Visiting Portland (Spring 2016 update)

Discussion in 'Northwest' started by guajolote, Apr 10, 2016.

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  1. MonkeyBread

    MonkeyBread Maven (1,308) Apr 26, 2014 Nevada
    Trader

    I wouldn't say I'm a brewery purist but Im definitely a sampler/flight purist when it comes to traveling. That's why I lean to breweries as I know I can sample a lot of beers and not blow a big portion of the liver on a 12 oz pour. Do the Portland bar spots offer ability to do smaller sizes like 5oz or less or flights?
     
    #81 MonkeyBread, Apr 22, 2016
  2. wesbray

    wesbray Initiate (0) Feb 29, 2012 Canada (AB)

    I go the opposite way, can't ever seem to bring myself to do flights. That said, i'd be happy with say 10oz pours, especially on the higher ABV stuff.
     
    #82 wesbray, Apr 22, 2016
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  3. vurt

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

    Here are a few examples:
    • The Biercafé at Belmont Station offers a range of sizes for all their beers on tap. The range is generally from 3-ounce tasters to a full imperial pint, although I think the stronger beers top out at a smaller pour size.
    • Apex bar will serve you a half-pour of whatever the regular pour size is.
    • I'm pretty sure The Growler Guys offers flights. At least they used to.
     
    #83 vurt, Apr 22, 2016
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  4. guajolote

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

    To add to @vurt's list, besides Belmont Station, Bailey's, Loyal Legion, Roscoe's, and Tin Bucket all do flights. Some of the others in the list on the front page may do them as well, but I can't recall for sure. A lot of places that don't do flights will often do a half-pour if you ask.
     
    #84 guajolote, Apr 22, 2016
  5. John_M

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

    Can confirm that GG still offers tasting flights (typically 4 five ounce pours of anything on the menu).

    It seems like over the past few years, increasingly most bars will offer half pours of just about everything (other than the super high end/high alcohol beers, that are typically only sold in 8 ounce glasses anyway). At some places, there's a slight upcharge (the Horse Brass for example, charges a bit more than half price for half pint pours), but many places simply charge half price of whatever the pint price is.

    Vurt, correct me if I'm wrong about this, but I think the Apex only sells half pours of beers that are sold in 16 ounces servings. Limited release and/or high alcohol beers tend to be sold in 12, 10 and even 6 ounce serving sizes, and I don't believe you can get a half pour of those beers. Also, if memory serves, don't they charge a fairly significant upcharge for half pours (again, if memory serves, I think they knock a buck off the pint price, but that's the only break on price you get)?

    For a variety of reasons, I rarely go to Apex anymore, and I don't want to pass on inaccurate information.
     
    #85 John_M, Apr 22, 2016
    Last edited: Apr 22, 2016
  6. wesbray

    wesbray Initiate (0) Feb 29, 2012 Canada (AB)

    Don't want to pry but...
     
    #86 wesbray, Apr 22, 2016
  7. John_M

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

    One of my New Year's resolutions was to try to avoid making any more disparaging comments about Apex on BA (as it always tends to start a fight/argument). I'd like to keep that promise, but if you're really interested, you can always read my review of the place on BA.

    Apex invariably has one of the best taplists in town, and that remains a constant. Unfortunately, the negatives I mention in my review have also remained a constant. That being said, I think most customers that frequent the place are aware of the idiosyncrasies there, and for the most part, they're avoidable.
     
    #87 John_M, Apr 22, 2016
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  8. wesbray

    wesbray Initiate (0) Feb 29, 2012 Canada (AB)

    Now just creeping your reviews. Thought I would add Belgian Embassy to my list then realized it was closed!
     
    #88 wesbray, Apr 22, 2016
  9. vurt

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

    John, you may be right about Apex only doing half pours when it comes to pints. I remember there were several beers I wanted to order, and I asked "Is it possible to get a smaller serving size?" The reply I got was "We can give you a half-pour, sure, no problem." He might've said "half-pint," because that's what he ended up giving me.

    Can't remember if there was an upcharge.

    I enjoy Apex, so I don't want to pass along inaccurate information either.
     
    #89 vurt, Apr 22, 2016
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  10. John_M

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

    Once upon a time, I was a big fan of the Apex, and so I used to go there a LOT! Then as now, they invariably had way more beers I wanted to try, then I could safely consume. As they didn't sell sample size portions, I asked if they would do half pours, and they would. However, back in the day, I think that most of their line-up was either served in pint glasses or some sort of appropriate tulip (for the Belgians and high alcohol stuff). Again, it was some years ago, but I seem to recall the bartender telling me he could provide me with a smaller pour of anything served in a pint glass. The money was irrelevant as far as I was concerned (it was less than full price, but I'm virtually certain it wasn't half price), I just wanted to find a way to try as many different beers there as possible. That's my recollection, but again, this was some time ago, and so I easily could have been mistaken about some of this (my initial review of the Apex is from back in 2010).

    I think it was when they first started carrying notorious that I first saw the 6 ounce portion size. Based on what I was told previously, I just assumed you couldn't get a half pour of anything served in a 6 ounce serving size (I've never asked). These days when I visit the Apex (it's rare, but sometimes they'll have something on tap I just can't resist), I'm always buying beers that are sold in the 6 ounce format, so it's never an issue for me. :-)
     
    #90 John_M, Apr 22, 2016
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  11. distantmantra

    distantmantra Pooh-Bah (2,954) May 23, 2011 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Has anyone heard new info on the Lagunitas venture/whatever in Portland?
     
    #91 distantmantra, Apr 22, 2016
  12. maltmaster420

    maltmaster420 Initiate (0) Aug 17, 2005 Oregon

    The last thing I heard was that Tony's announcement was "premature", which isn't surprising if you know anything about him and his social media presence. Beyond that, I've heard it isn't going to be a brewery or brew pub, but rather some sort of music venue or "gathering place", whatever that means.
     
    #92 maltmaster420, Apr 22, 2016
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  13. BBThunderbolt

    BBThunderbolt Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,846) Sep 24, 2007 Kiribati
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    That's what she said!
     
    #93 BBThunderbolt, Apr 23, 2016
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  14. zizouandyuki

    zizouandyuki Initiate (0) Nov 26, 2015 Texas

    Just returned to Dallas, TX from a three day weekend in Portland. @guajolote Thank you, thank you, thank you for putting this info together!!! Had a chance to visit the following:
    • Deschutes
    • Breakside
    • Hair of the Dog
    • Great Notion (sadly they were fresh out of all the IPAs I was so greatly looking forward to trying. would love to find a trading partner for some crowlers :grinning:)
    • Ex Novo (best chicken sandwich I've ever had)
    • Fat Head (was able to try Pulp Free, which I loved)
    • Pfriem (possibly my favorite from the trip)
    • Double Mountain
    The last thing I'll say is that you guys live in one of the most beautiful places I've ever visited. Looking forward to spending more time outside of the city and enjoying the incredible wilderness around this part of the country. Cheers and thank you again!!!

    *EDIT: Almost forgot to mention BeerMongers... I just about died when I saw the bottle selection at this place! Was able to grab several different local beers and visited Rose City Wine Storage to pack them up and take them on the plane.
     
    #94 zizouandyuki, Apr 25, 2016
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  15. wesbray

    wesbray Initiate (0) Feb 29, 2012 Canada (AB)

    #95 wesbray, Apr 25, 2016
  16. blackcloud

    blackcloud Savant (1,243) Apr 28, 2012 Alaska
    Trader

    decent, but not outstanding. (caveat- i've not had an alameda beer for a few years. 10 years ago i lived a couple blocks away and would stop in regularly for a pint)
     
    #96 blackcloud, Apr 25, 2016
  17. Strangestbrewer

    Strangestbrewer Crusader (477) Oct 17, 2014 Oregon

    Beer is solid, nothing terrible. Maybe a homerun once or twice a year, but they are a very safe neighborhood-esc brewery. Blackbear stout is go-to for them. Though if it wasn't for their $5 growler fills on Saturdays I don't know how often I'd get their beer.
     
    #97 Strangestbrewer, Apr 25, 2016
  18. TheWiltChamberlainofipas

    TheWiltChamberlainofipas Initiate (0) Apr 7, 2015 Oregon

    Accross the street from alameda is where all the fun is happening.
     
    #98 TheWiltChamberlainofipas, Apr 25, 2016
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  19. StJamesGate

    StJamesGate Grand Pooh-Bah (3,766) Oct 8, 2007 New York
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Most of the breweries listed under "Newcomers" don't have any beer reviews in BA yet.

    Any/which ones worth going out of your way for?
     
    #99 StJamesGate, Apr 26, 2016
  20. vurt

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

    Great Notion has its own thread in this forum, and they're brewing the kind of beers that tend to get attention these days (NE-style IPAs, sours, stouts with beaucoup adjuncts): http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/great-notion.378684/

    I've enjoyed the few beers I've tried from Ruse, Zoiglhaus, and Montavilla Brew Works, but I haven't had enough to tell you to go out of your way for them.
     
    #100 vurt, Apr 26, 2016
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