Visiting Portland (Fall 2015 update)

Man is Baerlic's opinion really that high? Out of the Ex Novo, StormBreaker, and Baerlic I'd go SB, EX, & Baerlic. Maybe I need to visit more or something.

 

Might want to specify apex is cash only as well... They have an ATM on site, but I'm not sure how much the fees are, plus fees at your bank. So, bring cash

 

How come deGarde isn't mentioned anywhere? Is that deliberate?

 

Because it's not in Portland, I'm guessing. It's 90 minutes away.

 

Geography.

 

I realize it's not in Portland, but having no information about it in such a detailed, robust, and helpful guide seems silly. Most BAs going to Portland will want info on getting out to Tillamook, and other additional information about the brewery... Like ME!

 

Upright takes checks too! I didn't know people still had checks? But I've seen people there pay by check before.

 

Well, there's no info on Hood River either. It's a PDX thread, not a Western Oregon thread. Shrug. It takes a lot of effort to do these threads, big thanks to to the folks who keep us up-to-date on PDX, Seattle, Bend, and Eugene.

 

A quick search for "de Garde" will turn up lots of information about them in multiple threads from this forum. I think "many" BAs visiting Oregon will be interested in de Garde, but I'd need to see actual data before agreeing it's "most." Oregon has so many great breweries outside of Portland, making an exception for this one is what seems silly. Hope you enjoy your visit and I have no doubt you will find plenty of info to plan a trip to Tillamook, this just isn't the thread for that.

Also, be aware that putting blinders on for a single brewery will rob you of what makes Oregon beer and beer culture so great. If all you look for are the black and white labels, you're going to miss the kaleidoscope of great beers that don't get the same hype. Cheers!

 

Whoa.. A lot of strong feelings about this thread being strictly PDX-only.

"Why not include Block 15, or other breweries from Bend?"

Simple: because proximity.. A trip to Portland CAN easily include a short day trip to de Garde. A trip to Portland CANNOT easily include a day trip to Boneyard.

In my planning for Portland, I include de Garde because of proximity. It would be helpful for a blurb about said day trip (which is undoubtedly all too common). That would help round out the guide and make it that much more helpful for the common BA, that's all. The objections to my question seem to be coming from a place of hate for de Garde (as in hating on the hype that surrounds them), or intense pride for PDX. I can't figure out which, though.

 

To agree with all points in here... and i do know these threads are a bit hard to put up. Maybe we can have a "side shoot" of stuff for day trips from Portland? (within something like... 1.5hr or 2hr) That way we can count in stuff like DeGarde, Full sail, Phreim, etc. That way people coming in to town will know more options if they want to go up and down 84/30 or take the scenic trip to the coast. etc. But then that might even open up a can of worms that would be ridiculous... double edged sword if you will

i'll leave that at that and just put it up as a feeler... i know if i'm going on a beercation, i'd like to know whats on the outskirts so i'm not stuck in the same "general area" of wherever i was traveling to... if that makes sense?

 

I don't think it's either. The thread remains relatively navigable because it focuses on PDX, just as the Seattle thread focuses on Seattle. If you're on a beercation, you probably already know your stuff, and if not, you probably don't have time for a day trip. Also, if you're in town for business, you can visit awesome places on this thread! But not DG unless you have your own car and an extra day on your trip.

For example, Hood River is actually closer to Portland and has some great breweries, but once we start trying to cover all bases instead of offering a primer on Portland, it gets really, really busy. Most folks are happy to answer questions about breweries in Astoria, Tillamook, Bend, Hood River, and other Oregon spots but things can really go off the rails if we try to address every NW destination.

 

Man, so much wrong with this post. Let me ask you a question; If there were a "Visiting D.C." thread, would you include info on Baltimore? Tillamook is about 70miles from PDX, Bawlmer about 40 from the District.

 

I sort of feel like I'm just piling on at this point, but this sentence highlights the crux of the issue. Corvallis, Hood River, and Vancouver are all closer than Tillamook, but we don't include them either. If you read through the previous "Visiting Portland" threads you'll see that numerous visitors ask about day trips to these cities (well, maybe not the 'Couv), and we're all happy to oblige with specifics based on the person's tastes and available time.

Also, de Garde is one of the few breweries that actually updates its website and facebook page on a regular basis (every Wednesday), so there's not much other info we can offer in many cases.

Last but not least, unless you're averse to driving you can easily make a day trip out of visiting Bend. Hundreds of Portlanders make the trek every weekend during the winter months to ski/board Mt Bachelor.

 

But it could include Hood River. Or Astoria. Or Corvallis. All of which are fine beer destinations which fit your definition of proximity.

The thing is, this thread was never intended as a catch-all for everything a beer tourist might want to see in Oregon when they fly in to PDX. This one thread is specifically for Portland. It has nothing to do with some perceived "hate" of de Garde or any particularly insular pride.* It has everything to do with convenience. There's a lot to see and drink here in the Portland metro area. You have to draw the line somewhere. In the case of this thread, the line is drawn around Portland.

(* If you don't believe this point, just look at how many times we urge visitors to track down the outstanding beers of Boneyard and Barley Brown's, both of which are WAY outside Portland.)