Visiting Portland (Spring 2015 update)

funny, we probably just missed each other. to answer your question: nothing really happened at fat head's. it was just a brew pub, nothing different, nothing special. it was the worst stop of the day - nothing to see here kind of place. The guest tap list didn't have anything i was interested in, head hunter was just okay, IBUsive wasn't anything I'd order again. it reminded me a lot of boston beer works in Boston: a fine place if you have a big group that needs to be accommodated, but dropping in with one or two friends it feels very lonely.

and you're right, bailey's is just outstanding in comparison. but isn't that the argument made against fat head's? there's better options.

 

Great thread! I am debating driving up from San Fransisco area for a few days next weekend (Thursday through Sunday). Thinking about starting in Portland Thursday/Friday and then hitting Bend on Saturday primarily for Boneyard, but will hit a few others in the area as well.

 

Just so you know (if you don't already), Boneyard's public facility in Bend is crazy small. Small samples and growler fills only.

 

I know Boneyard is only samples and growlers, but a growler of Hop Venom is so nice. Can I get growlers of Boneyard other places?

 

Yes. Most growler fill stations in Bend have online taplists (many linked here).

 

Hopefully I didn't miss this and become "that guy", any can't miss events during Portland Beer Week? Turns out our trip collides nicely with Beer Week! Thanks in advance!

 

Also, you know the bit about Boneyard and other OR breweries having no problem filling growlers from other places? Bring as many CA growlers as you want, we'll send you home with lots of good beer.

 

Thanks, I know breweries can fill others, California is starting to catch on, but still can only fill with their beer. Growler station, I wish. My car will be full of growlers, no worries. I could post in the in-person, but if you are looking for RR, Cellar Maker, Rare Barrel, Berryessa, etc let me know and I will see what I can bring with me.

 

This looks like a fun little festival coming up on Sunday:

http://brewpublic.com/beer-events/brian-yaegers-the-rural-brewer-at-hawthorne-hophouse/

Breweries:

• Beer Valley Hop Shoot APA (Ontario)
• Boring Brewing Big Yawn IPA (Boring)
• Conner Fields Zin Saison (Grants Pass)
• Dragons’s Gate Blood Orange Saison (Milton-Freewater)
• Fire Mountain Free Thinker Citrus IPA (Carlton)
• Hermiston Lemondrop Kolsch (Hermiston)
• Ochoco Prinetucky Pale (Prineville)
• Plough Monday Summer IPA (Veneta)
• Prodigal Son Huckleberry Wheat (Pendleton)
• Solera TBD (Parkdale)
• Twisted Snout Raspberry Squeal (Toledo)
• Wolf Tree Spruce Tip Ale (Seal Rock)
• Yachats CDA Coastal Dark Ale (Yachats)

I'd like so think I'm pretty in tune with the Oregon beer scene, but shit, I think I've only had beer from 5 of the 13 on this list, and prior to this morning I'd never even heard of Hermiston, Ochoco, and Wolf Tree.

Oh, and the price is a friggin steal. Seriously, 13 samples for $15?

 

Ochoco is the new name of Solstice Brewing, if that helps.

Edit: Looks like @sharpski mentioned that first in the Central Oregon Beer Week thread: http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/central-oregon-beer-week.288033/

 

Just visited the Portland area and was able to try out a few of the breweries around (Not at many as maybe I would have liked). The one brewery I felt was a little underwhelming was HotD, I got samples of everything they had on tap and none of them really jumped out to me (had a pint of Adam after the samples). The three breweries that really stood out to me were Breakside, Ex Novo and Lompoc (sidebar location), loved the atmosphere and beers at all 3, I think Ex Novo was my favorite though. I also got to Hopworks and made the trek all the way out to the Pelican Pub (then drove up to cannon beach), both were good I thought with solid beer. I was with my girlfriend and we were not in town for a brewcation, but we made it to those breweries. I was able to try three Barley Browns at APEX, all 3 were so good, I wish I could have gotten more.

I wanted to thank everyone for their help with this thread, it was very helpful. Also, all the food in your city is way too good, if i moved out to Portland I would be fat.

 

Can anyone recommend a place that serves a lot of rauchbiers?

 

I don't know about anywhere that'll have "a lot", but both Commons and Gigantic have made some really good smoked beers. Stammtisch and Prost might also be likely spots to find one or two.

 

I don't know that it counts as a Rauchbier, but I personally loved the smokiness of First Nail from Fremont. Loved that beer overall.

 

Kind of a long shot but these breweries have produced smoked beers in the past:

http://brewpublic.com/oregon-beer/p...efit-national-fallen-firefighters-foundation/

 

Thanks for the Advice, can't wait to try some! Coming from MN!

 

I'm sure it's close enough any smokey beer works in my book! I will keep an eye out for it.