Visiting Portland - Winter 2017/18 update

Belmont has a bunch of glassware too, might be a good spot to check for this one.

 

Saw this...really excited to have a place to try more of their beers without having to trek out to Beaverton.

 

Not sure how other people feel but I would suggest adding Zoiglhaus to the highly recommended brewery locations. Pretty much all of their beers are really on point (especially the german ones) and the North German Pilsner might be my favorite all around beer in Portland.

 

I know when Jeff Alworth did his brewery recommendations it was one of few breweries that received multiple recommendations that weren't in the must try category and the North German Pilsner did win a GABF Gold (not that it means a whole ton). In terms of Pilsner styles, I really prefer the drier/slightly bitter North German styles vs ones sweet on the finish so that's probably why I've latched onto it.

As for Occidental we will just have to disagree as I definitely like them but I work less than five minutes away from their pub and never find myself going there. In general I find anything comparable from Zoigl to be more what I associate with good german beer. Just a couple of comparisons:
- Schwarzbier - Granted this was a Rye Version form Occidental, but it didn't have that clean finish I found in the Zoigl version. Also preferred 54/40's version as well.
- Festbier- Flat out didn't like this is it was significantly stronger (by about 1% abv) than the traditional style and it was noticeable in that there was a cloying alcohol flavor . Zoigl's was lower ABV, had just as much of the malty breadiness, and a much cleaner finish that I would expect from a fest bier.

But you you know what they say about opinions....

 

Not drinking beer right now, but stopped in to Higgins for a vodka soda.... damnit. Currently on tap:

Ft. George Fields of Green “Brutus”
FW 21st Anniversary
St. Bernardus Xmas
Rodenbach Alexander
Red Seal nitro
pFriem mosaic ipa

My self control is being tested

 

FYI - for any folks on the westside, West Coast Drinkery has a ridiculous taplist on right now. I think it’s for their 2nd anniversary. Ft. George Matryoska, 2016 Bourbon County, 1000. Yrs of silence, fields of green, barley browns Hazer beam, Boneyard Gooze cruise, etc. etc.

 

Third Anniversary, actually.

 

I'm going to have to second the Zoiglhaus notion, and put in a good word for Wayfinder, too. I think Zoiglhaus is a rising star here in Portland. Wayfinder isn't what I'd call a must go to, but it's pretty good and not too far from a number of other good places.

 

Weekend/nearing second page bump

How bout them Zwicklemania?

 

Out of towner here. Can someone please explain this to me?

 

Zwickelmania is an annual Oregon event where breweries and brewpubs open their doors for tours and small events such as beer tasting (sometimes directly from the conditioning tanks), food pairings, and bottle releases.

This weekend is Zwickelmania for breweries in the Portland area, and next weekend is for the rest of the state.

 

I was really confused by the lack of zwickels mentioned on the event page (and that people loved zwickels enough to make this a thing). I was unaware it was something other than a beer style....

 

Thanks. I seem to remember days gone by when this described any weekend day at a number of breweries.

 

You may have already figured this out, but vurt’s link didn’t seem to address the inspiration for the event’s name: a zwickel is the small siphon on a conditioning tank that allows the brewer to draw evaluation samples.

 

Planning on visiting Portland in March. Any suggestions on areas to stay in/around the city?

 

The inner SE area is probably the best option. Plenty of breweries in the immediate vicinity, and quick/easy transit access to the downtown and other neighborhoods.



That said, the city is fairly compact, so if you have a DD (or don't mind a 20-30 minute train ride) and want to save a little money you can find cheaper options out by the airport.