Farewell to San Francisco
Booked on the Alaska Airlines flight to Portland OR departing at 12.10 and due at PDX at 13.49, I was surprised to find that it was – Virgin – who were flying us. We were sat in seats 3A and 3B, up front, courtesy once more of Dr. Stan Airways. Hector’s role is that of Passepartout. We had originally looked at taking the train to Sacramento for a couple of days then working our way up though Oregon. On realising that would mean many daylight hours spent travelling every couple of days, we dismissed long train journeys as waste of VDT. However, Portland to Seattle (Washington), our final stop, is manageable by train. TANSTAAFL – also comes to mind. After the next three nights in Portland we go south to Eugene then Albany for two nights each, back to Portland for two more, then northwards to Seattle. The hope is that when we arrive back in Portland a week today, we will know our way around.
On touchdown in Portland, I spotted an F-16 in a hangar, the first I have ever seen – in the flesh. The arrivals hall was immense, what were buskers doing in here? So much for security. Indeed, at San Francisco Airport we were allowed to place our hand luggage on the belt for scanning without a numpty telling us we had to. Columbia sportswear had an outlet in the arrivals hall, more on them soon, hopefully.
With a $5.00 day ticket purchased for the MAX, we headed for downtown Portland. Crossing the Steel Bridge was a novelty, photos required. We alighted at the correct stop for the AAE Portland Downtown Value Inn (415 South West Montgomery Street) but somehow ended up wandering around the full block before entering. Distances on a map are only fully appreciated with boots on the ground. Being near the university was my reasoning for the number of food stalls opposite the hotel. We wouldn’t starve, especially as – Curry – was on offer. Tomorrow.
The Green line took us up to the short distance to the north west of Portland and Slabtown where there is a cluster of microbreweries. This is where we planned to be for at least two of the next three days/nights. Hector has a cunning plan for Thursday which will take us across the state boundary.
We had to start somewhere, our first Oregon Bier was at Breakside Brewery – NW Slabtown. Breakside IPA at 6.3% 73 IBU was the obvious Bier to start. This amber West Coast IPA was dry, very dry, and had no astringency which one fears. I came to realise at this point that astringency in the rear of the throat has not been an issue, so far, in this trip. What do the brewers in the USA know that those in Polska do not? 70 IBU (Rowing Jack, Ale Browar, Polska) has set the standard for bitterness. Bier in this range is usually savoured.
The brewpub was remarkably busy for a late afternoon school day. With seating outside for those who needed to be there, the setting was less industrial compared to the equivalent venues in San Francisco, though already there was a sense of this 
area being transformed to residential. Who would want to live with half a dozen microbreweries on one’s doorstep? And already, the prices looked better.
Next up was Thirst Trap at 6.1%, 69 IBU. A hazy IPA, once the gas settled there was a big grapefruit hit. This Bier was astonishing! In the style, with the flavours one dreams of. This was the first batch brewed of this – Seasonal Bier. It was so good, there was only one thing we could do, move on to the next venue.
Dr. Stan came up with the Lompoc Tavern. It was little more than a block away, the feeling of being in a residential area was very much to the fore. I was assured that once upon a time this was the site of Lompoc Brewing. With the brewery now off site, this should have pleased the upstairs neighbours. Not everyone enjoys the odour of brewer’s yeast.
I had to look up Pamplemousse, it’s a type of grapefruit. This should follow Breakside’s Thirst Trap quite nicely.
Pamplemousse Citra IPA at 6.2% proved to be a worthy Bier. Dark gold with a slight haze the grapefruit did indeed come across. With a 70 IBU this again was right up there on the scale of bitterness.
Having been bunged up nasally since I got off the ‘plane in San Francisco, the taste-buds have been struggling. Finally, there was a sign that the taste-buds were reawakening.
Dank – was a term first encountered at Pacific Brewing in San Francisco. It does not exactly sound appealing to a commentator from the moist, temperate west coast of Scotland. It may have been warmer here in Portland, however, the vegetation was comparable to that in the lowlands of the UK.
Enter the Dank, another IPA, this time at a lower 5.8%. Hazy, and getting closer to the New England style, the citrus came across, however the lower abv was reflected by the lack of body.
It was three and a bit blocks to Lucky Labrador Beer Hall. I had the address, I had the direction, could I find it? We were back in more industrial territory. There was a well lit up bar, this was not it. In we went to ask the punters, OK, across some derelict ground. Quimby, I have only ever seen this name at the start of a cartoon series. Was this named after the great man?
The Labrador Beet Hall was quite a place, huge. A few customers sat at one of the long bench tables to our left as we entered. We chose a more central table. There were tables everywhere, one wonders if this place ever gets full. The barman steered us towards WAG IPA at 6.8% which proved to be a decent choice. Orange-Gold in colour with a full haze, again this was approaching the New England style. Mosaic and Citra hops were mentioned possibly by Dr. Stan from another source.
We were well relaxed, this would be our last port of call today, our third. One brewery yesterday, three today, so much for four each day. OK, we had travelled a fair distance to get here. I studied the t-shirts, the quality did not justify the price. More WAG, this time there was a tangy taste. The hops were coming, this could be amazing, on any other day I would be sending texts home raving @WAG.
We’ve had some very good Bier today. Five days so far, as long as any sensible European Bier trip. We have only just begun, but are pacing ourselves well. Two things I have to mention: Hector was last out of Lucky Labrador, and I found a timely bus leaving from a couple of blocks away which took us home.
The brewpubs visited today:
Breakside Brewery – NW Slabtown – 1570 NW 22nd Ave, Portland, OR 97210
Lompoc Tavern – 620 NW 23rd Ave, Portland, OR 97210
Lucky Labrador Beer Hall – QUIMBY 1945, NW Quimby St, Portland, OR 97209