Ringlers Pub / Crystal Ballroom Brewery (McMenamins)

Ringlers Pub / Crystal Ballroom Brewery (McMenamins)Ringlers Pub / Crystal Ballroom Brewery (McMenamins)
Ringlers Pub / Crystal Ballroom Brewery (McMenamins)Ringlers Pub / Crystal Ballroom Brewery (McMenamins)
Brewery, Bar, Eatery, Beer-to-go

1332 W Burnside St
Portland, Oregon, 97205
United States

(503) 225-0047 | map
mcmenamins.com

On-premise brewing:
Crystal Ballroom Brewery, established February 1997
BEER STATS
Average:
3.69
Beers:
149
Ratings:
941
Linked Beer Listing
PLACE STATS
Average:
3.83
Reviews:
8
Ratings:
17
pDev:
11.75%
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Adamnimmo:
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Rated by Adamnimmo from Oregon

4/5  rDev +4.4%

Nov 30, 2013
More User Ratings:
Photo of stevoj
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho

3.67/5  rDev -4.2%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.75 | selection: 3.75
Always trying to hit new Mcmenamin's locations when in Oregon. Their eclectic design and restoration efforts shine here at this location, classic pub vibe, huge bar, pool tables. Located in east Portland it's int he vicinity of several other beer places. Their beer is always good, so it's definitely worth a visit.
Dec 22, 2023
 
Rated: 3.82 by Canada_Dan from Colorado

Mar 01, 2016
 
Rated: 4.19 by kamikazeokami from Oregon

Feb 06, 2015
 
Rated: 3.33 by Harvest06 from Oregon

Jan 09, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by RHVC59 from Oregon

Dec 06, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by anteater from Oregon

Oct 14, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by Hobbit from Oregon

Mar 14, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by fitius5150 from Oregon

Dec 02, 2013
Photo of squaremile
Reviewed by squaremile from Oregon

3.2/5  rDev -16.4%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3
Another Mcmenamin's establishment that provides pretty much the same formula as all of the others: very nicely remodeled historic building that is very pleasant to sit in, and very average beers to sip while sitting in said building. This is underneath the Crystal Ballroom, a larger music venue in town that also boasts another pub upstairs that has a touch more character than this place. The beers, as usual, are nothing to write home about, but for an occasional beer drinking they are crowd pleasers.
Jun 01, 2010
Photo of djbreezy
Reviewed by djbreezy from Washington

4/5  rDev +4.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
When I was a bit younger, I always liked the atmosphere of this place. There is a cool centralized bar and pool tables. On the weekends, there is typically a DJ and a decent dance floor. The quality of the DJs was never over the top but they played decent cuts and mixed well enough that the average person didn't notice the mistakes.

The beer is standard McMenamins stuff for the most part, which is good. I enjoy the Terminator Stout on nitro and the Ruby stuff from time to time.

The food is decent and consistent across the restaurants. It's a bit greasy, but there are some options such as the hummus and soup that fix this.
Mar 14, 2010
Photo of NeroFiddled
Reviewed by NeroFiddled from Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +1.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 3 | food: 3.5
Ringler's is below the Crystal Ballroom, and across the street from the Annex. It's got an interesting history, with the Crystal Ballroom above having been an immensely popular dance hall from 1914 through the 20's.

It's a really interesting bar, architecturally, really showing it's age. And as usual, there are lots of interesting knick-knacks and decorations strewn about. Beyond that there are the pool tables, which seem to be quite popular.

The food and beer are typical McManamin's with the Ruby, Hammerhead and Terminator always on tap, and a selection of Edgefield wines available. It's a family friendly place, and the menu is pretty basic with something for everyone (salads, burgers, wraps, etc.).

Overall it's a pretty nice place to grab a bite for lunch, or to hang out for a beer or two, but I wouldn't call it a destination unless you're interested in the history of the location.
Oct 09, 2009
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Reviewed by msubulldog25 from Oregon

3.88/5  rDev +1.3%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 3.5
Despite working just 3 blocks away, Ringlers has never been a regular haunt. Don't really know why, as the atmosphere (as at most McMenamins) oozes laid-back pub-comfort and oddball eclecticism. Huge windows and the occasional garage door front the majority of the Burnside-facing block, allowing lots of natural light and, unfortunately, some traffic noise. Inside is a cozy enough wood-clad enclave of tables and booths, a few (free!) pool tables and an imposing behemoth of a bar. Surfaces may be arrayed with tiles, covered with painted wood paneling, adorned with 'pub' advertising, or simply obscured behind a quirky collection of statues, carvings and assorted paraphernalia. Tunes are a mix of soul, classic rock and folksy bluegrass.

Beers are usual solid/pedestrian McM standards: Terminator, Hammerhead, Ruby, Sunflower and the like; seasonal: Workingman's Red. They do have a small brewing operation (Crystal Brewery) on site: today's choices were a sweet/flowery Pilsner and a Belgian Golden - nice surprises and both were good. Food is pub fare, but nice discounts may be found daily (11:30-3pm, 10pm-close) on a range of pizzas, burgers, salads, wraps and rice bowls). Service (at least during lunch) is reasonably quick, friendly, and attentive - no complaints.

I'd be remiss to not mention the amazing spaces upstairs, nearly 100-year-old relics of bygone days, yet modernized and used almost nightly. Lola's Room on the second floor is a jazzy, speakeasy-like bar and the Crystal Ballroom still is one of the top concert venues in town, booking both locally and internationally acclaimed musicians on a regular basis.

Overall, another treasured McMenamins venue that's worth a visit every now and then. Location in downtown, abutting the Pearl District (Deschutes, Rogue, Henry's) is a plus, especially for a beer-seeking visitor.
May 29, 2009
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Reviewed by SurlyDuff from Oregon

3.73/5  rDev -2.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
The Crystal Brewery, more often known as the Crystal Ballroom, houses a large pub downstairs and a music venue upstairs. They get fairly large acts through. I've seen Modest Mouse, Spoon, Cake, and other smaller groups/artists there.

The pub atmosphere is eclectic, almost creepy, circus themed. This McMenamins is a lot less family oriented than others i've been too. Servinig their solid lineup of beers, wines, and mixed drinks makes it a solid proposition. Standard pub fare.

The ballroom and the small club upstairs also serve their house beer, just at obscene markup.

If you're there to catch a show, definitly stop in. If you're just donwtown to have fun, there's a number of other places that I would recommend before it. Rogue has a public house right around the corner, for example!
Feb 12, 2008
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Reviewed by DaPeculierDane from Wisconsin

3.5/5  rDev -8.6%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.5
This review is for the Ringler’s portion only.

A familiar stench infects my nostrils when I walk into the empty bar early on a Saturday afternoon. I once worked at an Italian restaurant with rubber floors in the kitchen. Their idea of cleaning was to pull up the rubber at the end of a night and spray down the degraded tile floor below. It would do a fair enough job for the majority of the tile space but inevitably, little pieces of lettuce, stray penne noodles, and the occasional free range calamari tentacle would end up rotting in a shallow pool of warm water behind a cabinet or under a fridge. Together they gave off an odor of unhealthiness that permeated the whole back are of the restaurant. That same soylent aroma greets me as I enter Ringler’s. Not a good sign.

I notice several pool tables to the right. A sign tells me they are free this morning as long as I drink six bucks worth of something. That shouldn’t be hard.

On the left rests an ancient looking bar made of timber, some straight and some captivatingly helical. Looking up more timbers present themselves, some as large as 12” by 30” – impressive. I wonder what they’re supporting above my head.

Next my attention turns to the outside of the bar. It’s mostly covered in hastily constructed mosaic, something I soon will find to be a theme at other Mcmen establishments.

Despite the smell, I decide that I like the place. It’s dank, dark, and aside from the 80’s new wave playing over the sound system, quite.

I order a Belgian Dubbel called “The Brethren,” and as I take a sip of the boozy and largely offensive brew, the speakers blare a chorus of “she’s a dope fiend.” It seems fitting for this place where I can so easily imagine a punk rock chick shooting up in the bathroom. I finish the wretched Belgian quickly and order a considerably less odious Hammerhead from their list of ten McMen beers.

The bartender tries to talk us into some food but I’m still full from lunch at Henry’s and the McMen chain menu doesn’t look all that great anyways. He’s sharp and seems to know a thing or two about the beer he’s serving. There are a few guest taps that I’m interested in and the new wave music is really starting to grow on me but after a short contemplation I opt to make my leave.
May 31, 2007
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Reviewed by Thrasher from Oregon

4.1/5  rDev +7%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
This isn't quite a brewpub, and at the same time it's a lot more than a brewpub. It's McMenamins' central nerve center in downtown Portland, three historic stories of music, mayhem and microbrews. Let's start from the ground floor and work our way up. My ratings reflect the best of each part - all 4's for Ringlers and a 5 for atmosphere for the Crystal Ballroom.

1st floor - Ringlers: This is the pub itself. A typical McMenamins joint with beers and a good pub menu, but is much less family-oriented than other McM pubs, with pool tables and smoking. DJs sometime perform here and certain nights of the week this place can take on a downtown hot-spot vibe. This is the only part of the complex that you can walk in off the street without paying a cover. The bar bisects the room lengthwise and has mosaics and junk all over it. Usually around 10 or so house beers available. I've had some very good beers here, including a London ESB and a Scottish ale recently, which were really tasty if not true to style. This is your best bet for beer in the building. I've found the service at the bar to be quite good. To further complicate things, there is Ringlers Annex a block east on Burnside with a coffee bar and of course, beer.

2nd floor - Lola's: This is a lounge that also sometimes has DJs, and occasional smaller live shows, but it's mostly where people go to smoke cigarettes and chat during the big shows upstairs. Some cool hanging lights. A full bar but only 2 McM brews on tap. The brewery itself is also on this floor and is visible through the windows on the landing.

3rd floor - Crystal Ballroom: This is a historic ballroom that's been around since the 1910s. It was a psychedelic palace in the 1960s with shows by bands like Buffalo Springfield and the Grateful Dead (who recorded a portion of "Anthem of the Sun" here), before it was shut down by drug-fearing conservatives. McMenamins reopened it in 1997, with a typical McM paint job (Lewis Carroll-esque murals on the walls). The wooden dance floor sits on top of a layer of rubber, so it bounces a bit whether you're dancing or just walking around. A wide alley bisects the room: under 21s on one side (which is closer to the stage), and the drinkers on the other. The bar on the main floor has about 4 beers available, but if you walk upstairs to the balcony (mezzanine, whatever), there's twice that amount, plus a couple rows of seats if you want to take a breather. This is one of the best places for a beer-drinker to see a rock show I can think of. A 20 oz brew costs $5 and comes in a plastic cup served a bit too cold, but it's fresh and brewed right downstairs. A very cool venue. I can't think of another place that compares.
Feb 24, 2004
Ringlers Pub / Crystal Ballroom Brewery (McMenamins) in Portland, OR
Brewery rating: 3.69 out of 5 with 941 ratings