Why should I go to de Garde?

Discussion in 'Northwest' started by rrock44, Jul 13, 2015.

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  1. rrock44

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

    First, I am not trying to troll. From reading these boards de Garde gets a lot of respect, gets a lot of recommendations by others to go to it, and their beers are sought out by others. Second, my apologizes on such a long winded post.

    For the past nine years my cool in-laws rent a beach house on the Oregon coast. We have stayed anywhere from Rockaway to Yachats. This year we hit up Netarts. My cool in-laws will take a day to watch our kids, so that my wife and I can go have fun. My wife is not a beer junkie like I am, so she tolerates going to one beer related place (and I tolerate going to knickknack shops, ugh). I wouldn't even be asking this if it was possible to hit up pelican, de Garde, then roll up to Seaside, then Astoria.

    Why I need convincing. I get one beer related stop. Over the past nine years, I've gone multiple times to pelican, rusty truck, and rogue. I have enjoyed each one. I am nervous that I won't enjoy de Garde. The reason for my hesitance, is that I find de Garde beers based off their names, for lack of better word, intimidating. I drink all kinds of beers, but my primary go to beer is a ipa/dipa.

    Is my palate sophisticated enough for de Garde? Is there other beers to try before I jump into de Garde? So, I am hoping there is an ipa-drinking fellow BA that can advise me on their experience. Did they like de Garde or was it meh? Is my palate sophisticated enough for de Garde? Is there other beers to try before I jump into de Garde.

    Now, I know the easy answer is just go, because that's the only way to find out, but I want to enjoy my one trip of beer freedom.
     
    #1 rrock44, Jul 13, 2015
  2. Shmeal

    Shmeal Initiate (0) Nov 9, 2009 Oregon

    Yes, go. There are people who are pretty new to beer that I've baptized with de Garde, and they liked it just fine.
     
    #2 Shmeal, Jul 13, 2015
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  3. NedStarkravingmad

    NedStarkravingmad Initiate (0) Apr 26, 2015 Washington

    My GF's whole family doesn't like beer, so I brought them DG and they will all drink it wth me. There's a good chance your lady will like it and you'll have to hide bottles from her or get enough to share. DG doesn't have much hop bitterness (but Hose variants are glorious) just all around delicious beers. And they have 2 high-level IPA guest taps as of Saturday so if you're going there this weekend you can give your palate a break with some IPA goodness.

    They have very approachable beers, and then more complex ones. Unless you hate the wild style, you are going to have a good time there.
     
    #3 NedStarkravingmad, Jul 13, 2015
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  4. RedMedicine

    RedMedicine Initiate (0) Jun 3, 2005 Oregon

    That's me. And you should go. Plus with your location you are like right there.

    Also, it sounds like your wife gets multiple stops. Maybe you could convince her to swing by the Pelican Pub in Tillamook for a pint and a growler.
     
    #4 RedMedicine, Jul 13, 2015
  5. John_M

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

    Frankly, given the information you've provided, it's difficult for me to respond to your post/question.

    I'm a big IPA/DIPA myself, and I would also add that I've never been able to cultivate an appreciation for sour beers. I find them interesting, and I enjoy going to de Garde bottle release events (mostly for the bottle shares and guest taps, but I get a kick out of trying all the new de Garde stuff as well), but I'm primarily there to pick up bottles for friends and trading partners.

    In your OP, you mention that you like all kinds of beers, but you don't specifically mention wild ales/sours. That's why I'm having a problem answering your question. In comparison to various Belgian gueuze and lambics I've had over the years, de Garde stuff isn't super sour, and the amount of fruit they somehow manage to cram into their barrel aged wild ales is truly amazing. That being said, if you don't like sours at all, then maybe visiting the tasting room in Tillamook isn't going to be such a fun time for you.

    I would never call de Garde beers "meh," but if I was out on the coast, and I didn't plan to pick up any bottles at the brewery tasting room (pretty hard tio imagine, but sometimes they do run out), then I would definitely skip de Garde.

    Wherever you end up going, have fun and enjoy your stay.
     
    #5 John_M, Jul 13, 2015
  6. vurt

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

    Do you like sour/wild/funky ales? If you do, then go to De Garde and drink deeply and ask yourself why you waited so long.

    Is your palate sophisticated enough? Shrug. I can't answer that. Are you willing to try new things, or would you prefer to stick with things you have a better idea that you'll be happy with? You mentioned Rogue, Pelican, and Rusty Truck, and I wouldn't say that De Garde has much in common with any of those. Your mileage may vary.

    As an IPA/DIPA drinker, you might like De Garde's "Hose" beers. (Pronounced "hose-uh" to rhyme with the Gose style of beers they are based on.) They tend to have a fantastic hop flavor. Very approachable. Extremely refreshing.
     
    #6 vurt, Jul 13, 2015
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  7. bmf823

    bmf823 Initiate (0) Jun 25, 2014 California

    Go! If you've been to the other places multiple times, you aren't missing out on anything new. de Garde is among the best at what they do, and even if you don't like the beers you try, at least you know you gave it a shot. That's a far better option than missing out on something that turns out to be among your favorites, especially if you get to go back every year.
     
    #7 bmf823, Jul 13, 2015
  8. fredmugs

    fredmugs Initiate (0) Aug 11, 2012 Indiana

    I'll be out that way for my first time this weekend. I've pretty much convinced the group to drop me at de Garde while they hit up the Cheese place. Since it's just you and your wife that may be a tougher sell. Or an easier one.
     
    #8 fredmugs, Jul 13, 2015
  9. rrock44

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

    Thanks for all the replies. I guess the big unknown is sour ales. Never had them. Don't drink too many Belgians, but I do enjoy Duvel. Enjoy the German/Austrian beers at gustav's in Portland.
     
    #9 rrock44, Jul 13, 2015
  10. OregonHopmonster

    OregonHopmonster Initiate (0) Jan 15, 2011 Oregon

    I think your first step should be going to a local store and buying a couple wilds/sours to see what you think of them. If you like them, then you will love De Garde as they make some of the best. If you cannot stand them then you should likely not make De Garde your one stop.

    The other thing I question is what you are looking to get out of your experience. The fact that you like Rusty Truck leads me to believe you are looking for a brewpub experience more than you are looking for high quality beers. De Garde does not have food, nor much even in the way of seating. No view either. If you go to De Garde it will be just for the beer. Since you mentioned Astoria, you might be better off going to either Fort George or Buoy. Fort George will have a wider range of beers, Buoy will have a better overall experience (combo of view, vibe, food, beer quality).

    My big solution is that you make two stops. De Garde is ridiculously close to Netarts. Pop in for a minute or two and grab a couple bottles to drink at the house. Then make a more informed decision about where you want to make your one big stop. Even the strictest of wives should understand this approach!
     
    #10 OregonHopmonster, Jul 13, 2015
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  11. rrock44

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

    Just looking for a good time. Food doesn't have to be part of the equation, but beer does (makes knickknack browsing more bearable). I just mentioned rusty truck because we were in Lincoln city and I found the beer better than mcmenamins. A little dive bar with their own brewery, what's not to like?

    Before we got happily married, the wife and I hit up Astoria - Ft. George, buoy, and wet dog were good times. (Did my wife pull a classic bait and switch on me - pretending to like all the beer trips, ha)

    Guess the obvious answer here is to go to the grocer, find some sours, try out, see if I like. If I like, go to de Garde. I guess the point of my post(s) was a curiosity if other ipas/dipa drinkers enjoyed de Garde's beers or not?

    Once again, I appreciate that de Garde brews high quality brews. They are well respected based on everything I have read about them here on BA. And they have sweet "whale" glasses, too (too bad they are sold out, that would be worth the stop right there).
     
    #11 rrock44, Jul 13, 2015
  12. Shmeal

    Shmeal Initiate (0) Nov 9, 2009 Oregon

    Glasses are back in stock to my knowledge.
     
    #12 Shmeal, Jul 13, 2015
  13. rrock44

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


    Maybe I'll see you there - if you look like your avatar, you'll be easy to spot - and I can send my wife to the cheese place :wink:
    We leave this sat and will be staying 8 days. Regardless, let me know how you liked the beers.
     
    #13 rrock44, Jul 13, 2015
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  14. rrock44

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

    Then it is settled then. Gotta go now. Shut this post down :wink:
     
    #14 rrock44, Jul 13, 2015
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  15. cherche

    cherche Pooh-Bah (2,476) Mar 27, 2013 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Great call...Tillamook is somewhat interesting but there isnt much to it. It ends up being about 5-10 minutes of looking at the cheese making process followed by waiting in line to sample cheese and then waiting in line to buy ice cream...you will have a lot more fun at DG.
     
    #15 cherche, Jul 13, 2015
  16. fredmugs

    fredmugs Initiate (0) Aug 11, 2012 Indiana

    Unfortunately I look exactly like that guy. The plan is to do some train trip Sunday and then hopefully de Garde / cheese place.
     
    #16 fredmugs, Jul 14, 2015
  17. miggs3030

    miggs3030 Initiate (0) Apr 27, 2013 New Mexico

    If you like sours you will love DeGarde. Some of the best wild beers in the nation. I am going for the first time this weekend.
     
    #17 miggs3030, Jul 14, 2015
  18. AlexBarillas

    AlexBarillas Initiate (0) Jan 21, 2015 California

    I'll be going to de Garde in a couple weeks just wondering are their bottles exclusive to their brewery and also their website doesn't have their currently available bottles where can I find that out?
     
    #18 AlexBarillas, Jul 15, 2015
  19. beefandbean22

    beefandbean22 Pundit (844) Oct 15, 2008 Oregon
    Trader

    Only a couple of bottle (Petit Desay and Bu Weisse) get any type of "regular" distribution. Check Facebook, they update what will be available on Wednesdays.
     
    #19 beefandbean22, Jul 15, 2015
  20. NedStarkravingmad

    NedStarkravingmad Initiate (0) Apr 26, 2015 Washington

    #20 NedStarkravingmad, Jul 15, 2015
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