Visiting Portland - Winter 2017/18 update

Discussion in 'Northwest' started by guajolote, Dec 16, 2017.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
Page 7 of 9
  1. shelby415

    shelby415 Pooh-Bah (2,098) Oct 10, 2011 Oregon
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Some places definitely put them off and on. Apex, for instance, has this rare Buckwheat stout from Firestone Walker they like to try to charge $10 per 6 oz for and they've been putting it on a couple times a year for the last two or three years. I assume this doesn't adversely affect the beer.

    My question: does "aging" beer in kegs appreciably change them, or are you really comparing vintages rather than the aging process?
     
    #121 shelby415, Apr 1, 2018
    kemoarps and sharpski like this.
  2. vurt

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

    #122 vurt, Apr 1, 2018
    66jzmstr, BBThunderbolt, sharpski and 1 other person like this.
  3. sharpski

    sharpski Grand Pooh-Bah (3,100) Oct 11, 2010 Oregon
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I believe it does, taking into account 3 factors vs. bottle aging at home: 1) temperature, kegs almost always refrigerated vs. cellar/closet temp so the “aging” may be less pronounced 2) oxygen ingress over time is presumably less via keg than cork or bottlecap 3) volume, magnums and other large format bottles are presumed to age “better”, at least partially due to oxidation issues.

    Maybe 3) is just a subset of 2), and maybe I’m fooling myself about all 3 points, but my opinion of a beer bar raises when I learn they’ve had the patience to hold onto a desirable keg for lengths of time.
     
    #123 sharpski, Apr 1, 2018
    kemoarps, guajolote and shelby415 like this.
  4. John_M

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

    I think it does, at least based on my own experience.

    Yesterday, I ended up stopping by Roscoe's to sample all the special "vintage" beers they had available. While you could make a case for the Yeti and Abyss differences resulting from different vintage recipes or barrel aging, I don't think you could make that argument for the 120 minute, the Sucaba or the Supplication. I've had the 2013 Sucaba in the past and was expecting it to be the best beer I would try last night. Instead it was the worst. The beer had completely fallen apart and was a hot, boozy mess. I found it to be undrinkable now. The 2011 120 minute had evolved into a sweet boozy barleywine, without even a hint of the hop profile this beer has when it's young. If anything the 2011 Supplication was an even bigger disappointment. The beer had completely faded, with almost no barrel age or funk character appreciable. Based on my experience last night, I would highly recommend that no one age their bottles of supplication (at least not for this long).

    Outside of the 2011 Abyss, I didn't try a beer last night where I felt the extended aging had improved the beer.

    In the past I've had older kegs of both PtE and Blue Dot, and both of those beers had clearly evolved with extended aging (the PtE keg was just under 2 years old, and the Blue Dot just over a year). While both beers were still enjoyable and interesting to try, both were quite different from what these two beers taste like young.

    I also was fortunate enough to try some 10 year old Bigfoot out of a keg when I lived in Baltimore. The beer was nothing like the same beer fresh out of a keg.
     
    #124 John_M, Apr 2, 2018
  5. John_M

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

    This is my understanding as well.

    Back in the day, I just assumed that if I saw an older, vintage keg on tap, it was because the bar or restaurant had simply kept the "keg in the back" somewhere. While I assume that likely does still happen on occasion, I think it's actually fairly rare. As Terry has alluded to, most places simply don't have the available space to hold a keg for a couple of years, and likely would prefer not to go to the trouble of keeping an older keg around if they don't have to.. I think increasingly distributors will hold onto a keg for a few years, based on their understanding of their clientele. In PDX or Seattle, I would assume that most distributors see little risk in holding onto a keg for a few years, because they know there will be a market for them. I see places with older, vintage kegs all the time here in PDX, so there's clearly an interest and demand for these beers. I think a lot of breweries also hold onto "vintage" beer, which they periodically ship to different accounts for special occasions (Stone and Sierra Nevada come to mind). I would assume that generally speaking, breweries and distributors are much more likely to have the space to keep and store vintage kegs, as well as the inclination.
     
    #125 John_M, Apr 2, 2018
    BBThunderbolt and sharpski like this.
  6. John_M

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

    Doesn't Crux ever do this with their Tough Love beer? I see older vintages of TL from time to time here in PDX (Tin Bucket had 3 or 4 different vintages on tap not so long ago), so would assume you see them up in Bend from time to time as well.
     
    #126 John_M, Apr 2, 2018
  7. sharpski

    sharpski Grand Pooh-Bah (3,100) Oct 11, 2010 Oregon
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I don’t recall seeing anything more than the previous year’s vintage at time of a new vintage’s release, and only at the pub, but I don’t track brewery/brewpub taplists as closely as beer bars/growler fill stations so I could be missing it. In general, I’d say Crux is underrepresented around town on draft; maybe they just prefer to incentivize visiting their pub.
     
    #127 sharpski, Apr 2, 2018
  8. teddyarrowhead

    teddyarrowhead Initiate (0) Oct 23, 2009 Oregon

    Their Pilsner and Kolsch are now being distributed to Portland on a regular basis, with more varieties to follow in the summer.
     
    #128 teddyarrowhead, Apr 6, 2018
    BeerandLoathing and shelby415 like this.
  9. derftron

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

    Im sure this has been posted elsewhere in this forum, but Upright went through a remodel/upgrade within the last few months and it came out great. still has the unique/funky basement vibe, but a lot more comfortable. and now they take CARDS!
     
    #129 derftron, Apr 11, 2018
    66jzmstr likes this.
  10. guajolote

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

    I'll add that when I do the spring/summer update, which will be sometime before summer starts, probably.

    Also, what's the consensus on Modern Times? Should they go in the "must-visit" list? The "other highly recommended" list? Is it too soon to tell? I personally feel they've come out of the gates among the best breweries in Portland, but I strive to make this guide more of a collective thing than about my personal preferences. Maybe we should bring back the "newcomers" section & add MT, Little Beast, and Von Ebert? Others?

    Fat Head's will be coming off the list, and I'll update the airport section with the new (or at least under construction) Deschutes/HUB locations.
     
    #130 guajolote, Apr 11, 2018
  11. jpbebeau

    jpbebeau Initiate (0) Sep 11, 2011 Washington

    I know last time I visited Portland a couple months ago I considered visiting Modern Times a must. Wasn't really disappointed, either.

    Wayfinder going on the list?
     
    #131 jpbebeau, Apr 11, 2018
  12. derftron

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


    went there last friday. Had a good time. Beer was very good ( a little spendy) and the service was solid. Its in a great location to migrate to other beer spots.

    Not sure I would put in in the "must visit" category, as its not a uniquely Portland type of place. But it certainly gets a high recommendation from me.

    On another side note..... Hit the new Green Dragon last Friday as well. the new outdoor remodel is FANTASTIC. this will be a must-visit place in the summer time. Fire pits, cornhole, TONS of tables, lots of space. Very impressed with it
     
    #132 derftron, Apr 11, 2018
  13. John_M

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

    Pretty much sums up my opinion as well in a nutshell. I personally wouldn't include it in the "must visit" category, but can understand how others might feel differently.
     
    #133 John_M, Apr 11, 2018
  14. BearsOnAcid

    BearsOnAcid Pooh-Bah (2,239) Mar 17, 2009 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah

    I wish MT had a little outdoor seating, otherwise it's a fine place to visit. The food I had was good. It also might be the only place around here offering Shacksbury cider (wondering if that's permanent??). That saison/cider collab is delicious.
     
    #134 BearsOnAcid, Apr 12, 2018
  15. John_M

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

    Don't quote me on this, but I think I heard that when they finally complete the build out, it sounded like there will be some outdoor seating (in the upstairs facility they're planning I think).
     
    #135 John_M, Apr 12, 2018
    sharpski and BearsOnAcid like this.
  16. maltmaster420

    maltmaster420 Initiate (0) Aug 17, 2005 Oregon

    Phase 2 will include a rooftop bar along with a full restaurant and coffee roasting set up.
     
    #136 maltmaster420, Apr 12, 2018
    BeerandLoathing, BearsOnAcid and sharpski like this.
  17. jakecattleco

    jakecattleco Grand Pooh-Bah (3,749) Sep 3, 2008 California
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    PNC? If so, is there any pattern to when they have it pouring? Love that beer
     
    #137 jakecattleco, Apr 12, 2018
    BeerandLoathing likes this.
  18. John_M

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

    If there's a pattern to anything Apex does, I haven't figured it out yet. You could try calling them and asking (IMHO, the owner there is an ass, but some of the bartenders are pretty cool), but I can't say I'm overly optimistic you'll get any useful information.
     
    #138 John_M, Apr 12, 2018
    BeerandLoathing, sharpski and jakecattleco like this.
  19. derftron

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

    they put in on a few times throughout the year. usually there is a Firestone event that comes through, and APEX has a tight relationship with them so they will put PNC on for that.

    the last 3-4 years, they put it on tap for their Days of Darkness event that spans 5 or 6 days. I think this is usually in November. They also put on a vertical of Parabola for this..

    also, if you dont mind paying a huge markup, they have bottles of PNC for sale. at this point I think they are probably about $70 or more
     
    #139 derftron, Apr 12, 2018
    jakecattleco likes this.
  20. jakecattleco

    jakecattleco Grand Pooh-Bah (3,749) Sep 3, 2008 California
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Ouch. I thought bottles at $30 at Falling Rock in Denver was steep, but that's Fn crazy.
     
    #140 jakecattleco, Apr 13, 2018
Page 7 of 9
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.