APEX 4th Anniversary

Discussion in 'Pacific' started by derftron, Jun 2, 2014.

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  1. derftron

    derftron Pooh-Bah (1,663) Feb 8, 2012 Oregon
    Pooh-Bah

    Bartenders have always been nice to me there, and they crank through lines pretty quick. just wish they had more of a relaxed environment where i could kick back and have a beer. its always level 100 Anthrax playing in there and very little room inside. The layout is just a little funky unless it is a nice summer day (like today!). Its definitely different than many of the other beer bars in town, which in a sense is a good thing.
     
    #21 derftron, Jun 6, 2014
    RedMedicine likes this.
  2. RedMedicine

    RedMedicine Initiate (0) Jun 3, 2005 Oregon

    It's going to be beautiful out and they're going to have zero problem selling beer to both beer enthusiasts and regular old weekend drinkers. You're also assuming they are trying to benefit from keeping it a "secret" when it's probably just that they don't really care.
     
    #22 RedMedicine, Jun 6, 2014
  3. John_M

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

    A reasonable assumption, but my post was based on the comment from Oregonhopmonster:

    "A couple years ago Jesse printed a list a couple days in advance so the bartenders could familiarize themselves with it. One of the bartenders let a customer make a copy. Jesse has not made a list in advance since. He wants it to be a secret."

    Assuming that's an accurate statement, it sure sounds to me like they care.

    That being said, I think I see your point (what difference does it make whether they advertise the event or the tap list - they'll still have a good crowd and sell everything without problem). Again, you could absolutely be right, but in my experience, that's typically not what most beer bar owners do when they're having an upcoming event. Assuming that the object of running a beer bar is to make as much money as possible (maybe not the only object, but it's usually one of the primary objects), then you want to get as many people to come to the event as possible. Not just a good crowdl, not just an above average crowd, but as many people as possible. Advertising the event and the tap list seems like a good way to go about that, at least in my experience.

    Maybe the owner is so wealthy or so altruistic, getting as big a crowd as possible to come out for this doesn't really matter to him?
     
    #23 John_M, Jun 6, 2014
  4. RedMedicine

    RedMedicine Initiate (0) Jun 3, 2005 Oregon

    "that's typically not what most beer bar owners do when they're having an upcoming event."

    Not much is "typical" about APEX. And it is possible they just want it to be somewhat low key and don't want to deal with lines out the door knowing they will sell out their "special" taps anyway. After reading the de Garde thread, I don't blame any bar or brewery owner for trying to avoid a lot of attention.
     
    #24 RedMedicine, Jun 6, 2014
  5. John_M

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

    Yeah, you make a good point.

    I've attended a number of beer events on the East Coast where it was just wall to wall people and the wait staff were in the weeds all evening long. Tempers would sometimes become short, and there were times I felt like I was in a mad house. From a bar owner and employee standpoint, the money made it worth it (one bartender for the 4 day long Belgian fest at Max's in Baltimore told me the money she made in tips during the 4 day event equaled 3 months of her teacher's salary).

    I just assumed that given the opportunity, that's what any bar owner would do (maximize the economic opportunity to the hilt and just put up with the unpleasant aspects of the event). However, your example is a good one, and I can see where some bar owners might not want to put up with that (regardless of the economic opportunity).
     
    #25 John_M, Jun 6, 2014
  6. Phobicsquirrel

    Phobicsquirrel Initiate (0) Oct 1, 2013 Oregon

    Is this on the 6th? Pardon my lazy googlefoo......
     
    #26 Phobicsquirrel, Jun 7, 2014
  7. honkduh

    honkduh Initiate (0) Jun 2, 2011 Oregon

    Yes
     
    #27 honkduh, Jun 7, 2014
  8. kscaldef

    kscaldef Initiate (0) Jun 11, 2010 Oregon

    Honestly, I suspect many bars have a love-hate relationship with us. I don't actually think most bars make most of their money on special events like this. Rather, they make it on the regulars who come in a drink a couple beers a couple times a week, regardless of what's going on. Generally speaking, "we" have little-to-no loyalty to any particular bar, so I guess it's not that hard to understand why a place might tell us to "go f**k ourselves".
     
    #28 kscaldef, Jun 7, 2014
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  9. Phobicsquirrel

    Phobicsquirrel Initiate (0) Oct 1, 2013 Oregon

    Lol. I think the events help generate talk which leads to regulars and word of mouth. Though them not taking cc should cause issues. Never understood why every place even super small shops take cc but not apex and other large places. It's like the dmv.
     
    #29 Phobicsquirrel, Jun 7, 2014
  10. OregonHopmonster

    OregonHopmonster Initiate (0) Jan 15, 2011 Oregon

    My impression is that Jesse wants to have a party for himself and his regulars. He certainly does not pander to the beer geek set despite his great events and usually excellent tap list. I think what we have here is the sense of entitlement that seems to often go with the beer geek crowd. You don't like that they don't take credit cards? You don't like that they will not release a tap list in advance? You don't like the loud music, and/or the style of music being played? Then don't go. I agree with kscaldef that Apex makes its money off of their regulars, not us. You have nothing to complain about when a bar that you only go to once a year (for their anniversary party) doesn't meet your standards. And yet I will see you all there tomorrow at some point I'm sure!

    p.s.- They have an ATM on-site. The bartender will credit you the transaction fee if you buy a beer. So you really don't lose out on the no credit card thing

    p.p.s.- Don't read into this that I'm a regular there or an apologist for their policies. I'm a ticker who loves that they keep their beer menu live on-line and I can pop over from my usual haunt (Beermongers) when I see something I'd like to tick.
     
    #30 OregonHopmonster, Jun 7, 2014
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  11. vurt

    vurt Grand Pooh-Bah (4,504) Apr 11, 2004 Oregon
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    First time I went to Apex, I texted a friend of mine, "I just found Portland's Toronado." Could use more crud on the wall, though.
     
    #31 vurt, Jun 7, 2014
  12. John_M

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

    I generally agree with all your points, but having an ATM on site is only helpful if you happened to remember to bring your ATM/DEBIT card, or if you don't mind running a cash advance on your CC (which usually comes with its own fee). Also, while I'm not condoning this type of budgeting, the fact is that a lot of folks use their credit card to pay for prettty much everything when it's just prior to payday.... so for them, having an onsite ATM isn't going to be a solution to APEX's cash only policy.

    I think most of us agree that APEX ownership can do whatever they want, and if they want to go with a cash only policy, that's their perogative (it's really never affected me). However, back when I WAS a regular (assuming stopping by 4 or 5 times a month made me a regular), seeing customers surprised and upset by the cash only policy was a regular occurence. Again, in my experience, you typically don't want to be regularly making customers visiting your bar for the first time "needlessly" unhappy.

    And yes, if I did happen to be up in PDX this weekend, I would very likely have stopped by.
     
    #32 John_M, Jun 7, 2014
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  13. Phobicsquirrel

    Phobicsquirrel Initiate (0) Oct 1, 2013 Oregon

    By all means they do have good stuff on tap, and sure they can have any policy they want. It's obviously a popular place and they seem to do well. And yes if I can make it down to the area I will most likely go. :wink:
     
    #33 Phobicsquirrel, Jun 7, 2014
  14. TheeWalrusHunter

    TheeWalrusHunter Initiate (0) Aug 23, 2013 Oregon

    Taplist is updating. Meh...
     
    #34 TheeWalrusHunter, Jun 7, 2014
  15. honkduh

    honkduh Initiate (0) Jun 2, 2011 Oregon

    seems okay to me:
    http://www.apexbar.com/menu

    NamePriceBreweryOriginABVSize
    '11 Abbaye de Saint Bon-Chien $8BFMSUI116oz
    Adam - Hearty Old World Ale$5Hair of the DogPDX1012oz
    Belgian Gale - Pale$5CruxBND4.916oz
    Better Off Red - Flanders Red$6CruxBND712oz
    Cappuccino Stout - RyeBblAged$6LagunitasCA9.212oz
    Cider - Everybody Pogo - Dry$5Cider Riot!PDX6.516oz
    Classic Gueuze '12$8CantillonBEL56oz
    Consecration '11 - Wild Dark$6Russian RiverCA106oz
    Douze - JurassianSaltedGolden$6BFMSUI6.512oz
    Edelweiss - Hefeweizen$6SchneiderGER6.20.5L
    Even More Jesus - Imp Stout$5Evil TwinDEN126oz
    Flower Sour - Herb/Spice$6HofbrouwerijkeBEL712oz
    Galaxy - White IPA w Brett$6AnchorageAK712oz
    Go To - IPA$4StoneCA4.516oz
    Gose$4Anderson ValleyCA4.212oz
    Grapefruit Radler$5StieglAUT2.50.5L
    Gueuze$7TilquinBEL4.86oz
    Half Hitch - Mosaic IIPA$5CruxBND10.512oz
    Imperial Biscotti Break$6Evil TwinDEN11.56oz
    Imperial Doughnut Break -Stout$5Evil TwinDEN11.56oz
    Jahrhundert - Export Lager$5AyingerGER5.50.5L
    La Folie - Sour Brown$7New BelgiumCO612oz
    LambickX 2013 - Unblended$8Vanberg & DeWulfNY5.756oz
    Le Terroir - Wild$5New BelgiumCO7.56oz
    Little Sumpin' Wild Gooze$6LagunitasCA8.86oz
    Nitro - Old Rasputin - RIS$4North CoastCA912oz
    Nitro - On The Fence - NW Pale$5CruxBND6.420oz
    Nitro - Shake - Choco Porter$8BoulderCO5.91L
    Nitro - Stout$4GuinnessIRL4.120oz
    Notorious - IIIPA$5BoneyardBND11.56oz
    Old Baba Yaga -CognacBblStout$5Bear RepublicCA11.56oz
    Old Crustacean '12-Barleywine$5RogueOR11.56oz
    Old Rasputin XV - Imp Stout$5North CoastCA11.56oz
    Old Stock '10 - Barleywine$6North CoastCA12.56oz
    Oliver Twist - Dopplebock$5North CoastCA11.66oz
    Parabola '12 - RIS$6Firestone WalkerCA136oz
    PNC - Tequila Bbl Aged Stout$8Firestone WalkerCA13.76oz
    Pride Of Nekron - Imp Stout$5DjævlebrygDEN10.56oz
    Rye On Rye$4BoulevardMO116oz
    Sanctification '12 -WildBlonde$5Russian RiverCA6.56oz
    Supplication '12 - Wild Brown$6Russian RiverCA76oz
    The Abyss '11 - Imp. Stout$6DeschutesBND116oz
    The Abyss '12 - Imp Stout$5.5DeschutesOR116oz
    The Abyss '13 - Imp Stout$5DeschutesOR116oz
    Tough Love '13 - Imp Stout$5CruxBND11.56oz
    WFO - IPA$5Barley Brown'sOR7.516oz
    XV - American Stron$6Firestone-WalkerCA12.56oz
    Yeast Series: Brett/Brux -Pale$6MikkellerDEN6.412oz
    Yeast Series: Brett/Lamb -Pale$6MikkellerDEN6.412oz
     
    #35 honkduh, Jun 7, 2014
  16. Spaceloaf

    Spaceloaf Initiate (0) Nov 27, 2008 Oregon

    I'm seriously concerned for my life considering how many +10% ABV beers there are...
     
    #36 Spaceloaf, Jun 7, 2014
  17. Phobicsquirrel

    Phobicsquirrel Initiate (0) Oct 1, 2013 Oregon

    Not a bad list though I was expecting more since they did say it would be the best tap list all year.....
     
    #37 Phobicsquirrel, Jun 7, 2014
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  18. Phobicsquirrel

    Phobicsquirrel Initiate (0) Oct 1, 2013 Oregon

    PNC has been one I have wanted to try, dang might have to go down there.
     
    #38 Phobicsquirrel, Jun 7, 2014
  19. swhite11

    swhite11 Initiate (0) Sep 15, 2008 Washington

    About to stop in. RIP liver/wallet.
     
    #39 swhite11, Jun 7, 2014
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  20. vurt

    vurt Grand Pooh-Bah (4,504) Apr 11, 2004 Oregon
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Gorgeous afternoon for a bike ride. Especially one with a beer in the middle.
     
    #40 vurt, Jun 7, 2014
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