Visiting Portland (Spring 2013 update)

Discussion in 'Northwest' started by guajolote, Apr 4, 2013.

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  1. GatorBeer

    GatorBeer Initiate (0) Feb 2, 2010 South Carolina

    Do the Portland beer stores do individual bottle sales or do I have to buy a 6pack at a time?
     
    #61 GatorBeer, May 1, 2013
  2. NWer

    NWer Pooh-Bah (2,145) Mar 10, 2009 Washington
    Pooh-Bah

    Not to worry. This isn't the Deep South. Very few silly beer laws remaining - enjoy your visit.
     
    #62 NWer, May 1, 2013
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  3. kscaldef

    kscaldef Initiate (0) Jun 11, 2010 Oregon

    Our silly alcohol laws are only about distribution and what bars can and can't do...
     
    #63 kscaldef, May 1, 2013
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  4. NWer

    NWer Pooh-Bah (2,145) Mar 10, 2009 Washington
    Pooh-Bah

    True. We do have silly laws, just not as pervasive as some. When I lived in Tennessee I never knew if I was in a dry county or a wet county. Many years ago though. I hope things have changed since then at least a little.
    But then look at California. Do growlers still have to be branded with the brewery of the beer that's in it?
     
    #64 NWer, May 1, 2013
  5. davemont

    davemont Initiate (0) Feb 20, 2008 California

    The short answer is "yes." There are some changes maybe in the works. But most of us have quite a collection of growlers taking up space.
     
    #65 davemont, May 1, 2013
  6. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Not much, as far as Tennessee is concerned. The biggest change that has happened, is that now most craft beer can be sold in liquor stores (I think it's an abv. level thing). When I worked in a liquor store in Memphis, years ago, we could only sell liquor and wine. We could sell some coolers, but only if they were wine or liquor based coolers. Beer based coolers couldn't be sold in our store. Alcohol level was irrelevant.

    From an alcohol standpoint, probably the biggest (and most amusing) hypocrisy I can think of has to do with the making of Jack Daniels out in Lynchburg. As you probably know, Lynchburg is a dry county (there are still plenty of them in Tennessee) and has been since prohibition. As a result, it's illegal for the distillery to provide samples in the tasting room (they serve lemonade there). On the other hand, during the tour, we were told that roughly 3/4's of the town's adult population is employed by the distillery, and you can see barrel houses with aging whiskey all over the hill side there.

    It's a weird part of the country, no doubt. When I first drove out to Memphis years ago, I remember being told in Oklahoma City that the ability to buy beer in a store depended on which exit you got off on I-40. Part of the city was in a dry county, and part of it wasn't.
     
    #66 John_M, May 1, 2013
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  7. RedMedicine

    RedMedicine Initiate (0) Jun 3, 2005 Oregon

    I would say do Country Cat or Screendoor, not both. If you choose Country Cat, Roscoe's is just steps away. Concur with others on donuts, go with Blue Star. Nongs Khao Man Gai (cart) for lunch.

    For your wine trip, I highly recommend Sineann (call to make sure someone is available to taste).

    For other stuff to do, a nice easy city hike is Marquam Shelter to Council Crest. At the top you'll get a view of Hood, Adams, Helen's and Rainier if all the stars align.

    Oh, and enjoy the weather.
     
    #67 RedMedicine, May 2, 2013
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  8. Spaceloaf

    Spaceloaf Initiate (0) Nov 27, 2008 Oregon

    A word of warning, the wait for Screen Door brunch can be ridiculous (e.g. 2 hours). Make sure you have a back-up plan in case the wait is intolerable when you get there.
     
    #68 Spaceloaf, May 2, 2013
  9. ramnuts

    ramnuts Initiate (0) Feb 16, 2009 Oregon

    Whenever I see that monstrosity and its inhabitants heading toward a brewpub I immediately head in another direction. Same for the Brewvana tour bus. Massive lines follow each one.
     
    #69 ramnuts, May 2, 2013
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  10. NWer

    NWer Pooh-Bah (2,145) Mar 10, 2009 Washington
    Pooh-Bah

    Agreed. Leaving Rubens just as they were pulling in. Dodged a bullet.
     
    #70 NWer, May 2, 2013
  11. guajolote

    guajolote Maven (1,359) Sep 12, 2008 Oregon

    And make sure your back-up plan isn't Tasty n Sons...
     
    #71 guajolote, May 2, 2013
  12. msubulldog25

    msubulldog25 Initiate (0) Aug 3, 2005 Oregon

    ...or Pine State Biscuits on NE Alberta. After 8:30am lines stretch around the corner... :grimacing: (but, honestly, a Reggie is probably worth the wait...)

    Gator: As a back-up, back-up, back-up plan - try Podnah's Pit ( http://podnahspit.com/?p=menus ) or Grain & Gristle ( http://www.grainandgristle.com/brunch-menu.html ) for weekend brunch (or dinner?). Lines on weekend mornings are minimal and food is terrific! PS: Beer lists are good, too, in case you want an early cold one...
     
    #72 msubulldog25, May 2, 2013
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  13. GatorBeer

    GatorBeer Initiate (0) Feb 2, 2010 South Carolina

    You all have been wayyyy too helpful with the suggestions. I'm planning on brunch on a Wednesday so the wait hopefully won't be too long, and if it is, I'll use all your back-up, back-up plans.

    I'm adding the Blue Star doughnut suggestions to the list. I mainly wanted to go to VooDoo for the atmosphere/off the wall creations.

    TriMet trip planner is on my phone, the Portland city transportation is seriously badass. Planning on buying a 7-day pass for $26.

    I have my beer lists lined up for must-try on tap and bottles and an extra suitcase to ship home.

    Cheers all I'll post a mini trip report when I get back next Monday
     
    #73 GatorBeer, May 2, 2013
  14. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    The food at G&G is very good, but I confess I'm addicted to the fish sauce wings next door at Pok Pok. My recommendation is to grab a couple of orders of wings and then walk next door to G&G to wash it down with a glass of Upright pils. That pils is so, so good...

    "After 8:30am lines stretch around the corner... "

    Damn!! And I thought the waits at the SE Belmont location were bad!
     
    #74 John_M, May 2, 2013
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  15. Sarlacc83

    Sarlacc83 Initiate (0) Mar 2, 2008 Oregon

    Don't be deterred from going to Voodoo Donuts. The Bacon Maple Bar is worth the price of admission. Anyone who steers you away from this magnificent creation is cold-hearted.
     
    #75 Sarlacc83, May 2, 2013
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  16. flexabull

    flexabull Initiate (0) Mar 9, 2006 California

    Curious about the brewcycle in Portland. Is it a massive one with over a dozens seats? Because my brother just did a cyclepub tour in Bend and they had the big one, and one that only seated 6. Seems like the smaller one would be a lot more fun, and much less annoying for other people at a brewery/pub that see it rolling into the parking lot.
     
    #76 flexabull, May 2, 2013
  17. kscaldef

    kscaldef Initiate (0) Jun 11, 2010 Oregon

    Oh, it's annoying either way.
     
    #77 kscaldef, May 2, 2013
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  18. flexabull

    flexabull Initiate (0) Mar 9, 2006 California

    I could see the big one being annoying, but I don't know if it could compare to the brewery bus tour that rolled into Lost Abbey when I was in SD a couple of years ago...
     
    #78 flexabull, May 2, 2013
  19. ramnuts

    ramnuts Initiate (0) Feb 16, 2009 Oregon

    I biked around PDX today and wheeled into the Quimby Lucky Lab about 1:30 pm to see not one, but TWO Brewcycles parked there. And about 30 of their customers standing in line AT THE SAME TIME, as well. I kept pedaling. Can't wait for the New/Old Lompoc to reopen their NW outpost....that part of PDX is pretty close to a beer wasteland, notwithstanding Caps/Corks and the Southland Whiskey Kitchen. At least it is within spitting distance of the Pearl and all that area offers.
     
    #79 ramnuts, May 3, 2013
  20. digita7693

    digita7693 Initiate (0) Jan 19, 2010 Germany

    I
    I think Lompoc opens next week! Bent brick and wildwood, though fancier, have good beer and food.
    Next to caps you have moonshine which has some good beers always on as slabtown a couple blocks away has solid basics from deschutes, boneyard as a couple others, as well as awesome gyros. So it's not that bad:slight_smile:
    Pope house is nice for some bourbon w a nice beer back too.
     
    #80 digita7693, May 3, 2013
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