G'day beer lovers. I'm headed to Chicago and Portland (OR) in November. While I'm there, I want to try the best US craft beers I can get my hands on. I'm interested in imperial styles (esp stouts), doubles and triples, barley wines and wild beers. BIG flavours! What are the brews I have to try? Thanks!
That would be shattering if it were true. PS - I might sneak a couple Aussie ales in the luggage. Anything on anyone's wish list?
OK, to give you a (semi) serious answer. We here in the NW forum realize that we are surrounded by great beer. You're going to walk into some random bar, see a dozen unhyped beers you've never heard of, and it's likely they will all be worth your time. We are so used to having great beer being, just, "there", that we tend to not buy into the precept of seeking out "the best". Come to PDX. Read the latest "Visiiting PDX" thread when your visit comes. Relax, enjoy, and, bring your GoreTex. November will be wet.
Sounds like true Beervana. Cease striving and simply "be" with the beer. So I will. Thanks for the advice! (I was going to share a couple Aussie recommends but that would be like selling coals to Newcastle - and obviously not the Portland zeitgeist. )
I think that's the right attitude to have while you're here. PDX has a number of outstanding growler stations/taphouses that are listed in the visiting Portland thread. You can go into any of them, tell them what you're interested in, and they'll hook you up. Enjoy your visit.
If you have local beers you love, and want to share them with people who have probably never tried them before, bring 'em! Sharing great new beers is very much the Portland zeitgeist. Also: @beertunes is right. November will be wet. And cold. Perfect weather for the kind of big beers you're looking for. Keep us posted on your travel plans. I'd be happy to buy you a pint or two.
Whatever you drink while in PDX, make sure it is bike delivered or you'll get shamed with an organic stare. Everything you see on TV about Portland is true. Also srs just drink the living fuck out of every beer you find. I won't say you can't go wrong, because you can go wrong, but you'll go right way more than wrong. The northwest is the best. EDIT: When in Chicago, just hide in your hotel drinking filtered water and working out in the hotel fitness center. Maybe pee on the president's shitty skyscraper. Don't order a hot dog or eleventy billion people will tell you what you can and can't put on it.
Cheers @vurt will def pack a few Aussie brews - as many as they'll let me take in. There are a couple that are sufficiently different that they'd warrant sampling. I'll be in Portland 13-18 Nov. I'll ping you closer to the time @leedorham that is hilarious! I wouldn't dream of pissing on your esteemed President's skyscraper. As for Portland culture: we've all seen Portlandia and I can tell you its eerily like Melbourne, where I'm from. But greener (and wetter).
A wise Aussie you must be. That would only further gratify him. #GoldenShower But Leedorham was right about all the other stuff, especially the beer situation in Portland, and the frankfurter condiment one in Chi Town. That was some sage advice, overall, and should not be ignored.
