Visiting Portland - Fall/Winter 2018-19 update

Discussion in 'Northwest' started by guajolote, Nov 1, 2018.

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  1. guajolote

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

    A few years back, it became clear that this forum could use an "I'm visiting Portland, where should I go?" thread. In this thread, I'll attempt to cull the "must-hit" spots generally agreed upon by Portland BAs.** Of course, recommendations & suggestions are encouraged.

    (Almost) Universally Recommended "Must-Visit" Breweries & Brew Pubs
    Breakside Brewery (three PDX locations)
    Cascade Brewing Barrel House
    Great Notion Brewing (second NW PDX location opening "hopefully by the end of 2018")
    Hair of the Dog Brewing
    Upright Brewing

    Other Highly Recommended Breweries & Brew Pubs
    Baerlic Brewing
    Culmination Brewing
    Deschutes Portland Pub
    Ex Novo Brewing
    Gigantic Brewing
    Hopworks Urban Brewery (two PDX locations)
    Laurelwood Brewing (two PDX locations)
    Lompoc Brewing (2.5 locations)
    Occidental Brewing
    Wayfinder Beer

    The Newcomers (breweries opening in the past year-ish)
    Backwoods Brewing (opened July 2018)
    Little Beast Brewing Beer Garden (opened May 2018)
    Look Long Brewing Company (opened February 2018)
    Modern Times Belmont Fermentorium (opened January 2018)
    Mount Hood Brewing (opened July 2018)
    Ruse Brewing (has been brewing for over a year, but opened a taproom in July 2018)
    The Thirsty Monk (transitioned ownership from Bazi Bierbrasserie summer 2018)
    Von Ebert Brewing (opened March 2018 in the former Fat Head's location)
    West Coast Grocery Company (opened July 2018)

    Highly Recommended Beer Bars / Bottle Shops
    APEX (Taproom, Bottles-to-go; Cash Only w/onsite ATM)
    Bailey's Taproom/The Upper Lip (Taproom, Crowler Fills, Growler Fills, Bottle List)
    The Beermongers (Taproom, Bottle Shop, Growler Fills)
    Belmont Station (Taproom, Bottle Shop, Growler Fills, Food)
    Bridgetown Beerhouse (Taproom, Bottle Shop, Growler Fills)
    The Growler Guys PDX (Taproom, Crowler Fills, Growler Fills, Bottles-to-go)
    Horse Brass Pub (Taproom, Food)
    Imperial Bottle Shop (Two locations - SE Division & NE Alberta) (Taproom, Bottle Shop, Growler Fills)
    John's Marketplace (Bottle Shop)
    Loyal Legion (Taproom, Growler Fills, Food)
    N.W.I.P.A. (Taproom, Bottle Shop)
    Hawthorne Hophouse (Taproom, Growler Fills, Food)
    Roscoe's (Taproom, Growler Fills, Food)
    Saraveza (Taproom, Bottle Shop, Growler Fills, Food)
    Tin Bucket (Taproom, Bottle Shop, Counter Pressure Growler Fills)
    ---------------------------------------------------
    (A Few) Beer-centric Restaurants*
    Cheese Bar
    Grain & Gristle
    Higgins Restaurant
    Interurban
    Lardo
    Raven & Rose / The Rookery
    Stammtisch
    Victory Bar
    White Owl Social Club

    * Just about any decent restaurant in PDX has a good/very good beer list. This might be the most debatable section of this thread. Eater PDX is a great food resource.
    ----------------------------------------------------
    Other Resources (places, events, releases, news/information, etc.)
    Portland BeerFly listing
    Willamette Week's 2018 Beer Guide
    Brewpublic
    The Brew Site
    New School Beer
    Oregon Beer Growler
    Portland Craft Beer Events Calendar

    Some Helpful Maps
    digita7693’s map (beer map, restaurants, hotels, cafes, to-do)
    The Beer Mapping Project
    Oregon & Washington Brew Map
    Oregon Beer Country map

    A couple of (potentially dangerous) pub crawls
    The "Walk it Off" Pub Crawl (HotD > Bailey's > Deschutes > Upright > Burnside > Cascade)
    Inner SE Pub/Brewery Crawl (APEX > Beermongers > Baerlic > HotD > Modern Times > Cascade > Base Camp > Burnside)
    North Portland Pub Crawl (StormBreaker > Bridgetown Beerhouse > BikeBar > Sidebar > Tin Bucket > Ecliptic)

    Want to know if XYZ bar/brewery allows kids?
    "PDX with kids" BA thread
    Bars that Allow Children in Portland
    Best Kid-Friendly Portland Brewpubs
    Kid-Friendly Portland Breweries

    Need shippers for all the beer you bought?
    Portland Wine Storage
    Rose City Wine Vaults & Storage

    Transit
    Biketown
    PDX Bus
    Trimet
    Uber and Lyft are currently operating in Portland
    There are also three shared scooter companies operating in Portland now.

    Portland Airport
    PDX is a great bar that just happens to be an airport. If you have time to kill, there is a Deschutes Brewpub (concourse D), a Laurelwood brewpub (concourse A), a yet-to-open Hopworks brewpub (replacing the concourse E Laurelwood pub), a Henry's Tavern outpost, and several other restaurants with good tap lists. Deschutes, Laurelwood, Hopworks, Henry's, and Country Cat are all past security and all fill growlers, so you can get a fill and carry it on. There are also Made in Oregon stores and a Timberline Lodge gift store past security with good bottle selections. Timberline Lodge generally has very fresh bottles & cans on the shelves.

    ** Disclaimer: This post is not intended to be a catch-all for Portland beer establishments. There are literally hundreds of well-regarded beer institutions throughout the greater Portland area -- many of which are not listed in this post. This thread is an attempt to present the most frequently recommended and highest-regarded spots cited in the Northwest BA forum. Exploration and experimentation are certainly encouraged!
     
    #1 guajolote, Nov 1, 2018
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  2. guajolote

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

    Again, late with an update. It's my MO now. Deal with it. :wink:

    Updates in version 18:
    Added Backwoods, Look Long & Ruse to the "Newcomers" section.
    Added scooter info in the "Transit" section.

    Also, dangit, I meant to title this thread the Fall/Winter 2018-19 update. Oh well.

    Not a whole lot else to add this go-round. See you in the spring!

    Past versions:
    Original thread
    Update 1 (winter 2013)
    Update 2 (spring 2013)
    Update 3 (summer 2013)
    Update 4 (fall/winter 2013-14)
    Update 5 (spring 2014)
    Update 6 (fall/winter 2014)
    Update 7 (winter 2015)
    Update 8 (spring 2015)
    Update 9 (summer 2015)
    Update 10 (fall 2015)
    Update 11 (winter 2016)
    Update 12 (spring 2016)
    Update 13 (summer 2016)
    Update 14 (fall/winter 2016-17)
    Update 15 (summer 2017)
    Update 16 (fall/winter 2017-18)
    Update 17 (spring/summer 2018)

    Enjoy!
     
    #2 guajolote, Nov 1, 2018
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  3. John_M

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

    Strongly recommend adding Beer O'clock to the highly recommended beer bar list, especially with their proximity to Grassa and Lardo West. Their tap list is invariably first rate, they have a small but well curated bottle/can selection, they have a crowler machine, and I think they boast one of the best (if not thee best) happy hours in PDX.

    I've long since put them on my "regular rotation" list (along with Bailey's, Growler Guys, Belmont Station and Tin Bucket).
     
    #3 John_M, Nov 1, 2018
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  4. weaverr

    weaverr Zealot (729) Jun 10, 2008 California

    Beer o'clock happy hour - 2-5PM / most of the tap list is $3
    Lardo happy hour - 3-6PM / the entire tap list is $3

    You can drink $3 craft beer from 2-6 AND get a very filling dinner all at the same place. Maybe we should start an excellent happy hours section to this guide.

    Thanks for the update @guajolote, this is the best thread on BA.
     
    #4 weaverr, Nov 1, 2018
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  5. guajolote

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

    Noted for next time. I was trying to think of the place on the west side that I needed to add. I've still never been there, but I'll be in Portland Saturday, so I'll need to put it on my list...
     
    #5 guajolote, Nov 1, 2018
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  6. John_M

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

    Food at Grassa is excellent and extremely well priced as well. Typically, I'll get some take out while enjoying a few beers during happy hour (wife doesn't like the vibe at Grassa, but loves the food) on the weekend. It's really a hard to beat combination.
     
    #6 John_M, Nov 1, 2018
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  7. anvindr

    anvindr Zealot (608) Jan 6, 2016 California
    Trader

    Its interesting that GN makes a list that also includes Upright, Hair of the Dog, and Breakside. I thought the latter 3 places stood head and shoulders above whatever operation GN is doing. All 3 of them actually brew beer with water, malt, hops, yeast and restrained use of other ingredients. GN goes so far into sweetened additive flavors that I really wonder if anyone local to Portland goes there more than 1x per 6 months other than to trade the "beers"
     
    #7 anvindr, Nov 2, 2018
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  8. distantmantra

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

    For every Mrs. Butterworths strawberry taffy mochi lactose bomb they also make beers that are nothing but water, malt, hops and yeast. Shocking, I know.
     
    #8 distantmantra, Nov 2, 2018
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  9. weaverr

    weaverr Zealot (729) Jun 10, 2008 California

    I hate NEIPA as much as the next curmudgeonly old man, but it's the most popular style of beer right now and Great Notion is consistently one of the best in the country. Good enough for me to have one every six months and for them to open a second, larger brewery.
     
    #9 weaverr, Nov 2, 2018
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  10. derftron

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

    i think their base lineup (Juice Box, J JR, Ripe, double ripe, double stack, and the sours) are all really good.

    all the crazy adjunct stuff has been pretty off-putting IMO. Had the guava mochi and did not like it. Had another mochi (pinapple vanilla??) that tasted like sunscreen.

    that said, im glad they are around and do all this crazy shit. I think Portland has all of the traditional styles pretty well covered
     
    #10 derftron, Nov 2, 2018
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  11. elNopalero

    elNopalero Grand Pooh-Bah (5,822) Oct 14, 2009 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Let's say that I have a few days to spend in Portland. (I do.) And that I've visited all the recommended spots. (I haven't.) Where should I turn now? What breweries that aren't on the list of favorites will be there next year? Who are the next contenders?

    During an earlier visit a few years back I stopped by Culmination--quite by accident, and only because they were near where I was staying. I like those kinds of surprises.
     
    #11 elNopalero, Nov 4, 2018
  12. jakecattleco

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

    Agreed on the core lineup, though DS is a bit too sweet for my preferences (but I don't have much of a sweet tooth).

    Have you tried Orange Creamsicle? I never expected I'd like that beer as much as I do. I haven't had any of their mochi recipes, so I have no idea how similar or dissimilar they may be in comparison.
     
    #12 jakecattleco, Nov 4, 2018
  13. anvindr

    anvindr Zealot (608) Jan 6, 2016 California
    Trader

    upright! upright upright
     
    #13 anvindr, Nov 4, 2018
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  14. ppilot

    ppilot Zealot (522) Jul 17, 2009 Oregon

    Ruse and Wayfinder are my favorite spots right now. I have a suspicion that Ruse in particular is going to start getting a lot of national attention. I personally favor their hazies over Great Notion.

    Oh and almost forgot about Little Beast!
     
    #14 ppilot, Nov 4, 2018
    Last edited: Nov 4, 2018
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  15. John_M

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

    You beat me to the Ruse recommendation. Have been very impressed by everything I've tried from them, but particularly their IPA'S and DIPAS.
     
    #15 John_M, Nov 4, 2018
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  16. vurt

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

    I'll throw in another vote for Wayfinder. They're one of my favorites in town, and they still seem to be a bit under-the-radar. Good food, too.
     
    #16 vurt, Nov 4, 2018
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  17. elNopalero

    elNopalero Grand Pooh-Bah (5,822) Oct 14, 2009 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    If Upright was the only spot I could visit I think I'd be fine with that.
     
    #17 elNopalero, Nov 4, 2018
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  18. elNopalero

    elNopalero Grand Pooh-Bah (5,822) Oct 14, 2009 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Thanks for the recs!
    Ruse spun off out of Culmination, no? And Wayfinder has lots of German-style brews & food? Passing familiarity/name recognition for both. Little Beast is completely new to me, though. I'll keep all of them in mind. How's Level? I read about them in Beer Advocate over the summer.
     
    #18 elNopalero, Nov 4, 2018
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  19. vurt

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

    The two brewers behind Ruse, Devin Benware and Shaun Kalis, worked at Culmination and used that brewery's equipment to make their own Ruse-branded beers alongside Culmination's beers. Ruse now has their own tasting room which I have not yet visited, alas.

    Wayfinder does have lots of excellent German-style brews, and good IPAs as well (traditional and NEIPA). Their brewer, Kevin Davey, used to brew for Bellingham-based Chuckanut, one of the best brewers of German-style beers in the NW.

    Little Beast is a couple years old, and was started by one of the founders of Logsdon Farmhouse Ales. Most of their beers are wild ales, though they also do clean Belgian styles (witbiers, Belgian pales, etc.). Right now they even have a Czech pilsner on tap.
     
    #19 vurt, Nov 4, 2018
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  20. John_M

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

    Their beers are OK, but I haven't tried anything from them that really wowed me. It's a bit of a hike to get to the brewpub location, and IMHO, it's not worth making the drive out there to try their beers (though it's easy enough to find cans and their beer on tap around town). Their biggest selling beer I believe is the Stable Genius IPA. Let's just say that I believe the beer is popular for reasons unrelated to the quality of the beer (though in fairness, SG IPA is a pretty decent, NE style IPA).
     
    #20 John_M, Nov 4, 2018
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