Back in the Big City, Dr. Stan and Hector did their own thing for – brunch – today. I arranged to meet Dr. Stan at Migration Brewing after 14.00. TriMet ticket in hand, I headed east along East Burnside Street on Bus 20 as far as Laurelhurst Park. From there I walked down to India Oven which according to Google should have been open. A sign in the window said they now only open in the evenings. Why can businesses not update their media links? India Grill was a fifteen walk back up on East Burnside Street. 
India Grill, was open. I have yet to establish any connection between the two. I had spotted it earlier on the bus. Fish Curry had been my hope for the day, I had to accept Chicken Curry in two styles. One forced me to use superlatives in the write-up. Best tasting Curry of this trip, by far, again – so far.
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Migration Brewing Co. is a five minute walk due north of India Grill, decent planning then, or serendipity. Herr Schneider was greeted by Dr. Stan sitting in the large industrial unit style brewery. Mid afternoon on a Wednesday, there were only a handful of fellow imbibers.
Having arrived first, Dr. Stan was able to recommend the Mo-Haze-ic IPA at 6.1%, no post Curry – Cider – for Hector today. Behold, another full on milkshake-hazy Bier, this one featuring Mosaic hops. A quality Bier indeed, and a refreshing start to the day.
Our days have a pattern of starting very slowly with not a lot of conversation. By Brewery #3 each day things are usually in full swing. I am left to wonder what the atmosphere is like late on in the places we visit first. Last night at Rogue may have been the quietest end of day Bier of the trip, so far.
I had to move my seat momentarily, making way for the chap bringing barrels into brewery, these were empties. From their Gresham plant?
Lupulo – from – Hummulus Lupulis – the word for hops in many languages, and used by Hector when asking for Bier in non English speaking nations. My way of introducing Bier #2 – Luscious Lupulin IPA at 6.5% with a very appealing 77 IBU. This dark gold Bier only had a slight haze, after the – milkshake – there was less of an impact. However, it’s all about the flavours – Citrus and Pine – were noted. A – good bite – also.
Had we come here last, we could have done damage with the Mo-Haze-ic IPA. We were also not too far from home. Our next venue, Culmination Brewing, was not far, a ten minute walk to the north-west.
Culmination Brewing is another modern Brewery with Taproom, nae frills. With twenty one taps, plenty to choose from. Hector did not get past no. 2 on the board.
Having missed out on my Cider, a Sour would do the same job of cleansing the palate. Sour Flower at at 5.5% was suitably refreshing but a bit thin. Raspberry and Lime flavours were in the given description, a Belgian Framboise this was not. Still, it did the job.
Culmination was quiet during our visit apart from the monotonous rap that we had to endure. Why people find this appealing, Hector knows not. Who gives a – about whatever they are ranting on about? And what is skillful about stealing other people’s music for a backing track? Uncannily, when the noise ceased, it was Glasgow’s very own – Simple Minds – which followed. Yay!
Phaedrus IPA at 6.7% and a 55 IBU took Hector back to the hop. Dr, Stan assured me that five hops were present: Millennium, Galena, Simcoe, Mosaic and Citra. This was another full on IPA, and appreciated all the more having had the – Sour tweeny.
We walked the few blocks west then north to the MAX station then took the tram across the Willamette River, dropping us almost at the door of PINTS Brewing Company in Portland’s – Old Town. We were back in familiar territory having walked these streets last week. Not the most attractive of cities, I finally conclude.
PINTS is housed in an established brick building and actually resembled a – pub.
Taking our seats at the bar, Hector glanced at the board. The IPA was spotted, as I say, I had glanced.
Why did you order that? – asked Dr. Stan in a tone that was both dismissive and one of bewilderment.
Why not?
Hector’s – Even Bretter than IPA – at 6.4% and 60 IBU contained Citra, Motueka, Loral and Columbus Hops. What was not to like? Bloody hell! Martin was quick to tell me all the way from Blightly, within hours, that I have been enjoying Brett yeast for yonks in my favourite Hanssens Kriek (Belgium). This Bier was quite simply hideous. It tasted of sweaty sox, not that I … Anyway, avoid!
Dr. Stan then told me that he always avoids Brett yeast, Hector has learned the hard way. Having ordered it, I thought I had better drink it. It is possible to drink without tasting, anyone who uses a straw has practiced this. After a few more excruciating intakes, the Barman took sympathy and poured it away. That was a first and therefore not to be forgotten moment. There was no charge.
The replacement was so much better, but then anything would be. Seismic IPA at 6.1% and 77 IBU was going to be my second choice, it just arrived sooner. A hazy gold with Columbus, Amarillo, Cascade, and Simcoe hops, this was right on the button.
The final Bier was Awesome Sauce at 6.0% with 50 IBU. This New England IPA was in the seriously cloudy and thick category with full on hops, which remained a secret. It was therefore fate that led to me this wonderful Bier. NEIPA and – lactose – are terms I knew nothing of at the start of this trip. These are the positives, I now also know about Brett.
Six blocks west and two south took us to Deschutes Brewery Portland Public House, the joy of a grid street pattern. Who would build a town in such a rigid pattern? Deschutes had to be visited, the Taproom that constantly showed on Google without searching.
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Already we were back in the land of the single storey building. The brick exterior belied what lay inside, the land of wooden beams. The place was mobbed, stowed even, we table hopped one row from the bar. Once settled, service came quickly. Table service, such is the way of the well established downtown establishments.
We were given the menu – without food – Dr Stan required food. Once furnished with the appropriate menu, Chowder ($9.00) became his choice. Fisherman’s Wharf (San Francisco) feels like a lifetime ago.
Despite the twenty three taps which included two Cask versions, Hector – persuaded – Dr. Stan that we were only staying for one. Fruit Fight (6.7%, 60 IBU) a hazy, five hop Bier would have been Bier #2 had we stayed. 10 Barrel Brewing was now only five blocks away, Apocalypse was waiting, probably the best Bier we have had in Portland. In the end Dr. Stan took no persuading at all.
Hector’s choice – Inversion IPA – at 6.8% and a whopping 80 IBU is amber, clear, with a strong flavour. This was not the Bier for Hector whose mind was already on Apocalypse. The blend of hops here was not to my taste, or was this a reaction to the Awesome Sauce which had immediately preceded it at PINTS?
The – facilities – had to be inspected before departure. Rothsay Pier (Isle of Bute, Scotland) came to mind. Portland’s Court Building may well be the oldest stone building west of the Mississippi, I wonder if these are the oldest ceramic urinals?
The five minute walk to 10 Barrel Brewing was over in a flash, our third visit here during our five nights in Portland. This is our – local. The premises were busy but we still managed a table in front of the bar.
A week since we had Apocalypse, it had lost none of its edge given how many contemporaries we have sampled in the interim. This 6.8% West Coast IPA has all the dryness and flavours one seeks. 70 IBU is the same as Rowing Jack (Ale Browar, Polska), a long time favourite IPA.
The stop for Bus 20 on West Burnside Street was only five blocks away. With this bus running after 01.00 there was no fear of being stuck. Actually, it was only a half hour walk back to our accommodation on East Burnside Street. We had chosen well.
And so tomorrow, a train, hopefully a train this time, to Seattle (Washington). Our one day in Vancouver (Washington) was another highlight, let’s see what this even bigger city has to offer.
The Brewpubs and restaurant visited today:
Migration Brewing – Glisan – 2828 NE Glisan St, Portland, OR
Culmination Brewing – 2117 NE Oregon St, Portland, OR 97232
PINTS Brewing Company – 412 NW 5th Ave, Portland, OR 97209
Deschutes Brewery Portland Public House – 210 NW 11th Ave, Portland, OR 97209
10 Barrel Brewing Portland – 1411 NW Flanders St, Portland, OR 97209
India Grill – 2924 E Burnside St, Portland, OR 97214