Instead of popping out for his ritual breakfast, Dr. Stan decided to join Hector for Curry, his first of the tour. Of the many venues, it was a matter of finding one open at lunchtime in the downtown area. Tandoor Indian Kitchen offered an inexpensive Buffet but no Lamb was included. It was better than the alternative US fayre. Hector is determined not to eat Burgers or Pizza on this trip. The citizens of this land must eat something else?
Thereafter it was time to be tourists. The tourist information office was in the bowels of a building at the top end of the main square. We had our own agenda and so were not looking for – the usual – information. TI-Doris had nothing to offer us in the way of Bier information.
Why else do people come to Portland?
We were told that the building at the bottom of the square was the court house and this was the oldest building west of the Mississippi. The mother-shop for Columbia Sportswear was a block or so away. Their Hastineau shoe range is the most comfortable Hector has ever worn. Columbia have stopped the line, Hector was after something similar. Even Dr. Stan was interested. The range on offer was pathetic, cheap and nasty, well not cheap. A rather neat top was spotted for Marg, a new range, not available in the UK yet. Rather than carry it around all day, we agreed I would return later.
Heading northwards towards Union Station we passed the Lan Su Chinese Garden. Approaching the station the final stretch was occupied by vagrants. In San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighbourhood where our hotel was located, we passed through the community of street dwellers on quite a few occasions, all African American. In Portland the vagrants were all of European origin.
Union Station stood out from every building in Portland, this had style. We had to confirm our train time for Friday. Checking in was recommended two hours before? Really? The lobby/ticket hall impressed. No vagrants permitted here.
Portland’s Steel Bridge is surely deserving of a grander name? Trains run along the lower deck, road traffic on top.
Steel Bridge didn’t open whilst we were in the vicinity, though a bridge further upstream did.
Steel Bridge crosses the Willamette River which joins the Columbia River on the northern limits of Portland. Here the Columbia forms the state border with Washington. At some 70km from the sea, I still find it strange to see such large ships this far inland. However, in 1969 I did sail up the Parana River, a tributary of the Rio de la Plata (Argentine), and a considerably further distance to Rosario.
We walked south along the left bank of the Willamette before cutting west and back to the square in the downtown area. Whilst Hector fetched the top from Columbia, Dr. Stan took himself to a well known coffee chain. I joined him thereafter for an Iced Coffee. How many needless calories can one add to a coffee, and why no crockery? Surely, if one is paying this much for a coffee to sit in, then they can at least provide a cup? Enough of this, it was Bier o’clock.
It was backup to Slabtown, 10 Barrel Brewing Co. was the first stop. Occupying the corner of the block, not as large as some venues we had already seen. We took seats at the bar, Stephanie served us, Boise Idaho – was displayed on her t-shirt. I wonder what happens there.
Cloudchaser at a mere 6.8%, a good session Bier strength to start the day. With Comet, a single hop IPA and 67 IBU this was a indeed a very fine start.
Apocalypse at the same abv followed, wtf? This West Coast IPA had the threshold IBU – 70. Slighlty hazy, and with a surprising hint of astringency, this Bier immediately hit the spot. The taste was – so sharp. We have a winner.
Tearing ourselves away, we crossed the street to Rogue, a familiar name, indeed the only known Portland Bier which Hector has previously recorded. Brutal IPA, 6.3% dry, hoppy, amber ale was first had at Birrifugio Travstevere (Roma, Italia). Whilst – The Source – is across the river at the Rogue Eastside Pub and Pilot Brewery, I had to have it given that I was finally in Portland.
It was time to get a bit silly. The range of Hop IPAs at progressive abv had to be sampled. 6 Hop IPA at 6.66% was near enough my preferred abv. This was even – drier – than the Brutal IPA.
Two and move on has been the model, except for the last port of call. I decided to cleanse the palate and sneak in something approaching a Kriek variant, I hoped. Sour can come close. The bottled Marionberry Sour at 6.5% was fit for purpose but not as sour as a quality Belgian Kriek.
Back across the street, it all became very confusing. Adjacent to 10 Barrel, Google had Brew Group PDX, on the ground it is called Bier Bike (Back Pedal Brewing Co.) Established in 2015, it was a bit of a fluke that we went in. Closing at 19.00 we made it, just. In addition to chatting to the barman, we watched their very own canning machine in action. Canned Bier offers a versatility for packing, storing and recycling compared to glass bottles. The sun is also less likely to get at the Bier.
Floka Rado at 5.4% is a hazy IPA featuring Eldorado hops. Light, hazy, floury – was noted.
Baseball caps I dislike despite owning a few, and have never understood the high fronted – Trucker Hats, anyway, six days into this trip and no t-shirts. Embroidered polo shirts do not appear to be de rigeur over here, yet the hats have embroidery.
Having discussed the canning machine, a sample of Summer Breeze came our way. At 5.9%, 24 IBU, this golden ale had a decent bite, however, I recorded it as – a nearly Bier.
The guys here were most amenable, I wish them well, they have lots of competition on their doorstep, but the Beer-Bike does mean they have their produce on display when chaps hire it for whatever.
It was Dr. Stan who suggested Kells Brewery next. This involved a walk of a few blocks to the west and across a highway. Had I known more about Kells in advance, I may not have been so willing.
Hector is in an Irish Bar, on the day I choose to wear – a tap. Inevitably, there was an alternatively signed tap on the wall. We’re in the States, nobody would recognise that Hector’s allegiance lay elsewhere.
The barman gave us samples. Kells IPA at 6.5% kicked things off. Gold, with a slight haze, I have no tasting notes. It was either nothing special, else I was distracted by the quantity of whisky on offer. I write – whisky – the bottle of Auchentoshan was distilled about 2km from Hector’s House. The near ubiquitous – Ballantine’s – could not be found on the shelf, the barman said he had better order another. Almost every bar/restaurant on the planet has a bottle of Ballantine’s, also distilled not far from Hector’s House.
Tropical Hazy IPA at 6.8% was the next Bier. Featuring – Citrus and Guava – this bright orange, hazy IPA was totally – in the style – absolutely beautiful.
Good choice, Dr. Stan.
Dr. Stan ordered Irish Stew, always a waste of good ingredients, IMHO. Anna/Leanna regaled us with the story of how she tried to study in Scotland, Glasgow first, then St Andrews. Tried to, I conclude she was not successful. High standards in Scottish educational establishments then.
We were given a sample of something – Mango, Experimental – no abv was forthcoming –
We don’t have a name for it yet. Cloudy, orange, less fizzy and chewy – was noted. We’ll never know what it was.
Going home was the sensible thing to do, four breweries visited today, Hector even appears to have found a bus home, though why the LG thought we were one the other side of Couch Park baffles. Instead we retraced our steps, back to the cluster of breweries we had come from.
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Plocalypse (sic) – to the tune of – Metropolis (Motörhead) was becoming an earworm. There had to be more.
Straight into 10 Barrel, there was time for one, we had more. Two visits today, unless we find something even better, Hector will be back for even more.
The Brewpubs and restaurants visited today:
10 Barrel Brewing Portland – 1411 NW Flanders St, Portland, OR 97209
BrewGroup PDX / Back Pedal Brewing Co. – 1425 NW Flanders St, Portland, OR 97209
Rogue Pearl Public House – 1339 NW Flanders St, Portland, OR 97209
Kells Brewery – 210 NW 21st Ave, Portland, OR 97209
Tandoor Indian Kitchen – 406 SW Oak St., Portland Oregon 97204