Beeriffic: You Know Urine Portland…

Packed well for the flight - a suitcase within a suitcase.

Started the flight on American Airlines - Philly to Portland OR – and at 30,000 ft enjoyed

New Belgium | Voodoo Ranger | Ale, Pale, Spiced | 7.0 | 7.0

[brewer] [brand] [style] [ABV] [score on 0-10]

Also set next to Micky (Melchiondo) Ween, of the eponymous band.

We were going to the Portland OR area, on a somber note, to pay respects to my wife’s aunt. That being said, we all enjoyed the family, food and beer in Portland.

After arriving, the next day – 8/17 - Took a trolley tour – in true tourist fashion.

The first family get together was late afternoon at the Yards Ale House in Portland. Cameron was a great host, and made some good suggestions (not that much I’ve ever had at Yards was bad).

Tried these:

Great Divide | Strawberry Rhubarb Sour | Ale, Sour, Fruit | 6.2 | 9

Double Mountain | Kölsch | Kölsch | 5.1 | 8

Gigantic | Kölschtastic | Kölsch | 5 | 7.5

10 Barrel | Cucumber Crush | Ale, Sour, Fruit | 5 | 7.5

Culmination | Sour Power Flower Hour | Ale, Sour, Fruit | 5.5

Melvin | 2x4 | Ale, IPA, Imperial | 10 | 8.5

North Coast Brewing | Old Rasputin | Ale, Stout, Russian Imperial | 9 | 9.1

Stone Brewing | Double Bastard Ale 2015 | Ale, Brown, American | 11 | 9

Steenberge, Brouwerij van | Tripel Van De Garre | Ale, Belgian Tripel | 11 | 8.5

Then stopped at Annex & Al's Den, for a

McMenamins | Blackberry Rhubarb pie | Ale, Sour, Fruit | 4.11 | 8.0

While walking passed a store with a sale on the GrowlerWerks pressurized growler. This must be purchased if you are serious about beer!!

Then lastly at a place I haven’t been to since 2011 - Bridgeport Brewing. Hello old friend.

Bridgeport | Old Knucklehead | Ale, Barleywine | 9.2 | 9

Started the morning of 8/18 with a nice walk, to check out the area. What had changed so much in Portland is the aroma. Or smell. OR stench is more like it. A bit east of the area where we were staying (Canopy by Hilton, which is a different Euro-themed departure for the otherwise stalwart chain) was awash in the odor of urine.

I don’t mean the faint whiff of cat piss, I mean like – if you closed your eyes – you’d think you were kneeling in front of a urinal in a condemned mens’ room in Grand Central Station, before the 1998 restoration. Portland – you need to do something about the homeless population. And not “more affordable housing” – these people have no money, many appear to be mentally ill, as well as drug-addicted. Intervene, get them off the streets, get them jobs. Plenty of people hiring.

But I digress; like any true beer fan, I soldiered on.

Once done mapping the urine odor density...

...stopped in at Pints, for a taster, not pints. Except for the Steel Bridge Stout.
That was a pint.
At Pints.
American pints.
Not Imperial pints, at Pints.
I wonder if there's a brewpub in the EU called "472 Centiliters"
Although Pints is now Ascendant brewing.

Pints | Steel Bridge | Ale, Stout, American | 5.2 | 7.5

Pints | Pink Peppercorn pepper Saison | Ale, Saison | 6.2 | 6.8

Pints | Even Bretter than IPA | Ale, IPA, Sour | 6.4 | 7.5

Pints | Awesome Sauce | Ale, IPA, New England | 5.2 | 8

Pints | Strawberries are my Jam | Ale, Sour | 5.1 | 8.5

Pints | Spruce Tip Trip | Ale, IPA, Tripel, Spiced | 5.2 | 9

Lunchtime was at the Rogue taphouse

Rogue | Hop Trippin | Ale, Pale, American | 5.8 | 8 (Free as tap kicked!)

Rogue | Rolling Thunder | Ale, Stout, Imperial | 14.4 | 9.5

At the end of the day - after the service – had a

Pelican Brewpub | Kiwanda Cream Ale | Ale, Cream | | 7.5

The next day was another family day with lunch at the “new” (to me) Double Mountain Brewery location in Portland.

Years ago I had their Tahoma Kriek, which uses Rainier cherries, hence the yellow color instead of red.

Double Mountain Brewery Portland | Tahoma Kriek | Ale, Belgian Kriek | 9.9 | 10

Double Mountain Brewery Portland | Devil's Kriek | Ale, Belgian Kriek | 9.2 | 8.5

Double Mountain Brewery Portland | Citraf#ck | Ale, IPA, American | 6.7 | 8.2

Double Mountain Brewery Portland | Pêche Cuvée | Ale, Belgian Lambic Style | 8.7 | 9

Was able to get some to take home.

Went to a favorite - Bailey's Taproom for oddly enough beer 10,100, having had beer #1,900 there in 2011. Cameron was there this evening; he also told us about the new place called the Upper Lip, above them. They have a similar setup, with an insane bottle list.

Hair of the Dog | Doggie Claws | Ale, Barleywine, American | 11 | 8 [beer 10.100]

Jester King | RU55 | Ale, Belgian Flanders Red style | 7.3 | 8.

Half Acre | Deep Space | Ale, IPA, Imperial | 10 | 7.8

Boulevard | Bourbon Barrel Quad | Ale, Belgian Quadrupel Style | 11.2 | 9

Beaching Beaver | PB&J Blonde | Ale, Fruit | | 9

Went out for a midnight snack after this at the Little Bird Bistro. Delicious.

Also had

Wolves and People | Coneflower | Ale, IPA, Session | 7 | 7.8

But on a sad note, as we were walking out, noted the Tugboat Brewing sign. They are now apparently closed.

Next day 8/20 went shopping in Portland. Went to Powell's Bookstore of course. Stopped at von Ebert for lunch. Love the hog.

Von Ebert | Pilsner | Lager, Pilsner, German Pils | 4.9 | 8.5

Von Ebert | Das Dom | Kölsch Style | 4.7 | 6

Von Ebert | Table Biere | Ale, Belgian Table Beer Style | 3.6 | 9

Von Ebert | Entirely Porter | Ale, Porter, English | | 9.5

Von Ebert | Stratum | Ale, Sour, Kettle | 5.3 | 8

Von Ebert | O.P.M. | Ale, Stout, Imperial aged in bourbon Barrels | 12 | 9.5 | Aged with Ancho Chiles

Later in the day got a ride to Great Notion.

I had heard a lot about the place and decided to try all the beers; after all, UBER was doing the driving. Steve the bartender was a really good host.