Aloha! Just down from Portland 'til Friday and was looking for recommendations. Any great stuff on tap? Which happy hours would you recommend (and why)? Where should I go for growler fills? Mahalo!!! Darius
What with the start of football season, you'd think there's be all kinds of stuff going on this week/weekend. Maybe there is, but I haven't heard or read of anything. That being said... I guess it depends on what you mean by great stuff. 16 tons recently had a DFH event, and most of the stuff they had for the even it still pouring (120 minute IPA, Red & White, Midas Touch, Namaste and Sah Tea). They also currently have hop venom and the new FW Double DBA. I'm not aware of any happy hour pricing, but their prices are generally pretty cheap. They also have pretty decent growler prices, with great pricing if you join their club and are a member (I'm not a member myself, as the last thing I need is encouragement to drink any more than I already do). Bier Stein typically has the best selection in town, and for some reason they seem to get a lot stuff you can't find any place else in town. Last time I was there, they had on the Green Flash DIPA, Flat Tail 3rd anniversay, Silver Moon trainwreck BW, and a bunch of other unusual stuff that I can' remember now. Both BS and the 16 tons taphouse have a great bottle selection as well, though the selection at BS is clearly superior, and unilke at the taphouse, everything is in cold boxes. There the only place in town I know of where you can find any of the 50/50 Eclipse stuff or Imperial Biscotti Break. As for Growler Fills, but BS and 16 tons will fill a growler of most stuff, and the pricing is fairly reasonable. Still, whenever I want a growler fill, I go to growler nation, which has a great selection of mostly local stuff (Worthy, Boring, Barley Brown, Boneyard, Good Life, etc.), and very reasonable prices ($13.99 for a growler fill of Hop Venom). Anyway, that should at least get you started, but if you have the time, check out some of the new places over in the Whitaeker area of town. The new Oakshire pub is pretty nice, and I'm a huge fan of the new Hop Valley tasting room. I've also heard good things about the new Falling Sky Deli. Have fun!
Headed down in October to visit family and go to a Duck's game. I've heard good things about Falling Sky so I'll probably check them out.
16 Tons (both cafe and taproom) and Bier Stein are seconded. Those two should have everything you need tap or bottle-wise. Worth checking out Market of Choice on Willamette (directly nextdoor to 16 Tons Cafe) for bottles as well. Falling Sky was worth checking out, but didn't knock my socks off.
When I first moved here, everyone told me I needed to check out their brewpub (Falling Sky), which I was told had good beer and even better food. My impression so far is that their beers are solid, but nothing they make will knock your socks off (as jmgrub stated). I haven't tried the new deli spot on Blair St., but everything I've heard so far has been pretty positive (about the food - my understanding is that they have the same beer line-up there that you'll find at the brewpub). So if you have the time, I'd certainly recommend giving them a try, but it would be difficult for me to recommend them as one of the better spots to grab a beer in Eugene.
What's hot in Eugene? How about going to the Blair district which is for all intents and purposes "the brewing district" in Eugene. You can easily hit 3 breweries within 2 minutes of each other. Ninkasi, Oakshire, Hop Valley....... and finally the new Falling Sky location. Here's a map. http://goo.gl/maps/tzUqZ Starting at Ninkasi, then Hop Valley then Oakshire and finally hitting Falling Sky. Frankly I'd prioritize Ninkasi and Oakshire over the others. It's fresh hop season at Ninkasi (or will be soon) and Oakshire always has some great single batch stuff on tap at the brewery. Unfortunately Ninkasi does NOT fill growlers at the brewery, but the rest do. If you want to enjoy a great taplist a couple sleepers: http://www.theeugenecannery.com/ Phenominal taplist with great food (at the OLD Bier Stein location).. and if you wanna play some pinball , and some great arcade games hit up http://www.leveluparcade.com/ . Great staff and great beer selection.
