Visiting Portland (Spring 2015 update)

Yeah, I actually hope more folks who visit HoTD from out of town chime in here. My experience of the food, service and beer quality has been abysmal on my past few visits, but I realize not everyone has that experience.

 

I was just there yesterday, Had a pour of Adam from the Wood (really enjoyed), and got a bottle of Otto(too sweet but now awful), the bottle list was pretty fun, I'd say its a fun novelty for someone out of town like myself who is apt to spend $10 + on a bottle of beer i'd likely never see again, I doubt id buy bottles if I were a "local" . I dint have food, and the service was fine. You can be assured I took a picture of Dave on the Menu and sent it to all my beer buddies back home
Overall I'd recommend it as a place to go to someone just because its a 10 min walk from Cascade and the Commons

 

Crazy isn't a word I would use to describe any brewery experience in the state of Oregon. You might be pleasantly surprised with how low key and unpopulated it is around de Garde.

 

I trust your portland expertise but a 3 mile trip in portland last night had a $4 distance charge, so much less than $2.50. The drop was also only $1.50

I'd roughly state that uber is 25 - 33% cheaper than a cab in seattle, even before tipping.

 

I'm visiting Portland in July. Is there a Portland beer trading forum or Facebook group?

 

I'm including the "safe rides fee" in the flag drop.

 

Still here visiting from Indiana and totally underestimated how much beer I will be bringing back home with me! I love this place! Any suggestions on the best way to transport the beer back home? Are there any places that I could get bottle shippers and maybe just ship the beer back before I leave? Or should I just grab an extra suitcase and wrap the shit out of the bottles and check the bag? Any suggestions would be great! Cheers!

 

Before I start a rant, I'd simply add this consideration: Please consider making a side note at the bottom explaining the minor law that some establishments allow minors and others do not. (and possibly add a * for those that do/don't)... as a traveling parent that had a 2-year old, Portland was really annoying being told I couldn't come into a brewery with my 2-year old when the one across the street allows it.

Ok. Portland, I thought I was going to love you, but your minor law is absolutely ridiculous. Granted I believe some establishments should be 21+, like bars (where there's liquor) but really? Breweries? In Denver you just get carded. In some larger liquor stores you can't take a minor, but I believe that's at their discretion. Everywhere else is VERY family friendly and I don't see why Portland can't be the same way. (BTW, I found HopWorks BikeBar & Fat Head's to be very accommodating)

I was ok being turned away from Apex & Baileys, even though I really wanted to hang out there. But when I went to Cascade and Hair of the Dog and they were both cool with it, then going to The Commons and seeing a "no minors" sign on a brewery, I was extremely put off.

Is this simply an establishment needing to pay for a special permit to allow minors? Is it rule based such as if a place serves liquor (I didn't think The Commons served anything but beer)? Does the establishment have to serve food? (I didn't think Cascade served food?)

Thanks though for all of your excellent recommendations. Aside from passing on a few breweries & bars that were no minors, we had a great time!

 

I appreciate your response, but take my post as nothing more than a rant, and venting frustration. I think you read more into my post and/or I didn't explain myself well. Also I never said "stupid laws"

FWIW, I did call around, I was aware there was a minor law, but not about the requirements, and it's not clearly posted on websites or facebook pages, only on the front door or bar-area. Some of the better places did have it on their phone recording, which I appreciated.

A few places that I just happened to walk by without calling had the no minor sign, of which were just frustrating, feeling turned away simply because I had a stroller, this mind you, was between 12pm-4pm, not like I was hitting up bars/breweries at night.

I agree every state has silly laws as I stated in my rant, in CO we have some as well, but I feel this law is more discriminating than most. It's not "no sales on Sunday" which includes everyone. It's "you won't be served here because you have a kid."

Here it is in an older thread... I'm just saying it would be a good thing to add please.
http://www.beeradvocate.com/communi...tland-spring-2014-update.165640/#post-2302235

 

Ridiculous = defies logic (aka, silly, absurd, illogical)

I read the thread and it was clearly asked on page 1 and followed up with the thread from 2014.

I'm simply asking to be put in the first post of future threads. That's all. I'm sorry if you took offense at my post.

While I understand it's state law, I feel as if this particular one is antiquated (as are a lot of laws around liquor across the country) and would be nice to not have to call all the places around town.

(edit: just found this - could be a good link for front page - http://pdxbars.com/minors-permitted)

 

The laws dont allow minors from entering a business who's primary activity is serving alcohol. Therefore, as a brewery without a restaurant, the sole activity is serving alcohol.

I think we can all understand the frustration of not being able to enter any location, but I suspect many of us are in agreement that a location that is effectively a bar (with no other amenities) probably isnt the best location to bring children anyhow.

A big plus in the northwest is the great brewpub culture. There are a plethora of great beer destinations that are family friendly and provide accommodations for children. Thats where I go with my family and friends that have children.

Not defending the law. Just speaking to its application.

 

It's a food thing in Oregon, which is not the case in Washington (taprooms don't need a kitchen/restaurant to allow kids, but lots of "brewpubs" with food don't allow kids). We've got our own crazy laws in WA, and frankly as the father of a 3 year old, I like OR's laws concerning minors better.

 

Thanks for the explanation de Garde, that's what I figured, just couldn't readily tell which places had food & not and/or minors or not. Thanks to the posts here, I knew I had to visit de Garde without my daughter. We had a great time while there!

Just for reference/comparison, we have many breweries that are children/family friendly, heck even dog friendly, in Colorado and it works well - extremely well. No food needs to be served, we have a very active food truck community that makes its rounds and well I just have to say it's nice to visit a brewery, listen to live music, play games, let the kids run around and play in the corner and have a beer on a Sunday afternoon or any afternoon/evening. Granted nobody here takes their kids after dark to a bar/brewery much because well it's common sense and probably everybody would agree not to take your kid there. I imagine it'd actually really help bar/brewery business from lunch through afternoons to be open then and have larger crowds.

^good to know about WA, that does sound worse!

I don't mean to get into a debate on the law, it's there, I understand it's there, I was merely explaining my frustration and suggesting again that it would be put as a piece of information in your 'visiting portland' page. Thanks for the consideration.

 

It's not bad In WA, just giving some perspective that it's different everywhere.

 

I just meant worse being 'more confusing' or rather more subjective.