they did when it expanded in 1982), the Huskies clobbered my Beavers.

This was also the case when son, Jamie, and I attended the same rivalry in 2019 in Reser Stadium in Corvallis. (Jon’s firm also did the work on the expansion and improvement of Reser at OSU last year.) (#18 – #21)

The MKS portfolio includes NFL, NBA, NHL, MLS, MLB, and collegiate projects where they have provided engineering services to 56 major facilities.

These include Safeco Field and Lumen Field in Seattle as well as Hayward Stadium in Eugene, Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara (Home of the 49’ers and Guangzhou International Arena in China to name a few.

Stack 571 had about fifteen beers on tap including three of their own although they say nothing about their brewing capabilities on their website. 

But what intrigued Jon and me is the claim that their selection of whiskeys exceeds 100 although the sign at Bothell indicated 179!  The availability of a  “Whiskey Passport “ may merit a return trip(s). (#22 – #23)

Since there was still time before the granddaughters got home from school, Jon asked if I wanted to come over and review the engineering stress equation (σ =F/A0).  I politely demurred….

In closing…

I started this long post with some nostalgia including three historic images of Seattle breweries that were a mainstay during my college years – Rainer and Olympia

I realized that my Beerchasing adventures in Washington and more specifically, Seattle, have lacked energy and will do my best in the future to stay “Stride-for-Stride with Seattle Brew.” (#24)

750px-Seattle_Slew

External Photo Attribution

#1. Public Domain – Wikimedia Commons (File:Olympia Beer (1906) (ADVERT 444).jpeg – Wikimedia Commons)  This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published (or registered with the U.S. Copyright Office) before January 1, 1928.  Author:  Olympia Brewing Co.   8 May 1906.

#2.  Public Domain – Wikimedia Commons (File:Rainier and Olympic Beers (1895) (ADVERT 408).jpeg – Wikimedia Commons)  This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published (or registered with the U.S. Copyright Office) before January 1, 1928. Author:  Seattle Brewing and Malting Co.  18 May 1895.

#3. Public Doman – Wikimedia Commons (File:Rainier Beer (1903) (ADVERT 65).jpeg – Wikimedia Commons)  This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published (or registered with the U.S. Copyright Office) before January 1, 1928. Author:  Seattle Brewing and Malting Co.  19 December 1903

#4.  The Columbian (https://www.columbian.com/news/2012/apr/29/port-of-vancouver-paulson-pleased-with-what-hes-le/?print)  29 April 2012.

#5. Oregon Live (https://www.oregonlive.com/clark-county/2011/03/port_of_vancouver_head_larry_paulson_will_retire_next_year

_deputy_named_next_executive_director.html)

#6.  Caroline Tavern Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057254417974&sk=photos). 

#7.  Facebook  Desmond  Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=363412525792143&set=pb.100063701944401.-2207520000.&type=3

#8.  Facebook   https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=3800244813342206&set=pb.100063701944401.-2207520000.  exterior

#9.  Facebook https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=398421555624573&set=pb.100063701944401.-2207520000.&type=3   interior

.#10.  Facebook – Salish Sea Brewing (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=708879491245450&set=pb.100063702153820.-2207520000).

# 11.  Facebook – Salish Sea Brewing (https://www.facebook.com/SalishSeaBrewingCompany/photos/pb.100063702153820.-2207520000./1877741669009209/?type=3

#12.  Public Domain – Wikimedia Commons (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jura_Mountains#/media/File:Juragebirge.JPG)  This file is in the public domain in the United States because it was solely created by NASA. NASA copyright policy states that “NASA material is not protected by copyright unless noted”. Author:  Jacques Descloitres,  MODIS Rapid Response Team, NASA/GSFC 22 October 2002.

#13.  Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Trek_820_(9518781581).jpg) Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.  Author: order_242 from Chile  3 August 2013.

#14.   Wikimedia Commons (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portuguese_Way#/media/File:Caminos_Santiago_actuales.svg) By Paulusburg – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=74883466.

#15.  Wikimedia Commons (map) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Via_Francigena#/media/File:VF_Ruta_completa_con_principales_poblaciones.svg.)  By Paulusburg – Own work con los datos proporcionados por Cristina Menghini [1]; Switzerland Mobility [2] y AEVF [3], CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=45235532.

#16.  Wikimedia Commons (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Via_Francigena#/media/File:Via-Francigena-Signposts-In-Italy-2012.jpg)  By Bjørn Christian Tørrissen – Own work by uploader, http://bjornfree.com/galleries.html, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=23161344

#17. Washington Department of Ecology – Ruston Smoke Stack (http://(https://www.historylink.org/File/8744)

#18. – #19. Magnusson Klemencic Website (https://www.mka.com/people/)  

#20.  Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Husky_Rugby_Club_at_University_of_Washington.png) Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.  Author: Will.Wheaton.Rugby.Arch  22 January 2022.

# 21.  Public Domain – Wikimedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:University_of_Washington_Block_W_logo_RGB_brand_colors.SVG )  This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published (or registered with the U.S. Copyright Office) before January 1, 1928.  Author:  University of Washington 1902.

#22. – #23 Stack 571 Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10100790612460240&set=br.Abr-8zKssI_mhXble6zBKuoRiIiSOQqkUegvw5UcOldoULcofb7Pegw)

24.  Wikimedia Commons (File:Seattle Slew.jpg – Wikimedia Commons) Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.  Author: Pawneese   7 September 2015.

 

Holiday Cheer and the Taste of Beer

Image courtesy of Pam Williams

(Welcome back to Thebeerchaser.  Since this is a long post, if you are seeing it through an e-mail, please visit the blog by clicking on the title above to see all of the photos and the narrative is not clipped or shortened.)

Happy Holidays, Beerchasers.  In what may be my last post of 2020, I will address one topic which is very interesting, yet tends to perplex and frustrate me. Let’s talk about

The Taste of Beer…..

A Portland “grunge” classic

Although this blog is primarily about bars and breweries, I often mention beers – especially those produced by the various breweries visited and which strike a chord.   

I’ve covered “basic” beers from the $1.50 Happy Hour PBRs at the historic Yamhill Pub  *1 in downtown Portland and the $1.00 draft Hamms (it used to be all day on Wednesdays…) at The Standard in Northeast Portland.

Buck pints – gone but not forgotten

*1  A November story in Willamette Week stated that this institution – at one time it sold more PBR than any bar in Oregon and in the ’90’s was no. 5 in North America – may have to close.  “General manager Kevin Hill has launched a GoFundMe campaign to save the Yamhill Pub, which is struggling financially during the most recent governor-ordered restrictions on dine- and drink-in service.” 

And conversely Janet and I enjoyed a Grolsch Premium Lager in Amsterdam’s Cafe Karpershoek in 2013 – the oldest pub in Amsterdam dating back to 1606 when Dutch sailors and merchants bellied up to the bar.

We’ve experienced some of the wonderful and innovative craft beers such as the Shanghai’d English Style IPA – a 2018 Gold Medalist at the World Beer Cup produced by entrepreneur, Adam Milne at Old Town Brewing – in Portland, Oregon where one can enjoy some of the finest micro-brews on the planet.

Janet at the bar in the Cafe Karpershoek

Now, I also remember life at Oregon State University in the late ’60’s, when the brew choices were all essentially “beer you could see through.”    I loved Schlitz Dry beer although Blitz Weinhard was plentiful on campus.  Of course, when one of the frat bros made a trip to a state in which you could buy a case of Coors – not available in Oregon until 1985 – he gained immediate popularity and new friends. 

However, what mildly irritates me are reviews – those where beer geeks – similar to some snooty wine connoisseurs – go into extravagant, grandiose and sometimes ridiculous detail describing how a beer tastes. 

That said, I realize that producing the ingredients for beer and the brewing process itself has gotten very technical and increased in sophistication to produce the outstanding mix of products from which beer drinkers can choose. 

For example, programs such as the Oregon State Fermentation Science Major have trained and educated outstanding brewers and enhanced the quality and flavor of beer immensely –  “a hands-on applied science addressing the biological, chemical and physical processes of fermented foods, including those used in the production of wine, beer, and spirits…..”

How cold was it? Sign outside Lumpy’s Landing

I’ve  progressed from not really knowing much about beer except that it’s much better really cold and in a frosted mug and have gained an appreciation for the rich history of brewing which goes back thousands of years.

“…..ancient Chinese artifacts suggested that beer brewed with grapes, honey, hawthorns, and rice were produced as far back as 7,000 BC.”  (Wikipedia – The History of Beer.)

I’m trying to educate myself on types of beer (ales and lagers – depending on the fermenting process), brewing styles, differentiation in ingredients and elements of taste.

A prime resource for beer education

There are some great online references and books such as the highly-rated The Beer Bible by Northwest author, Jeff Alworth who is also the originator of the Beervana blog. His almost 600 page book, with five appendices, could fill an upper-division college course on beer.

Lisa Morrison – also known as The Beer Goddess and a previous Beerchaser of the Quarter on this blog also wrote a good basic book on NW regional beers in 2011 – Craft Beers of the Northwest.

And after viewing the following sentence on page four of Jeff Alworth’s book, I thought that perhaps I was being too cavalier in dismissing the intricacies of beer taste.  Was I missing something when I raised a mug?

“When you sit down with a glass of beer, you do a lot more than taste it.  You will eventually put your papillae to the task, but they won’t work alone.  Your eyes take in its color, clarity and vivacity. 

Your nostrils detect sharp or subtle aromas drifting off the surface.  When you taste, you’ll be smelling the beer while its inside your mouth.  Your tongue, meanwhile, will be noticing whether its prickly with carbonation or smooth and still, whether it is thin or creamy or thick.  You don’t merely taste a beer, you experience it.”

However, after looking up the definition of “papillae” (a small rounded protuberance on the tongue) and realizing that I don’t really think about the prickly nature of beer while quaffing, I realized that I should not alter my own approach. 

Beer expert, Jeff Alworth at the Benedictine Brewery structure raising in 2017

I really love beer, but a major factor in my enjoyment is the social interaction with companions while imbibing.  That and drinking in the ambiance and unique character of each dive bar and brewery I frequent. 

Focusing on “mouthfeel” which is defined on page 599 of The Beer Bible as “Qualities of beer other than the flavor; includes body and amount of carbonation,” would detract from my Beerchasing experience.

I also respect those home-brewers who want to enhance their expertise and those in the brewing industry where it is a bonified occupational qualification to possess this technical knowledge.  And there are national and international brewing competitions such as the World Beer Cup.

It’s the world’s largest beer competition and labeled as “The Olympics of Beer.”  In the 2018 competition, there were 295 judges, three-fourths of them from outside the United States and beers from over thirty countries.

One can also choose to become a:

“….beer judge and work your way up the ranks evaluating beer to the Grand Master level. The (goal is) to remove as much of the subjectivity involved in evaluating beer during competitions as possible by giving all certified judges the tools needed to objectively evaluate the beers they judge.” https://winning-homebrew.com/evaluating-beer.html

But many of the beer reviews one reads in publications are pretentious and questionable.  My favorite example was so ludicrous, I saved it from five years ago. The reviewer, from a Portland weekly newspaper, was describing a new Gose beer introduced by an Oregon coastal brewery:

“”The first sip of the brew was like tasting the salty foam just as a large wave crests off the Oregon Coast.”

“Gasp – Gurgle – Glub – I think I have salt in my lungs….” (Off Lincoln City, Oregon)

I haven’t seen any more reviews from this columnist who most likely drowned while pursuing his next review, but there are others which also struck me as set forth below.

Small anti-hero??

Perhaps this is the challenge of those who pen reviews – trying to be creative and interesting, thereby using superlatives and hyperbole to capture the readers’ interest.  It happens with book and movie reviews too, as exemplified by this review of “The Joker” which hit theaters in 2020:

“Joker is so monotonously grandiose and full of its own pretensions that it winds up feeling puny and predictable.  Like the anti-hero at its center, it’s a movie that is trying so hard to be capital b – Big, that it can’t help looking small.” 

Let’s take this example from a Willamette Week’s Parker Hall 1/22/19 review of Day Runner IPA from Portland’s Threshold Brewing.  Now perhaps more sophisticated beer experts could truly discern the flavor he describes but take a look:

Rub your hands together and then give a “high” five…..

“A blend of Columbus and Ekuanot hops brings piny tar and tropical funk furnished by a tiny bite of freshly baked sourdough that makes your mouth water for the next sip, it smells like your hands would after an afternoon trimming Portland’s second favorite intoxicant. 

It’s a welcome and decidedly West Coast interpretation of the style that melds classic lupulin bite with deep hop flavor….”

Now remember, the reviews I’m talking about are not those in beer geek periodicals, but newspapers and publications for a general audience.   Heater Allen – a wonderful family brewery  in McMinnville, Oregon, gets a number of raves for its beers including this one from the 2014 Willamette Week Beer Guide where its Isarweizen was rated number six out of the top ten Beers of the Year.

“If you’ve only guzzled Widmer or Blue Moon, prepare yourself. This beer will thump your nostrils with the smell of clove and then strike your tongue with the taste of banana.  It’s creamy and crisp, something like chewing a slice of Juicy Fruit gum – in the very best way.”

“So sweet, you can’t help but chew” – and in the very best way!

Now while brewing creativity is a good thing, one reader argued about restoring some sanity in his clip entitled, “Holiday Ale Festival Gone Amok” when he described a disturbing trend in the annual Portland event in 2018 as:

“The festival’s hallmark has always been wonderful strong, winter ales and cask conditioned brews. Just the thing to blast me out of my IPA rut. But this year the festival got too cutesy and lost its way. The so-called stouts all tasted like milkshakes or Snickers bars.  The ales were so fruity that a better name might be the Kool-Aid Festival. 

And then there are the sour beers. There are probably some folks who actually like this stuff, but how many sour beers does it take for the rest of us to learn what we truly don’t like? Let’s take the Holiday Ale Festival back to its roots and put great winter brews back where they belong.”

To demonstrate how the trend to get a sweet confectionary flavor has escalated, let’s look at a few more.  Ten Barrel Brewing released The Last Blockbuster which was described as “having a light body and smooth finish with nuances of red licorice.”

“Nuances” of Red Licorice……

And here’s another one that I’ve saved about Priem Brewing (Hood River) Vienna Lager

“The relaxed toastiness, gentle caramelly sweetness and elegant body that define (this Vienna Lager) are all present, as are deeper notes of liquid toast, caramel apples and hints of toffee. A swallow brings out smooth cashew butter and dried, herbal hops balance the semi-sweet finish.”

The composer would judge the symphony of flavor as “classical”?

Now, Pfriem references the beer as a “malted symphony that would make Mozart proud….” and the review above was even in Draft Magazine, but I’m not sure I’ve ever seen “liquid toast”.  (Although the Urban Dictionary defines “liquid bread as “A beer with a high specific gravity at the end of fermentation resulting in a dense beer.”)

It also sounds like this reviewer would get the same eclectic taste by stuffing the entire contents of his Halloween bag in his mouth in one gulp.

After griping about this brewing pattern, I’ll end the comments about beer reviews on a more positive and healthy note (except for the “chocolate milk” reference below).  While I’m not a great fan of stouts and porters, I did like the description of Most Premium Russian Imperial Stout from Gigantic Brewing – another Portland brewer. 

It was also in the WW 2014 Beer Guide and was favored as the 10th Best Beer in 2014: “In a beer scene lacking in big, bottled Imperial Stouts, Gigantic’s might be the czar.”  

“Thick as chocolate milk and black as the Mariana Trench, it masks its 10% ABV in a complex, aromatic palette of flavors, intermingling touches of raisin and prune with deep caramel and nuts.  It’s dense and robust, not to mention, dark – like a Russian winter’s night.” 

We need to add some raisins and nuts

For accuracy sake, I would also point out that while one would expect the Mariana Trench which reaches depths of 36,000 feet in the Pacific to be black, the hue in its ocean floor is actually “….a yellowish color…because of all the decaying plants and animals, animal skeletons, and shells that are continuously deposited there.”  

(If you’re wondering why I’m quoting from  2014 published reviews, it’s because I’ve been meaning to write on this topic since that time….)

Scriptural Guidance?

Since this is the Christmas and Holiday Season, I thought there might be a Biblical reference – from the Holy Bible versus the Beer Bible -which would provide some direction on the issue of beer flavor and taste – and I discovered one.

Proverbs 20:1 states: “Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise.” 

A brawler…..

A “brawler” would hardly be perceived as a brew with “nuances of red licorice” or a “gentle caramelly sweetness” or for that matter, “creamy and crisp – like chewing a slice of Juicy Fruit Gum.”  This – in contrast to an imperial stout or porter, both characterized by their dark color and full body.

The gold standard probably being Guinness Draught, which Guinness states is “distinguished by its legendary stormy surge upon pouring.”  That and a brew such as Smuttynose Imperial Stout can definitely be considered as “pugnacious.”  (Perhaps those who prefer dark beer can consider this as Old Testament Divine Guidance.)

The Beerchaser’s Favorites

Since I talked about beer itself – rather than breweries in this post – I’ll end by offering my five favorite Oregon beers (in no priority).  And hats off to the beer aficionados who are into the more esoteric brews.  But I graduated from an aggie college and have less refined and expansive preferences based on my education at Price’s Tavern in downtown Corvallis.

I am not offering any flamboyant or eloquent rationale except, “I really like them!”

Black Habit

 1.  Black Habit Brown Ale – (7.8%) the flagship beer of the Benedictine Brewery at the Mount Angel Abbey and Seminary brewed by Fr. Martin Grassel

2.  Sticky Hands IPA – (8.1% – 110 IBU) Block 15 Brewery in Corvallis 

3.  Oakshire Amber Ale – (5.4% – 24 IBU) from Eugene’s Oakshire Brewing 

4. Shanghai’d English Style IPA – (6.5% 65 IBU) – Portland’s Old Town Brewing

5.  Buoy IPA – (7.0% – 70 IBU) from Astoria’s Buoy Beer Company 

But I Can’t Forget….

And I would be remiss without this honorable mention.  Now, I realize that this American lager is a Wisconsin – not an Oregon beer – from the brewery founded in 1844 and unfortunately now produced by Miller Coors, but it’s still a great beer. 

Pabst Blue Ribbon (PBR) – (4.74%)  Pabst Brewing Company

An outstanding honorable mention

Besides, in Thebeerchaser’s opinion:

“PBR tickles the olfactory epithelium with a pleasant and satisfying aroma and provides a hint of the forest on a fall day.  And the smooth malt-infused taste this sophisticated pilsner gives mid-palate is memorable.  

Topping it off is the no-nonsense hoppiness which creates an emotional mouthfeel similar to the crest of a wave breaking in the Pacific off Lincoln City, Oregon at high-tide.  PBR is tantamount to the Nectar of the Gods!”  (Don Williams 2020)

Christmas and Holiday Blessings from Thebeerchaser

And may all your shots be Pfizer rather than Vodka!

Hey! Have you Seen Thebeerchaser During the Last Seven Years?

Overlooking the Lauterbrunnen Valley in 2013

Those of you who are followers of Thebeerchaser.com may know from the 2018 Annual Report that the total number of watering holes – bars, pubs, breweries, taverns, saloons, etc. visited since I commenced this hobby in August, 2011, stood at 287 at the end of 2018. 

Laura and Ryan Keene and Kenzie Dettman outside Stammtisch in 2014

111 of these establishments were in the Portland metro area with the remaining 176 scattered over a large geographical expanse including several cities in Europe, bars and breweries in Alaska, Hawaii, many regions throughout the continental US and all across Oregon.

The Oxford Saloon on our 2016 trip to Missoula, Montana

These ranged from Idaho and Montana to Wisconsin to Maine, New York City and Boston, to the Southeast in cities including Asheville, NC; Savannah and Charleston, South Carolina.  Then there was Beerchasing in the desert – Phoenix and Scottsdale.  Then back to the west coast in northern California. 

Janet with Barb and John Senger at the Sink in Boulder, Colorado

And, of course, some of my absolute favorites are scattered throughout Oregon – from Baker City and Joseph to Burns, Prineville and Madras and down the entire stretch of the Oregon coast from Astoria to Bandon. 

The Embers Brew House in Joseph, Oregon

Wait!  Don’t forget the Benedictine Brewery and Taproom in Mt. Angel, Oregon where those raising a mug of Father Martin Grassel’s flagship brew – Black Habit –  toast the Brewery’s slogan – “Taste and Believe.”

I thought it was important to develop an accurate and comprehensive list of these establishments for those who might want to use this blog as a resource.  Okay, it was also just for my own memories…..

While it took quite a few hours to go back and compile the specific dates, the type of bar (for those in Portland) and location, the result is set forth below – categorized by year and whether it was in Portland or in a venue outside the Rose City .

If you want to find out about a specific watering hole visited (almost always at least twice for those in Portland) or if you are planning to hit Stanley, Idaho and want to find out about the history of Casanova Jack’s Stanley Rod and Gun Whitewater Saloon, you have a couple of options.  An asterisk indicates the establishment is now no longer in operation.

Thebeerchaser outside the Stanley Rod and Gun Whitewater Saloon

You can look in the data base below this chart and in the far right column, the month of the post will be identified.   On the right side of the screen when you are in Thebeerchaser.com you will see a field to select the month and year from Thebeerchaser.com archives.  

Alternatively, you can enter the name of the bar or brewery in the search field in the upper right of your screen and you will usually see the appropriate post although sometimes I reference a bar in more than one.  In the latter case, there is usually a link to the main reference.

Thebeerchaser’s Composite List of Bars, Taverns and Pubs

Year Portland Outside Portland Yearly Total Composite Total
2018 12 30 42 287
2017 15 27 42 244
2016 14 39 53 202
2015 11 36 47 149
2014 17 18 35 102
2013 13 21 34 68
2012 20 5 25 34
2011 9 0 9
Total 111 176 287

 2018  Portland Area Bars

  Name Location Type Date of Post
2018-1 The Salty Rhino West Linn Neighborhood December
2018-2 Palomar SE Cocktail December
2018-3 Bar 33 Sellwood Neighborhood September
2018-4 Benedictine Brewery Mount Angel Brewery and Taproom August
2018-5 Brew Barge Downtown (River) Miscellaneous August
2018-6 The Happy Fortune SW Miscellaneous August
2018-7 The Standard NE Dive June
2018-8 The Dockside North Neighborhood June
2018-9 Oaks Bottom Pub Sellwood Neighborhood April
2018-10 Wilders Bar and Café NE Neighborhood April
2018-11 Woodsman Tavern  * SE Neighborhood February
2018-12 John’s Market Place Multnomah Village Bottle Shop January

The Dockside – a classic in North Portland with the best hashbrowns in the City

2018 Bars Outside of Portland

  Name Location Type Date of Post
2018-1 North Mountain Brewing Phoenix Brewery and Pub April
2018-2 OHSO Brewing North Scottsdale Brewery and Pub April
2018-3 McFate Brewing Scottsdale Brewery and Pub April
2018-4 Wren House Brewing Scottsdale Brewery and Pub April
2018-5 Scottsdale Beer Company Scottsdale Brewery and Pub April
2018-6 Helton Brewing Phoenix Brewery and Pub April
2018-7 Mesquite River Brewing Scottsdale Brewery and Pub April
2018-8 Sun Up Brewing Scottsdale Brewery and Pub February
2018-9 OHSO Brewing Phoenix Airport Taphouse February
2018-10 Four Peaks Brewing Phoenix Brewery and Pub February
2018-11 Goldwater Brewing Phoenix Brewery and Pub February
2018-12 Two Brothers’ Brewing Scottsdale Brewery and Pub February
2018-13 Durty Nelly’s Bar North Boston Dive Bar October 30
2018-14 Shipyard Brewing Portland, Maine Brewery and Taproom October 30
2018-15 Sebago Brewing Portland, Maine Brewpub October 30
2018-16 Rising Tide Brewing Portland, Maine Brewery and Taproom October 30
2018-17 Marshall Wharf Brewing Belfast, Maine Brewery and Taproom October 30
2018-18 Sea Dog Brewing Camden, Maine Brewpub October 30
2018-19 Rock Harbor Brewing Rock Harbor, Maine Brewery and Taproom October 30
2018-20 Atlantic Brewing Bar Harbor, Maine Taproom October 18
2018-21 Cottage Street Pub Bar Harbor, Maine Dive Bar October 18
2018-22 Island Bar SW Harbor, Maine Dive Bar October 18
2018-23 Sips Southwest Harbor, Maine Cocktail Bar October 18
2018-24 Ebenezer’s Pub Lovell, Maine Neighborhood October 9
2018-25 Standard Gastropub Bridgton, Maine Gas Station Bar October 9
2018-26 Sea Dog Brewing South Portland, Maine Brewpub October 9
2018-27 Heartland Brewing New York City Brewery and Pub October 1
2018-28 District Tap House New York City Taphouse October 1
2018-29 Mariott Pulse Rooftop Bar New York City Hotel Bar October 1
2018-30 Mariott Pulse Patio Bar New York City Hotel Bar October 1

Historic dive bar, Durty Nelly’s in Boston’s North End

2017 Portland Area Bars

  Name of Venue Location Type Date of Post
2017-1 Multnomah Whiskey Library Downtown Whiskey Bar January
2017-2 Nineteen 33 Taproom West Linn Neighborhood February
2017-3 Buffalo Bill’s Saloon Beavercreek Neighborhood February
2017-4 Ancestry Brewing Tualatin Brewery February
2017-5 The Independent Downtown Sports Bar March
2017-6 NEPO 42 Northeast Neighborhood April
2017-7 Burnside Brewing East Brewery April
2017-8 Gil’s Speakeasy Southeast Dive Bar May
2017-9 Flyboy Brewing Tigard Brewery May
2017-10 Cascade Brewing Barrel House Southeast Brewpub June
2017-11 Labrewatory North Brewery June
2017-12 Renners Multnomah Village Dive Bar August
2017-13 Slow Bar Southeast Neighborhood October
2017-14 TC O’Leary’s Irish Pub Northeast Neighborhood October
2017-15 ZARZ Downtown Whiskey Bar December

The Multnomah Whiskey Library

 2017 Bars Outside Portland

  Name of Venue Location Type Date of Post
2017-1 Nauti Mermaid Beach Club Lincoln City, OR Neighborhood July
2017-2 Scooters Pub Milwaukee, Wisc. Neighborhood July
2017-3 Dukes on the Water Milwaukee, Wisc. Dive July
2017-4 Water Street Brewery Milwaukee, Wisc. Brewery July
2017-5 Badger State Brewery Green Bay, Wisc. Brewery July
2017-6 Hinterland Brewery Green Bay, Wisc. Brewery July
2017-7 Door County Brewing Bailey’s Harbor, Wisc. Brewery August
2017-8 AC Tap Sister Bay, Wisc Dive August
2017-9 Coyote Road House Bailey’s Harbor, Wisc. Neighborhood August
2017-10 Cornerstone Pub Bailey’s Harbor, Wisc. Neighborhood August
2017-11 Pourman’s Bar Milwaukee, Wisc. Neighborhood September
2017-12 Lake Front Brewing Milwaukee, Wisc. Brewery September
2017-13 McGillycuddy’s Bar Milwaukee, Wisc. Neighborhood September
2017-14 Bar None Milwaukee, Wisc. Neighborhood September
2017-15 The Ale Asylum Riverhouse Milwaukee, Wisc. Brewpub September
2017-16 Yachats Brewing Yachats, OR Brewery November
2017-17 Defeat River Brewing Reedsport, OR Brewery November
2017-18 Seven Devils Brewing Coos Bay, OR Brewery November
2017-19 Bandon Brewery Bandon, OR Brewery November
2017-20 Broken Anchor Bar and Grill Bandon, OR Neighborhood November
2017-21 The Beverage Barn Bandon, OR Bottle Shop November
2017-22 Arch Rock Brewing Gold Beach, OR Brewery November
2017-23 Chetco Brewing Brookings, OR Brewery November
2017-24 Six Rivers Brewing McKinleyville, CA Brewery December
2017-25 Humboldt Regeneration McKinleyville, CA Brewery December
2017-26 Lost Coast Brewery Eureka, CA Brewery December
2017-27 Mad River Brewery Blue Lake, CA Brewery December

AC Tap  outside Bailey’s Harbor, Wisconsin

2016 Portland Area Bars

2016-1 Lake Oswego The Hop’N Cork Neighborhood January
2016-2 NE Sloan’s Tavern Neighborhood February
2016-3 SE Hair of the Dog Brewery Brewery February
2016-4 SW Barlow Artisenal Bar Misc. March
2016-5 NW Life of Riley Tavern Dive March
2016-6 SW The Yardhouse Misc. April
2016-7 N The Rambler Neighborhood May
2016-8 SE The Ranger Station Neighborhood June
2016-9 SW MoMo Bar Maximo Dive July
2016-10 NE Billy Ray’s Neighborhood Dive Dive August
2016-11 SE Mad Sons Pub * Neighborhood September
2016-12 SW The Fulton Pub Brewery October
2016-13 NW Bridgeport Brewery Brewery November
2016-14 SW Mummy’s Bar and Restaurant Misc. December

Beerchaser regulars and trial lawyers, Brian King, Brian Flanagan and John Mansfield outside Billy Rays Neighborhood Dive Bar

2016 Bars Outside Portland

2016-1 Tamarack Brewing Missoula, MT February
2016-2 Stockman Bar Missoula, MT February
2016-3 Big Sky Brewing Missoula, MT February
2016-4 Flathead Lake Brewing Missoula, MT February
2016-5 Draught Works Brewery Missoula, MT February
2016-6 Charlie B’s Bar Missoula, MT February
2016-7 Oxford Bar Missoula, MT February
2016-8 Plonk Wine Bar Missoula, MT February
2016-9 Kauai Island Brewing Company Kauai May
2016-10 Kauai Beer Company Kauai May
2016-11 Duke’s Bar and Restaurant Kauai May
2016-12 Nawiliwili Tavern Kauai May
2016-13 Blackfoot River Brewing Helena, MT July
2016-14 Lewis and Clark Brewing Helena, MT July
2016-15 Grand Teton Park Lodge Grand Teton NP July
2016-16 Local Restaurant and Bar Jackson, WY July
2016-17 Gather Food and Drink Jackson, WY July
2016-18 Million Dollar Cowboy Bar Jackson, WY July
2016-19 Melvin Brewing Jackson, WY July
2016-20 Wild West Pizzeria and Saloon West Yellowstone July
2016-21 Couer d’aline Resort Bar Couer d’aline August
2016-22 The Moose Lounge Couer d’aline August
2016-23 The Corner Bar Couer d’aline August
2016-24 Chained-Up Brewpub Couer d’aline August
2016-25 Crafted Taphouse and Kitchen Kennewick, WA August
2016-26 Ice Harbor Brewery Kennewick, WA August
2016-27 McCall Brewing Company McCall, ID August
2016-28 Salmon River Brewery McCall, ID August
2016-29 Stanley Rod and Gun Whitewater Saloon Stanley, ID September
2016-30 The Kasino Club Stanley, ID September
2016-31 Redfish Lake Lodge Bar Stanley, ID September
2016-32 Caldera Brewing Ashland, OR October 24
2016-33 Blackbird Kitchen and Bar Sacramento October 31
2016-34 Hock Farm Craft Provisions Sacramento October 31
2016-35 Dive Bar Sacramento October 31
2016-36 Woody’s Brewing Redding, CA November
2016-37 The Pour House Murphys, CA November
2016-38 Murphys Hotel and Saloon Murphys, CA November
2016-39 Murphys Irish Pub Murphys, CA November

 

The Moose Lounge in the heart of Couer dalene, Idaho

2015 Portland Area Bars

2015-1 Suburb Brannon’s in Beaverton * Neighborhood March
2015-2 NE Oregon Public House Non-profit Pub March
2015-3 SE Double Barrel Tavern Dive April
2015-4 N Ecliptic Brewing Brewery and Pub May
2015-5 SW Yamhill Pub Grunge May
2015-6 NW Low Brow Lounge Dive June
2015-7 SW Pope Bourbon House Cocktail June
2015-8 SW Kelly’s Olympian Historic Dive August
2015-9 N St. John’s Pub Historic November
2015-10 NW The New Old Lompoc * Neighborhood November
2015-11 SE Produce Row Café Historic December

Historic Kellys Olympian in Downtown Portland

2015 Bars Outside Portland

2015-1 The Sink Boulder, Colorado February
2015-2 Post Brewing Boulder, Colorado February
2015-3 Crystal Springs Brewing Boulder, Colorado February
2015-4 Gravity Brewing Louisville, Colorado February
2015-6 Avery Brewing Boulder, Colorado February
2015-7 Post Brewing Boulder, Colorado February
2015-8 New Belgium Brewing Fort Collins, Colorado May 19
2015-9 Mayor of Old Town Fort Collins, Colorado May19
2015-10 The Town Pump Fort Collins, Colorado May 19
2015-11 Phantom Canyon Brewing Colorado Springs, Colorado May 19
2015-12 Ritz Bar and Grill Colorado Springs, Colorado May 19
2015-13 Breckinridge Brewery Breckenridge, Colorado May 29
2015-14 Ollie’s Pub and Grub Breckenridge, Colorado May 29
2015-15 Gold Pan Saloon Breckenridge, Colorado May 29
2015-16 Angel Hollow Bar Breckenridge, Colorado May 29
2015-17 Après Handcrafted Libations Breckenridge, Colorado May 29
2015-18 Broken Compass Brewery Breckenridge, Colorado May 29
2015-19 Dillon Dam Brewery Dillon, Colorado May 29
2015-20 Eleventh Street Pub & Bistro Atlanta, GA July
2015-21 The Nook on Piedmont Atlanta, GA July
2015-22 Max’ Wine Dive Atlanta, GA July
2015-23 Jack of the Woods Public House Asheville, SC July
2015-24 The Thirsty Monk Asheville, SC July
2015-25 Wicked Weed Brewery Asheville, SC July
2015-26 Lexington Avenue Brewery Asheville, SC July
2015-27 Blind Tiger Pub Charleston, SC July
2015-28 South End Brewery & Smokehouse Charleston, SC July
2015-29 Charleston Beer Exchange Charleston, SC July
2015-30 The Gin Joint Charleston, SC July
2015-31 The Boar’s Head Grill & Tavern Savannah, GA September
2015-32 JJ Bonerz Sports Bar Savannah, GA September
2015-33 Moon River Brew Brewery Savannah, GA September
2015-34 Churchill’s Pub Savannah, GA September
2015-35 Savannah Distillery Ale House Savannah, GA September
2015-36 Pinky Master’s  * Savannah, GA September

The Gold Pan Saloon in Breckenridge, Colorado

2014 Portland Area Bars

2014-1 The Nest SE Neighborhood January
2014-2 Skyline Tavern NW Historic January
2014-3 Sandy Hut NE Dive February
2014-4 The Cheerful Bullpen SW Sports February
2014-5 Saraveza N Neighborhood March
2014-6 Bazi Bier Brassiere SE Neighborhood April
2014-7 Bailey’s Tap Room/The Upper Lip NW Taproom April
2014-8 Crackerjacks Pub NW Neighborhood April
2014-9 Quimby’s NW Neighborhood April
2014-10 Sniff Café NW Miscellaneous April
2014-11 The Lost and Found N Neighborhood June
2014-12 The Beer Mongers SE Bottle Shop June
2014-13 Stammtisch NE Neighborhood July
2014-14 Portland Peda Lounge SE Miscellaneous August
2014-15 Club 21 * NE Dive September
2014-16 The Richmond Bar SE Cocktail November
2014-17 Marathon Taverna NW Sports December

Owner of the Bazi Bierbrasserie, Hilda Stevens holds Thebeerchaser logo while part of our walking group finishes its food and bier

2014 Bars Outside Portland

2014-1 Glacier Brewhouse Anchorage, Alaska July 8 February
2014-2 Darwin’s Theory Anchorage, Alaska July 8
2014-3 Haines Brewery Haines, Alaska July 17 February
2014-4 Red Dog Saloon Juneau, Alaska July 17
2014-5 Shipboard Bars Statandem – Holland America July 17
2014-6 Lumpy’s Landing Dundee, OR September
2014-7 The Old Oregon Saloon Lincoln City, OR September
2014-8 The Nauti Mermaid Lincoln City, OR September
2014-9 Road House 101 Lincoln City, OR October
2014-10 Snug Harbor Bar & Grill Lincoln City, OR October
2014-11 Pelican Brewery Pacific City, OR October
2014-12 The Oar House Pacific City, OR October
2014-13 Sportsman Pub and Grub Pacific City, OR October
2014-14 Cruise Inn Lincoln City, OR November
2014-15 Bay Haven Inn Newport, OR November
2014-16 Mad Dog Country Tavern Newport, OR November
2014-17 Hoovers Bar and Grill Newport, OR November
2014-18 Tidepool Pub Depoe Bay, OR November

Lincoln City’s Cruise Inn

2013 Portland Area Bars

2013-1 The Grand Café SE Dive January
2013-2 Belmont Inn SE Neighborhood March
2013-3 Tugboat Brewery * SW Brewery and Pub March
2013-4 Belmont Station SE Bottle Shop April
2013-5 Tanker Bar SE Dive April
2013-6 Beer SE Neighborhood April
2013-7 Horse Brass Pub SE Historic Brew Pub May
2013-8 Sidecar 11 N Neighborhood June
2013-9 Sasquatch Brewery Cedar Hills Brewery and Pub July
2013-10 The Slammer SE Dive August
2013-11 Davis Street Tavern * NW Neighborhood October
2013-12 Slabtown * NW Dive October
2013-13 Church NE Neighborhood December

The Slammer in the Barmuda Triangle

2013 Bars Outside Portland

2013-1 Café Karpershoek Amsterdam, Netherland June
2013-2 Bier Brewery Anaheim, Austria July
2013-3 Hells Tavern Rothenberg, Germany July
2013-4 The Devil’s Forest Pub Venice, Italy July
2013-5 Bacaro Jazz Café Venice, Italy July
2013-6 Miscellana Café and Pub Rome, Italy August
2013-7 La Cantina Di Miky Vernazza, Italy September
2013-8 The Horner Pub Lauterbrunner, Switzerland September
2013-9 Schilthorn Taverne Lauterbrunner, Switzerland September
3013-10 The Publican Beaune, France October
2013-11 The Beer Station Paris, France October
2013-12 La Vin Couer Paris, France October
2013-13 Long Branch Bar La Grande, OR November 4
2013-14 Cascades Lake Brewery La Grande, OR November 4
2013-15 Horseshoe Tavern Prineville, OR November 4
2013-16 Solstice Brew Pub Prineville, OR November 4
2013-17 Hideout Saloon La Grande, OR November 4
2013-18 10 Depot Street La Grande, OR November 14
2013-19 Mt.  Emily Ale House Baker, OR November 14
2013-20 Bull Ridge Brewery Baker, OR November 14
2013-21 Central Pastime Tavern Burns, OR November 20

Café Karpershoek – the oldest bar in Amsterdam – founded in 1606

2012 Portland Area Bars

2012-1 Dixie Tavern NW Dive Club February
2012-2 Ash Street Saloon * SW Club February
2012-3 Migration Brewery NE Brewery and Pub February
2012-4 Laurelthirst Pub NE Neighborhood February
2012-5 Hawthorne Hideaway SE Neighborhood March
2012-6 Mock Crest Tavern N Historic May
2012-7 Interurban N Neighborhood May
2012-8 Muddy Ruder Pub SE Neighborhood June
2012-9 County Cork * NE Neighborhood June
2012-10 Sidecar 11 N Neighborhood June
2012-11 The Cheerful Tortoise SW Historic Sports June
2012-12 Bottles NE Bottles Shop July
2012-13 Goose Hollow Inn SW Historic Neighborhood July
2012-14 The Lutz Tavern SE Historic Neighborhood August
2012-15 Gold Dust Meridian SE Neighborhood October
2012-16 Bar of the Gods SE Dive October
2012-17 Claudias SE Historic Sports November
2012-18 White Eagle Saloon N Historic November
2012-19 1856 NE Bottle Shop November
2012-20 The Ship Tavern Multnomah Village Dive December

Former Mayor and owner of the Goose Hollow Inn, Bud Clark, with Jim Westwood, John Terry and Bud’s daughter when we Beerchased at the Goose

2012 Bars Outside Portland

2012-1 Astoria Brewery Wet Dog Café Astoria, OR September
2012-2 Desdemona Club Astoria, OR September
2012-3 The Pour House Port Townsend, WA September
2012-4 Embers Brew Pub Joseph OR October
2012-5 Terminal Gravity Brewery Enterprise, OR October

The Desdemona Club in Astoria, where Laura the bartender explains to Dave Booher, the origin of the nickname, “The Dirty D.”

 2011 Portland Area Bars

2011-1 Brooklyn Park Pub SE Dive August
2011-2 Yukon Tavern SE Dive August
2011-3 Gladstone Street Tavern SE Neighborhood September
2011-4 The Twilight Room N Historic September
2011-5 Joe’s Cellar NW Dive September
2011-6 Buffalo Gap Tavern SW Historic November
2011-7 Prost N Brew Pub November
2011-8 Amnesia Brewery * N Brewery and Pub November
2011-9 Coalition Brewery SE Brewery and Taproom November

Observing the tradition at Prost where you don’t let the 2-liter boot touch the table once it starts the rounds or………

I have often gotten requests to identify my favorite spots — also those to which I would not return.   Since I subscribe to the quote below, I have most notably avoided the latter. But after almost eight years it may be enlightening for some to view Thebeerchaser’s humble opinion on the all-stars and those few given the wealth of wonderful places to raise a mug, I would not return.

Samuel Johnson – 18th century writer, poet and playwright and drinker….

“There  is nothing which has yet been contrived by man, by which so much happiness is produced as a good tavern.”   Samuel Johnson 

I will therefore, in the next few months, publish some shorter posts on my favorites – by category i.e. dive bar, neighborhood pub, brewery, etc. – both in Portland and outside Portland.

These will be integrated with posts about new bars I am visiting and reviewing   Also, expect to see the short list of habitats that Thebeerchaser recommends that you avoid.

For example, expect to see the picture below and a short description of the Ship Tavern in Multnomah Village in the post about favorite Portland area dive bars.

I’ve also fielded inquiries about how with the number of bars visited, I have avoided gaining 100 pounds and/or a stint at the Betty Ford Clinic.  On the first question, while I haven’t attained my goal of getting back to my original weight – 9 pounds 9 ounces…(Sorry!), thanks to my wife who is an outstanding walker and hiker as well as regular trips to the gym, I have pretty much maintained my pre-retirement poundage

Mingling with the friendly regulars at the classic dive bar Club 21 in 2014 – gone but not forgotten!

It should also be noted that notwithstanding the title, this blog is primarily about bars – not the beer itself.

I spend most of my time in the watering holes, nursing a pint while talking to the bartender and the regulars about the history of the bar, the distinguishing characteristics and noting the signs, memorabilia and décor – which in most bars and a lot of brew pubs is distinct and worth talking about. (The picture from the Club 21 is a great example of the great people I’ve met.)

And, of course, on the majority of visits, I am with friends where the conversation and comradery are paramount and the beer secondary – notwithstanding this photo of former Beerchaser-of-the-Quarter Jim Westwood with members of the Jack Faust clan at the Yard House in Portland!  (Although the company was great, the Yard House is on Thebeerchaser’s “No Return” list of bars to be published in the future.

As an example, how can you be overly concerned with your brewski when you are listening to former Mayor Bud Clark, explain the amazing history of the “Expose Yourself to Art” poster while we  were at the Goose Hollow Inn (See the picture above)

Jim Westwood, Kevin Fischer, Amy Faust, Jack Faust and Thebeerchaser

The armchair philosopher who stated, “A bar is better than the newspaper for public discussion.” was correct and we should add the social media to that quote.  So I will plug on with Thebeerchaser’s Tour of Bars, Taverns and Pubs – only about 400 left to explore in Portland!

Cheers!

Cheers from Thebeerchaser

2014 Beerchaser-of-the-Year: Janet Dancer Williams

2014 Beerchaser of the Year, Janet Williams

2014 Beerchaser-of-the-Year, Janet Dancer Williams

After publishing this blog for over three years and periodically recognizing various individuals or organizations as Beerchaser-of-the-Quarter, events dictate the establishment of the first Beerchaser-of-the-Year Award – and it will now be a yearly happening retroactive to 2014.

Janet (usually a wine drinker) and Thebeerchaser
Janet (usually a wine drinker) and Thebeerchaser

 

 

 

 

 

 

Author and Editor, Brian Doyle, at The Fulsom Brew Pub

Author and Editor, Brian Doyle, at The Fulton Brew Pub last year

Thebeerchaser blog posts have  “honored” individuals who are war heroes such as my good friends, Jud Blakely and Steve Lawrence; authors such as Northwest icon, Brian Doyle, deceased mystery writer James Crumley and the venerable Dr. Harry Frankfurt, author of the marvelous tome On Bullshit

Lt. Jud Blakely USMC in Viet Nam in 1965

Lt. Jud Blakely USMC in Viet Nam in 1965

Harry_Frankfurt

Princeton Professor and author, Dr. Harry Frankfurt

 

 

 

 

 

 

———–

Since I worked with  attorneys for many years, some of the Oregon stalwarts in the profession such as Schwabe’s Jack Faust and Stoel Rives’ Jim Westwood have been designated.  And then there are some more creative picks such as the Crew of the USS Constitution and retired chemist Charles Schlumberg.  For you Seinefeld fans, the venerable Art Vandelay made the list and even former Beaver coach, Mike Riley and his 2012 football team, for their performance — at least after the first six games……

Former Beerchaser of the Quarter - Oregon appellate lawyer, Jim Westwood.

Former Beerchaser of the Quarter – Oregon appellate lawyer, Jim Westwood.

 

But the omission of any female Beerchaser honoree is glaring, especially since there are many worthy of the recognition.  Although this situation will be rectified in 2015, none have made a more lasting and significant contribution to Thebeerchaser Tour of Portland Bars, Taverns and Pubs than my wife of 35 years, Janet Dancer Williams.

A hike in Breckenridge

A hike in Breckenridge

Although our first date in 1979 after an Oregon City Planning Commission meeting (where we first met) was having a beer, Janet is a wine-drinker.   Notwithstanding that, she recently accompanied me to eighteen bars and microbreweries in twelve days on our Colorado trip and was a great companion as we integrated our tour of the wonderful Colorado scenery with Beerchasing in some of the great brewpubs. P1020965

In fact, she was responsible for our VIP tour of New Belgium Brewing Company in Fort Collins – arranged after she met Shawn Hines, one of the executives and his wife, Allison, at the Dundee Hills Winery earlier this year.

She tolerates the hours I sit at my computer researching and writing about the watering holes and only once in awhile accuses me of being preoccupied and not listening to her — at least that’s what I think she’s said……

Jamie and Lisa Williams Magnusson, Laura, Don and Janet Williams with Sullivan

Jamie and Lisa Williams Magnusson, Laura, Don and Janet Williams with Sullivan

And besides her support for Beerchasing, she is a wonderful wife, mom to our two daughters and grandmother (Mimi).

We survived two terms of graduate school Data Analysis in the same class at Portland State University right after we got married in 1980.  We still laugh about negotiating who would stand in line on Saturday mornings to run the computer program at Shattuck Hall and who would stay home and clean the bathrooms.

Memories of Shattuck Hall on the campus at PSU
Memories of Shattuck Hall on the campus at PSU

 

Janet is a native Oregonian, born in McMinnville where her dad, Joe,  was City Manager for 26 years – Joe Dancer Park is named in his honor.  She is a Duck, having graduated from the U of O in 1976 and went on to earn her Masters-in-Public Administration at PSU in 1984.

Mu logo

 ————

She had an outstanding career in local government (Assistant City Manager in both Oregon City and West Linn) and then worked in Human Resources at Nike before becoming the Vice President for Human Resources at Marylhurst University – a position which she held for twenty years.   During that time she also served on the boards of a number of non-profit organizations.

P1020885

Janet with Barb and John Senger at The Sink in Boulder

 

Now back to her role in Beerchasing.   She first accompanied me in 2011 to the Coalition Brew Pub, which she loved, but the enthusiasm was not forthcoming that same night when she returned with me and our son-in-law, Jamie, for my second visit to the first bar I reviewed.

That was the Brooklyn Park Pub, a great neighborhood bar.   She asked me afterwards, “Beerchaser (she only calls me that when we are in bars), why do you go to dives like this, when there are so many other good bars?”

She was not agreeable with my response (originally authored by an unknown expert) when I stated, “Janet, these bars are just like hanging out in our own living room —- if our living room were a dingy dive full of strangers.”

On the Mediterranean in Italy

On the Mediterranean Sea in Italy

We have had some wonderful retirement travel together to National Parks, European museums and cathedrals, Spring Training in Arizona, an Alaskan cruise and a Rick Steves’ Best of Europe Tour.

On the Rick Steves' Best of Europe Tour

On the Rick Steves’ Best of Europe Tour

DSCN0699

Hiking in the Colorado aspens

And with cheerful (and sometimes restrained enthusiasm) she has gone with me to a number of bars including the Muddy Rudder, Lutz Tavern, Bazi Bier Brasserie and Saraveza in Portland and to the eighteen aforementioned venues in Colorado.

Don’t forget the Devils’ Forest Pub (Venice) and Café Karpershoeck (Amsterdam) and last summer Humpy’s Ale House in Alaska to Roadhouse 101 and the Snug Harbor Bar and Grill on the Central Oregon Coast.

Beerchasing at Saraveza in Portland

Beerchasing at Saraveza in Portland with Mary Maxwell and Roy Lambert

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

—————–

Thank you, Janet, and please accept the bottle of 2011 Penner~Ash Pinot Noir that I bought you.  I figured that you would appreciate it more than a case of PBR – a great gift you might consider for me on our next anniversary.

March 30, 1980
March 29, 1980

The Beerchaser Goes International…

Our final night in Paris

Our final night in Paris

“The world is a book, and those who do not travel, read only a page.”

Although Thebeerchaser and his wife, Janet, did not have these words by St. Augustine in mind when signing up for a Rick Steves’ “21-Day Best of Europe Tour, they had new meaning when we returned – for we had never been to Europe previously. And after the journey, we felt like we had read a Classic.  It was an intense and absolutely wonderful way to hit the highlights of that continent.

Most of the recommendations in this blog are for taverns, but there’s an exception for Rick Steves – whether it’s a guided tour, his travel consulting or Steves’ publications, check them out with the link above.  You can see from the map, we hit six countries in 21-days and our wonderful tour director, Lisa Friend, was a mentor, history teacher and yes – a  “Friend”….

Rick Steves

Route of the 21-day Best of Europe Tour (Parens indicate number of nights in each stop)

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The best bus driver in Europe - Richard - with Lisa Friend

The best bus driver in Europe – Richard – with Lisa Friend

We traveled by bus – 28 of us, on a classy sixty-seat bus.

Charles Kuralt once observed, “Thanks to the Interstate Highway System, it is now possible to travel across the country from coast to coast without seeing anything.”

However, the bus was a superb way to travel through Europe, and the scenery – whether viewing castles through the Rhine Valley in Germany, the Mediterranean in Italy’s Cinque Terra or the Lauterbrunnen Valley in Switzerland – was breathtaking.

Since I was away from Portland, I tried to hit one bar or public house – even if just for a photo – in most of the stops along our journey.

The tour of bars, pubs and taverns continued on the trip

The tour of bars, pubs and taverns continued on the trip

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And there are some differences, which brought home, so to speak, why I love Portland bars.  Those in Europe tend to be part of a hotel or restaurant – “Cafes” – if you will, rather than just a neighborhood watering hole for beer drinkers like the approximately 550 to 750 bars in Portland – depending on your source and the definition used.

When we return to Europe, I will do some research before the trip using a good website – to better explore Europe’s best bars:

The Classic (and my favorite) Dive - The Ship Tavern in Multnomah Village

The Classic (and my favorite) Dive Bar – The Ship Tavern in Multnomah Village

http://besteuropebars.com/category/bars/

While not having a lot of time to search for them, I didn’t see a great dive bar in Europe – one that validates this apt description of these joints, to wit:  “Like saints, dive bars should always be guilty until proven innocent — they always stagger  on the precipice of becoming popular and thus ruined.”  (Willamette Week 2010 – “One Hundred Favorite Bars”)

In the next several posts, I’ll include some pictures and brief comments from the establishments below visited on our trip.  Besides the cafes and pubs, other highlights are pictures from some of the wonderful churches and cathedrals at which I marveled – most of which were not on our tour, but I sought out in the free time.  A perfect example is St. James (Jakobs) Lutheran Church in the historic German city of Rothenburg.

St. Jakobs (James) in Rothenberg

St. James (Jakobs) in Rothenburg

Oh, the history!  The church was built between 1325 to 1485 and in 1525 the peasant leader, Florian Geyer, read aloud the articles of the revolting peasants from its west chancel.

St. James Cathedral, built between 1311-1484. The church was consecrated in 1485 by the Bishop of Würzburg.

St. James Church, built between 1311-1484 – consecrated in 1485 by the Bishop of Würzburg.

   

in Rautenberg, Germany
The Holy Blood altarpiece of the Wurzburg wood-carver, Tillman Riemenschneider, carved 1500 to 1505 and located in St. James Church.

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The cafes or bars I “visited” included the following:

Amsterdam, Netherlands – Cafe Karpershoek and the Heineken Museum “Experience”      

Arnhem, Netherlands – The Bier Brewery at the Arnhem Open Air Museum

Rothenburg, Germany – Zur Holl (Hell’s) Tavern

Venice, Italy – The Devil’s Forest Pub

Vernazza, Italy (The Cinque’ Terra) – The Blue Marlin Café

Rome, Italy – Miscellanea Café

Laterbrunnen, Switzerland – Horner Pub and the bar at the summit of Schilthorn in the Bernese Alps

Beaune, France – Publican Bar

Paris, FranceThe Beer Station and La Vin Coeur Café

Our flight to Europe took us to Amsterdam and we flew home on a flight – originating in Paris with a brief Amsterdam layover.  Both of the long flights (ten and eleven hours) to and from Amsterdam were Delta non-stop and excellent flights.  We were fortunate that the young children on the jet behaved wonderfully and a long flight with kids brings to mind the story of the businessman who learned never to try to be nice by playing peek-a-boo with a child sitting in the row in front of him.

There’s no end to the game and he finally yelled at the young boy, “Look kid, it’s always going to be me – okay……..?”

The museum has on display 8,000 objects of art and history, from their total collection of 1 million The Ri  Museum in Amsterdam with objects from the years 1200–2000, among which are some masterpieces by Rembrandt, Frans Hals, and Johannes Vermeer

The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam which has on display 8,000 objects of art and history, from their total collection of 1 million.  Included are objects from the years 1200–2000, among which are some masterpieces by Rembrandt, Frans Hals, and Johannes Vermeer

Amsterdam is an amazing city – from the hordes of cyclists – none of whom wear helmets and definitely command the right of way over pedestrians, to the Red Light District we passed through on our walking tour – to the coffee houses where cannabis is a mainstay on the menu.  The city actually has more kilometers of canals than Venice.

In Haarlem, where we stayed two nights – a 35-minute train ride from Amsterdam – we ate in a café in a strucutre with a foundation laid about 1500.  During the Spanish siege in 1572, there were about 50 brewing companies in the city, while 45 years later  the city numbered about one hundred breweries.

Amsterdam Pubs, Etc. – There are a number of bars which claim to be the oldest in Amsterdam, among them Café Karpershoek, only a few blocks from the massive and historic Central Station (rail terminal) and the Red Light District.  We stopped in for a quick Heineken and enjoyed the ambiance of our first European bar.

Café Karpershoek in Amsterdam

Café Karpershoek in Amsterdam

Karpershoek,

The slogan on the beam says, "          "

The Dutch slogan on the beam says, “A day without laughter is a day wasted.”

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We concurred with the February review on Trip Advisor stating, “I visited the Café Karpershoek, which claims to be the oldest pub in Amsterdam, (starting in 1606). The staff was friendly and the beer, while more expensive than many places, was quite good.”          

The Heiniken "Experience"

The Heineken “Experience”

Speaking of Heineken, it’s the world’s third largest brewer, with 125 breweries in more than 70 countries and employs approximately 66,000.  The sign on the building stating “Heineken Brewery” is not accurate – this site, as a brewery, closed in 1988.

The Heineken Experience, however, is a large museum and tasting room that we walked by on our way back from the Rijksmuseum and the Anne Frank House.  Time precluded a visit, but the reviews on various web sites are favorable although the 16 Euro price seemed pretty steep:

This is not just a museum it really is an experience.  Set on four levels this former brewery has everything you need to know about the Heineken Brand. History, information, tasting areas, videos, games and even a roller coaster type video ride that’s very funny and informative.  At the end of the tour you get two drinks of your choice..”

One other thought on airport security while it is freshThose who complain about TSA procedures in America, should be thankful – after going through security in Paris, we had two more encounters before boarding our flight in Amsterdam even though we had not left the secure area.  The first guard who complimented me on my belt did not mitigate the statement of the next official who said, “You look a lot older than your passport photo.” – taken this January.  And I will avoid conveying the awkwardness of trying to extricate a credit card from my money-belt, after it set off the alarm.

Wendie, Roxie and Janet with Hans, the bartender from the Devils Pub
Roxie, Wendy and Janet with Hans, the bartender, at the Devils Forest Pub in Venice

I’ll be back on the next post to talk about pubs in Arnhem, Rothenburg and Venice including the Devil’s Forest Pub in Italy’s Floating City shown here with two of our great new friends from the tour.

 

Our tour group in front of the Grote Kirk (Large Church) in Haarlem’s Central Market Square – right next to our hotel