Visiting Portland (2026)

Discussion in 'Northwest' started by guajolote, Jan 5, 2026.

  1. John_M

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

    Off the top of my head, I'm not aware of any upcoming events that Thursday. However, John's, Beermongers, Belmont Station, Saraveza and Roscoe's all hold frequent events. So maybe check their FB page or Instagram as it gets closer to the date.

    Otherwise, I'd recommend all of those places, along with Arch Bridge and Imperial. These days all those places keep up to date draft lists. I usually base my beer visit decisions on whoever happens to have the most interesting taplist.
     
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  2. rrock44

    rrock44 Pooh-Bah (2,137) Oct 27, 2009 Washington
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Out of curiosity…does any of those places have tvs? And will those tvs be tuned to March Madness? I know I know. Most of us don’t like TVs and sports at our drinking spots. It is just the Merry Cougs love their beer and love their March Madness, so combining the two is ideal for the overall merriment of the group.

    It would be crazy to run into @sharpski (he definitely get a birthday beer or two out of it) and others!
     
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  3. rrock44

    rrock44 Pooh-Bah (2,137) Oct 27, 2009 Washington
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Follow up question for @John_M -

    I forget where you posted it. But you recommended GoW brewpub as a good place to hang out with good food and brew. Do they happen to have a tv.?

    I think it will be on the Merry Coug’s list regardless. I have been pushing for a visit. Might as well hit up Trapdoor while we’re on that side of the river, too. Unless they are no where near each other.
     
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  4. John_M

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

    Luckily, in my case I have no such preconceived prejudices. So then...

    Arch Bridge and Belmont Station are the only places that don't have TVs. Other than Roscoe's, everyplace else has at least a couple of TVs, which should be showing the tourney I would expect. Roscoe's has one TV not showing "classic" movies, and that will likely have a game on. Imperial is probably the most sports focused spot of the places I recommended. They'll likely have all three of their TVs turned to various games.

    If seeing the various first round games is important to you (which imho they should be for all right thinking people), consider Tinkers Tavern. They'll definitely have all the games on, and their draft list is solid. They also have good pub grub, with some of the better wings in town.

    Enjoy!
     
    #24 John_M, Mar 8, 2026
    Last edited: Mar 9, 2026
  5. John_M

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

    Alas, they are no where near one another. It's probably a good half hour drive to get to Trap Door from GOW.

    As for GOW, I was there yesterday. They have several TVs, and in fact the food and beer are quite good. Just keep in mind that Camus is a very affluent community, and prices for beer and food there reflect that.
     
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  6. vurt

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

    Breakside Beaverton is showing every single game of the men's and women's tournaments. Multiple TVs. Excellent beer. Food trucks.

    Loyal Legion is one block away, should you feel the need for other beer besides Breakside.
     
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  7. rrock44

    rrock44 Pooh-Bah (2,137) Oct 27, 2009 Washington
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Great info! Maybe we’ll run into each other at GOW!
     
  8. rrock44

    rrock44 Pooh-Bah (2,137) Oct 27, 2009 Washington
    Society Pooh-Bah

    I saw this! I subscribe to their email list! Sadly, I don’t think we’ll make it to BeeVurton this trip.someday we’ll meet and have a couple pints together!

    The Merry Cougs usually do hit up a Breakside, though. The one closest to St John’s? I know it is near Pine State biscuits (love the Reggie!)
     
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  9. vurt

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

    No worries. I seem to recall that the Merry Cougs prefer breweries to taprooms, so there's that.
     
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  10. rrock44

    rrock44 Pooh-Bah (2,137) Oct 27, 2009 Washington
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Yes. But taprooms do have their place. Especially if they have a lot of area goodies. Options expand.
     
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  11. BBThunderbolt

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

    My dear, sweet, Coug Fren: Do. Not does.

    As snobby and insufferable as UW folks can be, this is why they pick on you. As you're teaching the youts.
     
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  12. rrock44

    rrock44 Pooh-Bah (2,137) Oct 27, 2009 Washington
    Society Pooh-Bah

    :rofl:

    My speaking and typing grammar have never been the best. :rofl:
     
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  13. BBThunderbolt

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

    My fingers oft fall behind my thoughts......
     
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  14. John_M

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

    Just my two cents...

    Unless you really want to visit the pub and sample a wide array of GOW beers, I wouldn't recommend it. The food and beer there are good (well, most of their beer is), but it's something of a hassle to get to from 205, and it's a very spendy place. GOW sees good distribution in PDX, where prices are better and there's no sales tax.

    YMMV, but that's been my experience. It's why I rarely visit (I stopped by on Saturday because it was their anniversary event).
     
  15. vurt

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

    The Trap Door brewery is in Washougal, which is quite a bit closer to GOW than the Trap Door taproom in Vancouver.
     
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  16. John_M

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

    Damn, that's right, they have an outpost out there as well. For some reason I always think only of the downtown spot when someone mentions Trapdoor.

    @rrock44 If you do visit GOW and the Washougal Trapdoor, you might want to also visit Recluse brewing as well. Some of their lagers are quite good (and they're pretty close to Trapdoor).
     
    #36 John_M, Mar 10, 2026
    Last edited: Mar 10, 2026
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  17. sloejams

    sloejams Maven (1,417) Oct 8, 2004 Oregon
    Trader

    This is a good answer. If it happens to be the weekend, they have the city's best tavern style pizza too.
     
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  18. moodenba

    moodenba Pooh-Bah (2,502) Feb 2, 2015 New York
    Society Pooh-Bah

    And to top it off, your UW abandoned Wazoo and the PACxx for the BIG**. Travel time and costs be damned. (Portland State grad point of view.)
     
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  19. derftron

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

    Not quite portland, but i dont think Beaverton has its own thread (and its close enough)

    Anybody been to the Westgate Bourbon bar and Taphouse? I sometimes have to kill time in that area and i finally went in a few months ago. As the name suggests, they have a MASSIVE bourbon selection, but i was just as impressed with their 30 beer taplist and modest (but very well curated) bottle room. The beer buyer there is a definite beer nerd and he spends time hunting all sorts of things. had some BA pFriem bottles i had never seen or heard of.

    draft list has a lot of barrel aged gems on it (FW Helldorado, Velvet Merkin, parabola) and they had pliney the younger for a good week or so after everybody else blew their kegs. prices on beers are not cheap, so dont expect any screaming deals, but their food menu is very good and reasonably priced.


    anyhoo, just thought i would shout them out
     
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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

    I think you may have made a typo regarding the tap selection. Their website list shows 50 beers on tap.

    It does look like a very cool place, with a couple of caveats. First, it doesn't appear that they keep an up to date taplist. The website list is fantastic, but was last updated on 3/14/26. Neither DigitalPour or Untapped list the current taplist. Pricing IS on the high side, but not inordinately so. The only thing that I was a bit taken a back by was the taster tray price. $21 for 5 four ounce pours is excessive imho, at least if you're ordering ipas, apa's or light lagers. It doesn't appear there's any price break based on style, which is weird. If I'm getting a tray of BA stouts, then $21 is a decent price. If I'm sampling lower abv. ales and lagers, then that's a crazy high price.

    Have you tried the food? Maybe I'll take the wife there for date night dinner if I can convince her to go. I'm a bit concerned about the location. I'm guessing driving there via 26 and 217 on a Friday afternoon might be unpleasant.