Don’t Jump When You Can Dive – Part II

Posted on February 5, 2024 by Thebeerchaser

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 the video at the end of the post and so the narrative isn’t clipped or shortened. (External photo attribution # at the end of the post. #1)

In Part I of this series, I listed my favorite dive bars in Oregon – Portland, along the Oregon Coast and throughout the rest of the state. My original intent for the blog was to limit my exploration of bars and breweries to the Portland area.

After retiring in 2011, however, my wife, Janet, and I began traveling – not only throughout our wonderful state, but all over the US and one trip to Europe. It was natural for the range of my Beerchasing visits to expand.

Consistent with my dive bar theme, I now offer you my favorites – first in the Montana and Colorado – two ideal states for these establishments – followed by the rest of the US.

Janet and Ernie Bob – one of our favorite bar servers at the Second Street Brewery in Sante Fe.

Beerchasing in the Big Sky State

Two road trips in Montana – one in 2016 and a more extended one in 2019, endeared us to Big Sky watering holes. The latter was part of a fourteen-day road trip – 3,700-miles across the Western US to North and South Dakota.

Through a long story that began with my wish to take a 350-mile side trip to visit the Dirty Shame Saloon in Yaak, Montana – only 60 miles from the Canadian border, my wife and I negotiated.

So while she visited our two granddaughters in Seattle, I embarked on a six-day solo trip through the Big Sky Country hitting twenty-nine watering holes. Janet then flew into Billings and we completed the final eight days of this unforgettable journey.

As I mentioned in my last post, I used two “incredible” (no exaggeration) books by Joan Melcher – Watering Hole – A User’s Guide to Montana Bars and Montana Watering Holes -The Big Sky’s Best Bars as outstanding references.

These were supplemented by a phone conversation with the author, herself, who was very helpful and encouraging. As she states in the first book:

“I probably stopped in an eighth of the 1,600 bars in the state. I’ve written about less than half of those: the bad bars and the sad bars, gay bars and play bars; the stage stop bars, migrant bars, tourist bars and bars for single cowboys; the mean bars and clean bars; the new bars, the rendition saloons, the old boot-legging bars.”

The bars were wonderful – both the people in them and the trappings – and that last term could be taken literally because virtually every bar and many of the breweries (also a lot of the hotels) had mounted (deceased!) wildlife as part of the bar’s décor.

I’m not a hunter and some people have visceral reactions to these displays, but it accurately reflects the culture of the state:

The Montana Favorites

The New Atlas Saloon Columbus

The Saw Mill Saloon Darby

The Blue Moon Highway 97 Columbia Falls

Purportedly, the longest bar in Montana and where else would you see an alligator over the bar!

Antler Saloon Wisdom

Fritz, who is Bernie, the bartender’s dog and a bar regular

The Wise River Club Wise River

Tom Davis – bartender and former notable musician.

The Oxford Saloon Missoula

The Colorado Favorites

As was the case in Montana, I had an in-depth resource to help on our trips to Colorado. Dr. Thomas Noel, an history professor-emeritus at the University of Colorado – also known as “Dr. Colorado” and who has written more than fifty books including Colorado – A Liquid History and Tavern Guide of the Highest State.

These excerpts from his introduction give you a good idea on his enthusiasm for the topic:

“Colorado is often too hot or too cold. This helps explain why some of us patronize saloons for temperature, as well as altitude and attitude, adjustment…

Pursuing higher education as long as I could, I completed a dissertation in history at the University of Colorado at Boulder. For that research, The City and the Saloon: Denver 1858-1916 , I systematically visited every licensed and unlicensed after-hours club, bar, lounge, nightclub and tavern in Denver – some six-hundred establishments.” (#2)

Eiler’s Place Pueblo

Star Bar Pueblo

Smitty’s Greenlight Tavern Pueblo

Four Notable Others

Pinkie Master’s in Savannah, Georgia is a legendary dive where Jimmy Carter, while standing on the bar, was supposed to have announced his candidacy for the Presidency in 1978. It closed in controversy in 2016, but was resurrected as The Original Pinkie Master’s.

AC Tap Door County, Wisconsin

Darwin’s Theory Anchorage

Durty Nelly’s Boston

This historic bar (established in 1850) labeled “Boston’s Friendliest Dive Bar” capped a wonderful eleven-day road trip in 2018 through Maine and ending in Boston.

Olympic Diving?

I’ll finish with the silver medal of US dives, if you will. And this analogy made me think of the Olympic Games and some “questionable” Olympic sports in past and future Games.

These include flag football (2028), live pigeon shooting (1900), tug-of-war (1900 – 1926), croquet (1900) and rope climbing (1896 -1932. (#3)

Rope climbing event in 1896 Games

Perhaps they should supplement future Olympic Diving with a “dive bar component” with bartenders lifting or rolling kegs, a mug-sliding competition to the end of the bar (distance and time), etc. Sorry, I couldn’t resist…..

Silver Medal – Rod-N-Gun Saloon – Stanley, Idaho

In 2004, I first visited the unforgettable Rod-N-Gun on Ace of Diamonds Street in downtown Stanley. It’s at the foot of the beautiful Sawtooth Mountains and I was on a 2,600-mile solo road trip during a law firm sabbatical. The history and character of this bar are remarkable.

I returned with Janet in 2016 and we had an engrossing conversation with Johnny Ray Kirsch – also known as “Idaho’s Singing Bartender” – brother of the legendary owner and musician, Casanova Jack. (#4)

A Musical Icon

For the full story see: https://thebeerchaser.com/2016/09/08/beerchasing-in-idaho-part-ii-stanley-and-the-sawtooths/ (#5 – #8)

And there is an update – see this January 5, 2024 Facebook excerpt from Stanley Real Estate Agent, Erich Hamm:

“Congrats to Tripp Costas for purchasing the Rod-N-Gun Saloon in Stanley and to Johnny Ray Kirch and Eve Kirch for selling. During the winter of 1995, when I was 20 years old, I waited tables for Johnny Ray and Eve on the cafe side of the Rod-N-Gun. We became lifelong friends. That summer I turned 21 at the Rod-N-Gun. It was June 5th, and it was snowing.

The Rod-N-Gun is a Stanley institution. The original owner built it in 1931 and then gambled it away in a cribbage game. It has burned down twice (once due to an exploding propane tank). The current building was built in the mid-fifties. Johnny Ray’s mom bought it in 1971.

Johnny Ray’s brother, Casanova Jack, ran it until his death in 1990, when Johnny and Eve took over. Casanova Jack was a Nashville recording artist who toured with many

entertainers, including Marty Robbins.

Tripp has been in and out of Stanley for the last decade. He hails from Nashville and has a hospitality background. He’s a bush pilot, a mountain man, and an all-around great guy. Tripp, Johnny Ray, Eve, and I have been working on this deal for the past four years, and it has finally come to fruition.”

Stay Tuned for my Final Post in this Series

Besides revealing Thebeerchaser’s Gold Medal winner, I’ll also discuss the matchless description of a dive bar and a brewery by Harlan Coban in his novel Win. And if an actual New York City bar is that portrayed in his book.

External Photo Attribution

#1. Wikimedia Commons (File:Nolene Maclean, diving champion, Sydney (attrib.), 1949.jpg – Wikimedia Commons) This image was originally posted to Flickr by State Library of NSW at https://flickr.com/photos/29454428@N08/52059079597. It was reviewed on 19 June 2022 by FlickreviewR 2 and was confirmed to be licensed under the terms of the No known copyright restrictions. Author: State Library of New South Wales – 13 April 1949.

#2. Eiler’s Place Bar – Pueblo, Colorado

#3. Wikimedia Commons (Rope_climbing_event_1896_Summer_Olympics.JPG (301×438) (wikimedia.org)) This work is in the public domain in its country of origin and other countries and areas where the copyright term is the author’s life plus 70 years or fewer. Author: Albert Meyer (1857–1924) – 1896.

#4. Waxidermy.com Blog (https://waxidermy.com/blog/casanova-jack-and-the-stardusters/)

#5 – #6. Stanley Rod-N-Gun Saloon Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/155766471164/photos/pb.100063669815768.-2207520000/155801316164/?type=3)

#7. Stanley Rod-N-Gun Saloon Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=482690930529897&set=a.482690883863235)

#8. Erich Hamm Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/erich.hamm.3)

Beerchasing in Corvallis (and Stanley, Idaho) Part II – Drinking with Kings….

Posted on April 24, 2020 by Thebeerchaser

As mentioned in my last post, I am “catching up” on a number of bars and breweries visited during the last few years which never got written up – something which makes sense now when watering holes are closed except, in some cases, for pick-up.

The last post was Part I of two trips to Corvallis. The most recent in 2018, in which I talked about our trip to the Oregon State vs Washington State game and a visit to the outstanding sports bar – The Angry Beaver Grill. We met with former Beaver Giant Killer, Billy Main, who got us fifty-yard line seats. The link to that post is https://thebeerchaser.com/2020/04/15/beerchasing-in-corvallis-part-1/

One year earlier, in October of 2017, I was the overnight guest of Brian and Nancy King at their Corvallis residence. During the day and one-half I was there, Brian and I hit several watering holes and in the evening, Nancy joined us briefly at Block 15 Brewery and Tap Room south of town and then we had dinner at Squirrels Tavern and in the evening, a nightcap at Caves Bier and Kitchen .

Gracious hosts in 2017 – Brian and Nancy King at the Block 15 Brewery

Brian and I also hit the following establishments:

Cloud and Kelly’s, The Peacock

Those of you who follow my blog know that in my twenty-five years at the Schwabe Williamson firm and prior to that, six years at the Oregon State Bar, although not a lawyer, I loved working with them in my legal management role.

And my general affinity for the lawyer personality was characterized by Robert Elfers, a lawyer himself and my mentor/boss for over twenty of those years in both organizations, as a “pressing need for ongoing psycho-therapy…”

Thebeerchaser and “Brain” on 2017 visit

I have many wonderful attorney friends both at Schwabe and all over the country, but Brian (Brain) King, an environmental lawyer from the time he passed the Bar in -1980, until his 2016 retirement, is one of my favorites. He epitomizes why I hold most lawyers in such high esteem.

He has also been on a number of Portland Beerchasing expeditions including the memorable Mummy’s (along with Schwabe colleague, Margaret Hoffmann and Billy Ray’s Neighborhood Dive Bar (with lawyers, Carson Bowler, Brien Flannigan and Cheryl Rath). This also occurred in 2016.

Before social distancing – in 2016 at Billy Rays. Brian is holding the can of Tecate…

Before talking about the Corvallis saloons, I need to tell you why I make the assertion above. Brian has a wonderful dry sense of humor and notwithstanding the accolades he garnered in his professional career as both corporate counsel at Boise Cascade, the Bogle and Gates firm and then at Schwabe, he does not take himself too seriously.

He was a skilled advocate and extremely knowledgeable in his specialties, but also an attorney held in high esteem by not only his firm colleagues, but those who were on the opposing side of the legal issues in question.

Thebeerchaser at the Rod & Gun

Now I also may be biased because he was a primary factor in the motivation to start this blog when I retired in 2011. I’ll write another post to finish the Corvallis visits, because I feel compelled to offer this background.

Based on his own experience, Brian insisted on my 2004 sabbatical road trip to Idaho and Montana, that I visit the Stanley Rod and Gun Whitewater Saloon in Stanley Idaho.

The Sawtooths on the edge of Stanley city limits.

When he served as corporate counsel in Idaho, he spent time in Stanley at the foot of the beautiful Sawtooth Mountains and told me, “You need to stop at the Rod and Gun Whitewater Saloon and say hello to the owner and notable musician, Casanova Jack. You can find the bar at 44 Ace of Diamonds Street in downtown Stanley.”

The musician had a reputation throughout the West having at one time played with Marty Robbins and his band. Jack’s bar also has a colorful history:

“Tall Mary, at 6-foot-4, ran the Rod and Gun Club with Casanova Jack, and a French woman served whiskey and great hot sandwiches all night long at the Kasino Club. (That’s just a block away and also on Ace of Diamonds Street.) ” (“Winter 2010 Sun Valley Guide”)

While visiting Stanley years ago, Brian even took the stage and was lead vocal on “Blue Suede Shoes” with Jack.

So while staying at Stanley on the road trip, I spent hours at the bar on Karaoke Night. I made sure to ask if Casanova Jack was in and my conversation with the female manager went like this:

Beerchaser: “One of my colleagues made me promise that I would say hello to Casanova Jack. Is he in tonight?”

Manager: “No. And for your information, Casanova Jack died in 1990.”

Beerchaser: “I’m sorry to hear that. I’m sure that he lived a colorful and active life.”

Manager: “Not really. He was a raving a-hole….”

My wife and I returned to the bar on a road trip in 2016. The bar is now owned by Jack’s brother, Johnny Ray and his wife of thirty-eight years, Eve.

The personable Johnny Ray on our 2016 trip

Johnny Ray played the bass guitar and sang in Jack’s group and spent a good amount of time filling me in on his story and that of the bar.

For Johnny Ray’s interesting version of the bar’s history, check out this link: https://www.facebook.com/155766471164/posts/casanova-jack-ran-the-rod-gun-club-from-1971-until-his-untimely-passing-in-1990-/10154619946136165/

After the notable experience at both the Rod and Gun and Lumpy’s Landing in Dundee, Oregon, I decided that visiting bars and breweries would be a fantastic retirement hobby which led to commencement of Thebeerchaser in 2011. More about Brian and his wife in the next post.

Cloud and Kelly’s

See narrative below re. the women at the left side of the bar…….

This spacious bar downtown has an interesting story as evidenced by this excerpt from a Corvallis Gazette Times article dated June 30, 2017 entitled, “Tiki Bar Stirs Up Cocktail of Accusations”: (Pardon the length but the story is compelling)

“The Hapuna Kahuna Tiki Bar & Kitchen — until recently, the location was Cloud & Kelly’s Public House, an Irish pub — will close Sunday and reopen Sunday night as an extension of the Downward Dog, an adjacent bar that Davidson owns. Hapuna Kahuna started its short run on June 22.

Davidson said that residents of Polynesian ancestry, including those with the Oregon State University Asian and Pacific Cultural Center, complained about a combination of factors such as the use of a Hawaiian name, traditional iconography displayed in a cartoonish way, and how plastic leis were handed off to customers. Some Hawaiians and other Polynesians liked the Tiki-themed bar and didn’t want him to change it, Davidson said.

Culturally inappropriate?

A local Facebook forum also had numerous comments about the situation, including questions of whether it was appropriate for chefs to cook ethnic food that wasn’t from their ancestry, such as a Korean chef running a sushi joint, since the cuisine is Japanese; discussion on the origins of Tiki ‘culture’ as an inauthentic fantasy mashup of tropical influences, and how there are Tiki bars in Hawaii; and comments on the evolution of Hawaiian cuisine to include items from numerous cultures, including those of Asian and Western countries.

The Tiki bar also made more financial sense than Cloud & Kelly’s, Davidson said, as the price of Irish cheddar, heavy creams, butters and lamb was rising. There also are rather obvious limitations to Irish cuisine, he added.

‘It all came down to the cost. … I know it had a good reputation but I felt I was at a crossroads and I was willing to try something new,’ he added.”

Now, since I don’t know the entire story in detail, I will refrain from making comments other than the cultural appropriation issues laid out above seem to pale considering the global health and economic issues we’re now facing. And the story didn’t end there as set forth in two additional local news stories.

Downward Dog still has a campus location

The downtown Downward Dog, Cloud Davidson converted, closed in late 2018. What is a sad commentary is David’son’s understandable sentiments in the November 24, 2018 article:

“I’m OK with letting it go, but I’ll always have an ill feeling about how it happened…I took a big risk doing Cloud & Kelly’s and it took off like a rocket ship,” Davidson said…..From the middle to the right to the left, I couldn’t do anything right…..It’s beyond rhyme or reason. But it all just blew up in my face,”

Morgan Orr

We wish Davidson, who appears to have done everything he could to assuage the objections, the best as a small business owner, since he still owns the Downward Dog location near the OSU campus.

The good news is that Morgan Orr who was his right-hand person for years, is now the owner of The Brass Monkey: A Public House, which is operating out of Davidson’s former downtown space. The campus DD is still open for takeout and the BMPH is temporarily closed during the lockdown. Both have received great social media reviews.

Brian and I hit the former Cloud and Kelly’s in the early afternoon on a weekday and one of only two other customers was the dark-haired woman you see sitting at the left end of the bar in the photo above. She evidently listened to us telling some stories and laughing and then went into the bathroom. We had finished our beers and were ready to leave when she came out carrying a small paper bag. Walking boldly up to me with a big smile she said, “You deserve a present,” placed the package in front of me and walked out.

“Calm down and lower your voice, Beerchaser!”

Well, inside the bag were four marijuana gummy bears in the original package. I was astonished and started to say in a loud voice, “Hey Brian, those are ……..,” whereupon Brian in his best lawyerly voice said softly, “Lower your voice, Don and let’s split.”

Even though marijuana edibles are legal in Oregon, I harkened back to my NROTC days at OSU when even inhaling second-hand marijuana smoke was probably enough to lose my scholarship …..Brian, as usual, was giving good advice. The package hit the next garbage can on the way to our car.

Block 15 Brewery

Having opened their initial brewpub in downtown Corvallis in 2008, Block 15 Brewery and Taproom is south of town in a very attractive building with a beautiful view of Mary’s Peak. They also opened a European-style pub—Caves Bier & Kitchen downtown which we hit later that evening after dinner.

Two of my favorite Oregon beers are Astoria’s Buoy Brewing IPA and Block 15’s Sticky Hand Ale. (Both with fairly high ABV at 7.5 and 8.1 respectively)

A great IPA and my opinion was not influenced by the glass!

Block 15 is known for its “barrel-aged rarities and one of the Northwest’s most extensive wild & sour programs.” According to an 8/29/19 Oregonian article:

” ….Block 15 remains fresh and innovative with ten years of brewing under its belt….From its well-known Sticky Hands Ale to a near-perfect pilsner, Block 15 has few holes in its game.”

An impressive tap list of creative brews

Although we did not eat there, the social media reviews on the food are very good, as exemplified by this recent 1/7/20 Trip Advisor review:

“Great beer and perhaps the best sandwich I’ve ever had! Every summer Block 15 has a sandwich called the ZATS – zucchini, avocado, tomato and sauce, on a french roll. I love this sandwich, and along with one of their hoppier beers I’m as close to heaven as I’m ever likely to get. Also, their hamburger may be the best ever, as well. ….. ‘Nuff said.”

Note: I’m happy to report that all three of the establishments covered above – Block 15, the Downward Dog and the Brass Monkey are continuing to offer safe options where you can still support them through takeout or home delivery.

Well Beerchasers, stay tuned for the third and final installment of Corvallis Beerchasing and some final comments on my wonderful hosts – the Kings.

Cheers (Image created by Pam Williams)

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

Posted on January 17, 2019 by Thebeerchaser

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

Beerchasing in Idaho – Part II – Stanley and the Sawtooths

Posted on September 8, 2016 by Thebeerchaser

While those of us who live in Oregon are enamored with the beauty and variety of scenery in our state, a six-day summer road trip from Coeur d’aline to McCall and then to Stanley, Idaho convinced us that Idaho is not far behind.

And Thebeerchaser was pleased that Idaho has some excellent and colorful bars, taverns and brew pubs that warrant visits by those traveling in the state – it’s nickname is the Gem State more on that below……

Our initial stops in Coeur d’aline and McCall were documented in the last post dated 8/26/16 see the link: https://thebeerchaser.com/2016/08/26/beerchasing-in-idaho-part-i-and-the-dirty-shame-saloon-in-yaak-mt/

We followed the beautiful Payette River Scenic Byway much of the way from McCall to be greeted by the breathtaking Sawtooth Mountains surrounding Stanley.

The Stanley Post Office

Our two and one-half day stay at the Redfish Lake Lodge – six miles south of Stanley – was far too short. Stanley, with a robust year-round population of 63 according to the 2010 US Census (down from 100 in 2000) is still a bustling community that describes itself as “A Playground for All Seasons.”

Stanley has a colorful history as described in a Winter – 2010 Sun Valley Guide article entitled, “The Spirit of Stanley:”

“Every resident over 70 remembers by lore or memory when the main street offered gambling, fighting and dancing every night of the week in three clubs within 200 stumbling feet of each other.”

Outdoor enthusiasts in the spring and summer take advantage of hiking, kayaking climbing, cycling and boating. The fall and early winter months host hunters, cross-country skiers and snowmobilers – that is until the weather becomes “extreme” given what the year-round residents assert is the coldest location in the U.S. I wanted to see how much of this was true and some basic research revealed it is no exaggeration. Frosts can occur at any time of the year. There are on average 290 mornings in the year with frost (10 of them in July) and 60 nights that reach 0° centigrade. (Wikipedia)

According to a website https://www.currentresults.com/Weather-Extremes/US/coldest.php the statements are not puffery. For example, “On any single day, the mountain town of Stanley, Idaho is most often the coldest place in the states outside of Alaska.” From 1995 to 2005, it was the coldest place in the US outside of Alaska for 398 days – more than any other location.

As the young (25 years old), female Mayor, Hannah Stauts stated:

“Last winter (2009), it was 35 below for 39 hours…..Those without a wood stove or propane heat watched their toilets freeze and crack.” (“The Spirit of Stanley”)

The center of town…..

And if one stands at the corner of Wall Street and Ace of Diamonds, Stanley’s main intersection, you won’t observe stock brokers heading for skyscrapers, but a bunch of Suburus, pick-ups and jeeps parked in front of the several bars, restaurants and hotels which were all bustling when we were there.

I was enthused that Janet could join me on this return trip – the first visit was thirteen years ago on part of my sabbatical from the Schwabe Williamson & Wyatt law firm, when I took an unforgettable road trip through Eastern Oregon, Idaho and Montana. And thanks to Brian “Brain” King, one of my Schwabe colleagues, who urged me to spend time at the Stanley Rod and Gun Whitewater Saloon (SRAGWS) – one of the two dive bars that inspired me to start Thebeerchaser blog when I retired in 2011.

Brain King in his Idaho duds……

Brian, when he served as corporate counsel in Boise, spent time in Stanley and told me on my 2003 trip, “You need to stop at the Rod and Gun Club Saloon and say hello to the owner and notable musician, Casanova Jack,” And Jack did have a reputation throughout the west having at one time sung with Marty Robbins and his band. And the bar has a colorful history: “Tall Mary, at 6-foot-4, ran the Rod and Gun Club with Casanova Jack, and a French woman served whiskey and great hot sandwiches all night long at the Kasino Club.” (Winter 2010 Sun Valley Guide)

While visiting Stanley years ago, Brian even took the stage and was lead vocal on “Blue Suede Shoes” with Jack. Of course Brian’s perfect pitch on such country–western classics as “She was a Bootlegger’s Daughter and I Love Her Still,” or one that is a favorite of legal clients everywhere, “If the Phone Don’t Ring, You’ll Know it was Me,” made him a natural to accompany Jack on stage at the bar.

Brain and colleague, Cheryl Rath, drinking Tecate at Billy Rays

I’m sure that Casanova Jack did not care that Brian was a lawyer or that he would eventually co-author a scholarly environmental law book entitled Fundamentals of Environmental Management with stimulating chapters such as “Air Emission Inventory and Analysis” or “Ozone-Depleting Chemicals (ODCs).” (Environmental lawyers are not a real popular group in Idaho….)

No, notwithstanding his legal skills and erudition, Brain is a down-home – dive bar kind of guy. I found that out in our last Beerchasing journey when he was downing Tecate Beers in cans at Billy Ray’s Neighborhood Dive Bar in NE Portland. (See post dated 8/9/16 https://thebeerchaser.com/category/uncategorized/dive-bars/.

Brian would not reveal the details of how he was refused service in one Stanley bar when knowing the state nickname, he innocently asked the bartender to “Show me your gems…..”

Thebeerchaser at the entrance to the Rod and Gun

When I was first at the bar on Karaoke Night in 2003, I did ask if Casanova Jack was in and the manager told me that Jack had died in 1990. The bar is now owned by his brother, Johnny Ray and his wife of thirty-eight years, Eve, who was also bartending while we were there. Johnny Ray played the bass guitar and sang in Jack’s group and spent a good amount of time filling me in on his story and that of the bar.

Johnny Ray was born in Ogden and besides his musical and bartending career, was a truck driver for many years. Fortunately, we did not visit in 2015, because they closed the bar for a good part of the year, while Johnny Ray “got a personal 100,000 mile maintenance check.” He then quit cigarettes and also ended smoking at the bar – “I’m glad I made the decision rather than the government doing it for me.”

A new friend and talented bartender.....

Johnny Ray – A new friend and talented musician and bartender…..

The( SRGWS) has a long bar and large room with a stage for entertainers and karoke. Johnny Ray is known as “Idaho’s Singing Bartender” and puts on a headset with a microphone so he can harmonize with the entertainers while he is bartending.

While Janet and I listened to wonderful stories from Johnny Ray, a group of regulars that afternoon were sitting at one end of the bar talking with Eve and echoing similar disdain for the political establishment. They were discussing the inability to purchase 22 caliber shells because the government is secretly stockpiling them at an unknown location.

Instructions to one elected leader at the lower left….

The walls of the bar are filled with hundreds, if not thousands of one-dollar bills which patrons sign and are hung on the wall – I did one thirteen years ago and on this trip, stapled Thebeerchaser’s card onto another one which Johnny Ray promptly tacked to the wall. One in particular I noticed would make both Republicans and Democrats blush at least a little.

We came back the next morning after having breakfast at the legendary Stanley Baking Company and Café because I needed some additional pictures and the bar was closed.

The bar is closed, but…. come on in!

But after I knocked on the door, Johnny Ray, who was talking to one of his bartenders, let us in and chatted some more. He is a down-to-earth and colorful guy and Eve, is also a fine lady. If you visit Stanley drop in and say “hello,” with greetings from Thebeerchaser and look for my card on the wall.

We also dropped into the other bar in ‘downtown” Stanley – the Kasino Club, which was also a good looking and well-frequented bar with ample space for evening entertainment. We wanted to say “hello” to Mikey – the friend of McCall Brewing Company’s Edgar and Louis, who we had met a few days before. He is a bartender there, but both times we dropped by, he was not working.

Kasino Club – the second hot-spot in Stanley

I also wanted to see it because I had heard that former Beerchaser-of-the-Quarter, Jay Waldron on one of his rafting trips on the Salmon River ended up on the dance floor with no shirt and no shoes some years ago.

https://thebeerchaser.com/2016/03/29/jay-waldron-rugger-rafter-rider-and-lawyer-beerchaser-of-the-quarter/

Revelry at the Kasino Club

After he realized his fellow rafters had abandoned him, Jay experienced one of the 0 centigrade nights on his mile and one-half trek back to their motel. (He doesn’t remember why he ended shirtless and without footwear although it may have been because the bartender asked him to show her his gems….)

The lines for the Stanley Baking Company and Cafe always start before it’s 7:00 AM opening and as we do at most bars, cafés and diners when we are traveling, we sat at the bar or counter because it is a great way to meet people.

This was no exception as we started chatting with personable, Becky Cron, the co-owner with her husband Tim, who we also met and was cooking their outstanding pancakes and waffles.

Becky, talking with Janet about her Oregon roots..

Becky, as did another person we met whose story is below, has an Oregon connection. She was from Eugene and started skiing as a teenager at Sun Valley. In 1989, she decided to move to Idaho for the skiing and the outdoors and never returned.

She met her husband and they own the Bakery and are co-owners of the nearby Sawtooth Hotel – both very successful enterprises. The hotel was built in 1931 and they renovated and reopened it in 2010. In spite of how busy she was, Becky was very friendly and willing to chat with some visiting Oregonians.

Pancakes overflowing…..

And there was no question, the wait for their food was worth it.

The first evening in Stanley, we dined at the Redd Restaurant, a quaint diner – also with a small waiting line and Janet enjoyed a pasta dish while I downed a scrumptious bowl of lamb stew.

Redfish Lake Lodge

We stayed at the Lodge, built in 1929, for two nights, which had great rates and is in a beautiful setting. It’s essentially a log cabin, has a spacious and popular dining room and a small, but very interesting bar.

The next day, we took a boat ride to the end of Redfish Lake and went on a several mile hike along the ice-cold snow-fed streams running by the Lodge.

Jen – in full control of her bar.

———

We met another colorful and unforgettable Stanley full-time resident – Jen Hettum – she referred to herself as “Crazy Jen.” And Jen, a charismatic, attractive and competent bartender, had that bustling bar under her thumb – she joked and chided each of the customers in a friendly manner and they loved it. She was like a school-marm with a revolving classroom of hyperactive kids, who knew they better behave or Jen would rein them in.

Since the bar was so crowded the afternoon we first visited, I came back at 10:30 in the evening on a week night when the setting was more restrained and had a great chat when Jen after she poured me a Scotch and water. When I gave her Thebeerchaser card and told her we were on a road trip from Portland, she immediately related her Oregon connection.

Former Portland Rose Festival Princess – now a Stanley resident

“I was a Rose Festival Princess from Franklin high school. I came to work at the Lodge about twelve years ago and never left.”

She now has a ten-year old daughter and is active in Stanley civic affairs and takes her profession seriously. In fact, the next week, she was attending a five-day national convention of “mixologists” in New Orleans, (Tales of the Cocktail) to which Jeff, the manager of the Lodge, was paying her way.

The bar was a reflection of Jen’s magnetic personality and as I sat at the bar, I watched a guy who was with several friends come over and compliment Jen and then ask her to come to a party with him after she got off after midnight. “Ain’t going to happen, Sweetie, but I’m flattered you asked,” she responded and then went to the other end of the bar to serve another party.

Of course, Jen, Johnny Ray, Becky and Tim all knew each other and probably socialize in mid-winter when Stanley essentially shuts down because of the cold weather.

Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch

To cap it off, we had an absolutely great dinner at the beautiful Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch (IMRM) about fifteen miles south of Stanley. While waiting for dinner, we sat in rocking chairs on the expansive front porch with cocktails, admiring the beautiful mountains and forest.

We even got a bonus with a reading by Idaho author and Stanley native, John Rember, who read from his memoir, Traplines – Coming Home to Sawtooth Valley. Our server at dinner was one of the many wonderful young people hired at IRMR from all over the country. She was from Boston and was starting college at the University of Chicago in the fall.

Idaho author John Rember gives a reading

On my maiden trip to Stanley, I stayed at the Ranch and when I asked for directions to the SRAGWS, they replied, “We’re all going after dinner is done. It’s Karaoke Night, why don’t you come with us.” I told them that they didn’t want an old guy to bog them down and I would meet them there. When we later met, I bought the first round which loosened everybody up for a spirited talent night (even without Brian King…..)

The dining room

After lamenting the brevity of our stay in Stanley, we left early the next morning after picking up two of Stanley Baking’s scrumptious and thankfully oversized cinnamon rolls.

We made the 552 mile trip home from Stanley in eleven hours with great Idaho memories. Thanks, Becky, Tim, Johnny Ray, Eve and Jen. We hope you have a great winter and will see you on the next trip.

Farewell Stanley…!

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