Herr Schneider – has become my morning greeting from Dr. Stan, and up to thrice as – good night. So it goes. The Good Doctor had us booked on train 5518 at 11.55 from Eugene to Albany. The journey time was fifty minutes, our shortest journey of the trip, and today’s train was scheduled to be a bus. We still had to check in early as is the Amtrak way, and had to manhandle our own bags to the bus, disgraceful.
It would still be another two hours before we could check in to the Super 8 Albany motel which is located on the edge of town, near the airport. Initially I thought the airport would be walkable from our hotel and so getting from there to downtown would not be an issue. Alas, not the case. I noted the number for Anytime Taxi posted on the outside of the window of the closed ticket hall, a smart move.
There are three brewpubs in downtown Albany, 3 Sheets does not open on a Sunday, indeed, it would not re-open until 16.00 on Thursday. The nearest open venue to the station was No Rails Ale House, not a brewpub, but well regarded judging by other sources. The fifty taps offered multiple examples of the classic Bier styles. We could easily have spent days in here.
In the UK one would expect to find quite a crowd developing by 13.00, No Rails Ale House was empty. Mein Host was about to pour his first pints of the day. The ColdFire (Eugene, Oregon) Brewpub was visited two days previously, their Bier impressed, time to try another. Citra Enlightenment at 5.3% and 45 IBU did not disappoint. Gold, with a chill haze only, this was sharp tasting, yet a gentle start to the day in terms of abv. The hops were full on, of course.
A few more customers drifted in, but not before the Hector had time to photograph the bar.
The next Bier up was another from Rogue Ales (Portland, Oregon). Hazelutely Choctabulous at 5.7% and 51 IBU looked as if it had been named to seduce the Hector. Nut and Chocolate flavours? A definite – Wow! – was noted. This Bier was exactly as described.
The barman was impressed by the purpose of our visit, bona fide Bier Travellers. He confirmed that 3 Sheets would remain closed during our stay, and suggested, as quite a few have, that we must visit Corvallis.
A taxi was ordered to take us out to the motel, as we prepared ourselves for departure, so Mein Host presented us with bottle opener / key rings labelled – No Rails Ale House. I wonder how many thousands of kilometres these will subsequently travel. This was a wonderful bar, worth getting off the train in Albany just to visit this alone.
Brent took us to Super 8 Albany motel on the outskirts of the city. Knowing that we would require a lift back to town in a few minutes, we asked him to wait. He did, but told us that it was in our best interest to phone him again for a separate booking. Super 8 is part of cluster of hotels and drive through food outlets in the proximity of the airport. A free breakfast and heated swimming pool were advertised. On check in, nobody mentioned anything about the pool being heated. After yesterdays icy plunge in Eugene, maybes aye, maybes no. Room 223, to myself, luxury.
We were hungry, so perhaps we should have taken advantage of the nearby venues, but we were soon on our way back to downtown Albany. We only had two venues to visit: Calapooia Brewing Company and DeLuxe Brewing Co., both on the same street and minutes apart. Brent was sure that Calapooia would be serving food. He parked up outside the brewery and insisted on phoning them to make sure.
Calapooia was busy, so this is where the good people of Albany spend their Sunday afternoons. There was very much a pub atmosphere. A band were about to start in the far right hand corner, yee ha. Calapooia were reportedly open until 21.00, DeLuxe would close at 18.00. The plan was to eat here, get along the road, and maximise our time in both venues. It looked like an early night.
We took a table mid-room to the left. Buffalo Wings fitted in with Hector’s strict self imposed diet. These were washed down with Riparian IPA at 6.5%. Amber, dry, the hops were not – in the face. I was hoping we would do better, later.
The band were playing both types of music: country and western. Dr. Stan was not giving much away, when does he ever? Hector was happy to move along the country road.
Thurston, who is called Thurston? Hector saw Thurston Moore twice last year, and even posted video footage of the man performing with Malcolm Mooney (CAN) at the Barbican on a certain medium.
If that wasn’t exciting enough, when I spotted a classic – box bridge – the heart skipped a beat. Why these fascinate, who knows? I once built a balsa wood bridge with a design out of my head, this is similar to what I created, some fifty years ago.
DeLuxe Brewing was easy to spot, if only we could find the entrance.
*
Spartan does not begin to describe this place. With the brew plant, a parked vehicle, games tables and a bar, no wonder we found a few families ensconced when we walked in. A solitary Doris was manning the show. With ten taps to choose from, the first Bier chose itself. Diabolic IPA at 6.3% with 60 IBU is dark gold, hazy, and looks chewy. The Bier was a bit hard on the palate, I suspected Simcoe hops, and as has been the way on this trip, the Bier had no astringency. Dr. Stan reliably informed me the hops are: Nougat, Cascade, and Chinook. Why did I guess?
One could not help but notice the sign for Howard’s Hopped Gin. Why is Howard haunting us? $34+ a bottle, aye right. A free sample was available. People are increasingly drinking Gin, a new fad to replace Alcopops? Hector has never tasted Gin before. It was sweet and one could taste the spirit, as for the hops…still waiting. Sorry, Howard, you would prefer a pint of GD.
The choice of Bier was not overwhelming, well we had seen a board with fifty earlier. It was time to give the palate a rest from the hop. Dark Danger 
at 7.8% with 100 IBU had to be tried. My first ever “CDA” – Cascadian Dark Ale, it was a muddy brown / cloudy amber, and dry as…
Why did McEwan’s Export (Scotland) come to mind? It was probably the malt coming though.
DeLuxe was emptying as closing time approached, eventually it was just us and Doris. She did us the honour permitting herself to be immortalised here.
I doubt if Hector has ever been last out of a pub this early.
We walked back along the freight railway to Calapooia, it was all happening here. The band had grown, two horn players I had not been aware of earlier. The music had changed, blues and jazz, the other two types of band music. Last night at Sam Bond’s Brewing (Eugene) I was impressed by the sight and sound of the five string electric Bass. Behold – Brian – and his custom six string Bass.
We took stools at a high table, Hector with his back to the band, Dr. Stan opposite. Bier was sorted. The “Pine Bender” Dry Hop Pale at 6.4% had the hop hit I was looking for. Another dry, amber ale, with a chill haze. As we were obviously staying on I will admit to having no idea how many of these were consumed until I gave the taste-buds a rinse in preparation for tomorrow, and turned to Cider. The Bright Cider (Two Towns Ciderhouse, Corvallis) at 6.7% did the job.
The female vocalist had finished her set, the music evolved. The band were now – playing – this was approaching electronic Prog Rock, Hector was both in his element and heading towards – the zone.
For inexplicable reasons, the drummer reminded me of Rod Stewart. Derek Zane, the guitarist was excellent however, it was Bill on harmonica who was leading us into the realm of what Hector seeks in – Musik. He was plugged in, but to what? Where were these wonderful sounds coming from?
In the meantime there was a charming couple sitting adjacent to us at our table.
I like your camera – was the ice breaker. Indeed, Hector always carries a proper compact camera, but musicians do have a habit of moving hence the blurring. The lady was German in origin, from Trier. Dr. Stan and Hector know Trier and its hinterland well having made many a trip to Traben-Trarbach. How long will it take for a Trier page to appear in Bier-Traveller? There comes a point when Hector’s Deutsch starts to flow, and so it was. Hector speaking Deutsch, at length, ganz normal.
Bis nächste Mal an der Porta Negre – was my parting shot. But that was much later. As the band put their gear away, so we honoured by being joined by some members. The main man was keen to know who these strangers were in town.
Saw you guys come up on a cab earlier, you’ve been here all day – was his address to Dr. Stan. I invited – Bill the harmonica – to join us, we chatted for ages. An oscillator is how his magical sounds were created. The conversation developed into a history of the USA, I recall him bringing – disease – into the conversation, whilst in keeping with my first Bier, I introduced – riparian. With specific reference to the Colorado, Hector taught the – law of the river – for many years. The trombone player also sat with us.
A chap from Richmond who said he was homeless spent time with us. Finally, Mein Host joined us, the (Irish) Gaelic brass stud on the bar was mentioned.
What an afternoon-evening. Is it like this every week?
It was after closing time, Hector was up for a late lock-in, nae chance. Brent was summoned, Brent arrived in good time and took us home. For Hector the night was not quite over.
Taco Bell was across from the Super 8. The front door was locked but there was still a line of drive through cars at the rear. Having attracted someone inside I asked the question of the moment:
How do I order without a car?
I’ll talk the manager.
Hector was served at the counter.
Meat & Spicy – was my request.
The serving chap spoke a complicated language involving many meats, – Burrito – I recognised. Beef XXL GSB ($4.79, no sales tax) – is what I left with, the music was still playing – KT Tunstall.
Back at Super 8, I managed to translate my order as – XXL Grill Stufft Burrito.
A pound of Mince, a gallon of Cheese, who could eat all this? It was truly disgusting. Do they not have Donner Kebab here?
The bar and brewpubs open today:
No Rails Ale House – 117 SE 1st Ave #105, Albany, OR 97321
Calapooia Brewing Company – 140 NE Hill St, Albany, OR 97321
DeLuxe Brewing Company – JWQ2+MM Albany, OR 97321