Dave Knows Portland

Archives for February 2009

Seattle Beer News visits Portland, the Beer Paradise

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Seattle Beer News blogger Geoff Kaiser visited Portland recently and wasted no time getting around to beer.

Portland Paradise – Part 1 begins, immediately after checking into the hotel, with a visit to Hopworks Urban Brewery, where he and his companion Jeanne enjoy several beers, including the IPA, Doppelbock, Stout, Abominable Winter Ale and Sasquatch Strong Ale, but have some advice for the bartender:

STOP WASTING SO MUCH BEER WHEN YOU FILL YOUR GROWLERS!!!! We watched this guy fill 3 or 4 growlers, and he impatiently just let it overflow (quite a bit) to fill, rather than use a tube or be patient and let it settle. That’s just wrong.

Saturday, after the requisite Portland-visitor pilgrimage to Powell’s Books, our visitors stop by the Deschutes Portland brew pub. The beer they enjoy most is Big Red Oak, which judging from the description below, will require a sampling by yours truly soon.

This was essentially an Imperial version of their Cinder Cone Red Ale, which is then aged in Syrah and Cabernet wooden casks. This big beer was outstanding, with a dominant base of caramel malts mixed with citrus hops and just a bit of oak and dark fruit. It was incredibly smooth, and I’d never guess that it would approach its ABV of 9.8% (dangerous…).

And as every rigorous beer vacation demands, a 75 minute massage followed.

Portland Paradise – Part 2 finds our heros, post massage, sharing the sampler tray at Lucky Lab NW. Then it’s off to Bailey’s Taproom, and ultimately, after a long rest at the hotel, dinner at Higgin’s where they are delighted to score some Hair of the Dog Cherry Adam From the Wood to compliment the apple and cherry tart with brandy ice cream (a trip to Higgins is in the cards for yours truly too!).

Portland Paradise – Part 3 begins in Beaverton, at Raccoon Lodge. Portland craft beer pioneer, and owner of the lodge, Art Larrance sat down with Geoff to talk beer. One of Cascade Brewing’s sour ales, The Mouton Rouge was on tap.

Last stop, John’s Market in Multnomah Village, to peruse the awesome selection of beers: Holy crap. Holy crap. Holy crap. This place has an insane amount of beer available.

Read the rest at Seattle Beer News:

Portland is an Indie Mecca story, this time in the LA Times

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The LA Times music blog, Pop & Hiss, visits musician M. Ward, who calls Portland home, in the post M. Ward: Pursuing his own Oregon trail.

I’m not familiar with Mr. M. Ward’s oeuvre, which the article examines, but I am familiar with the Portland stereotypes the story throws around willy nilly. Below are some examples (my emphasis of the stereotypes):

“We don’t use the word ‘grande’ here,” said the barista at Albina Press, one of the latte-obsessed Pacific Northwest’s many shrines to the perfectly pulled cup. “That’s a proprietary term of the Starbucks company. Do you mean ‘large’?”

Every spot in the large, airy room was taken by someone hunched over a laptop or a book. This cross section of students, unidentified “creatives” and home-office refugees would not tolerate the noise of a journalist quizzing a musician.

And then make sure to read the whole subsection titled An indie mecca; I’d have to quote the whole thing.

Every Saturday the 14th is a Van-Holiday

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Van HolidayIn addition to Valentine’s Day and Oregon’s birthday, celebrate your inner rockstar this Saturday – it’s a Van-Holiday!

Van-Holiday is the brainchild of my friend Dan, who by most standards celebrates his inner rock star every day. But he wants the rest of us to have our chance too.

Van-Holiday is the celebration of your Inner Rock Star!

The guy who can belt out anthems that change the world. The woman whose voice melts hearts and calls birds and small woodland creatures. The deadbeat, piece of used jet trash that can’t remember what town he’s in and never packs his own suitcase.

Each of us has one . . . simmering deep inside, waiting for that opportunity to dance on the table and release our demo.

February 14, 2009: Oregon’s Birthday, Pierogies, and Zwickelmania

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sesquiValentine’s Day is also the anniversary of Oregon’s admission into the union.

Celebrations of Oregon’s 150th Birthday are taking place throughout the state. In Portland the Oregon Historical Society is offering free admission all weekend, the library is hosting sundry events, and the Architectural Heritage Center has put together a program illustrating 150 years of Portland architecture. (Around the Sun has assembled a list of free events this weekend, including these and more.)

But the big events are the first annual Best Pierogi Competition at Krakow Koffeehouse and Cafe (3990 N Interstate) Saturday at 12:30pm, which I wrote about yesterday, and the Oregon Brewers Guild sponsored Zwickelmania.

What the heck is Zwickelmania?

This President’s Day weekend, dozens of Oregon breweries and brewpubs will open their doors to visitors for the state’s first annual Zwickelmania, a one day event similar to the open houses held by Oregon wineries over Memorial Day and Thanksgiving weekends.

Zwickelmania, hosted by the Oregon Brewers Guild (OBG), is a free statewide event that offers visitors a chance to tour Oregon breweries, meet the brewers and sample their favorite beers – all during Oregon’s Sesquicentennial weekend.

What the heck is a Zwickel? Chad Kennedy from Laurelwood Brewing, beer in hand, explains:

My sweetheart and I are going to have a fantastic weekend.

But there’s no excuse not to have a fantastic weekend this year, even if you don’t have a sweetheart.

Celebrate Oregon’s Sesquicentennial and Valentines Day with Pierogies

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Krakow Koffeehouse and Cafe (3990 N. Interstate) hosts its first annual Best Pierogi Competition this Saturday, February 14th at 12:30pm.

The contest honors Oregon’s birthday (150 years young!) and Portland’s Polish community, which has been thriving for 130 years in North Portland.

From the Portland Sentinel:

Bring your freshly cooked pierogi plate for The Judgement.
The competition will judge entries in three categories:
a) Pierogi Russkie (core ingredients of cheese, cabbage and potatoes).
b) Pierogi Kapusta (core ingredients mushrooms and a meat)
c) Best “Martha Stewart pierogi.” The best production of one Martha’s public recipes.
Martha Stewart, of course, born Martha Kostyra, the business magnate, publisher and TV host, is of Polish ancestry. Entrants placing hand saws or files in the batter will be automatically disqualified.