They will of course be quite beer/bike/food/tobacco/outdoors-centric because that is my interest range. So if your into that sort of thing, this may just be for you. If not, you might find it boring.
Well here is the first "FYI" post about Portland. Seattle, Vancouver, and Saskatoon posts to follow... someday.
Beer-y Stuff
Rogue Distillery and Public House
$$$$Probably the most well known and successful of the breweries in Oregon and Cascadia for that matter, is Rogue. This pub is located downtown Portland and features their full line of Rogue Ales and Spirits. I had a pleasant time sitting at the bar and was always comfortable chatting with my neighbors. Service was a little surly and slow, but the beverages are really good.
The price was a little bit steep with a pint prices around $5-6.
To Try: All Rogue Farms Ales, Chipotle Ale and Shakespear Stout, Dad's Little Helper Black IPA, Brutal IPA, Imperial Stout.
Deschutes Brewpub
$$$These guys are located a few blocks south of Rogue, so if your looking to brewpub hop this is a pretty decent hood. Deschutes are based out of Bend, OR but they also brew some one offs at the Portland Brewpub. Atmosphere is good, its a big place as well which is awesome if your looking for a place to go with a group of people, but watch out... it gets busy.
Service was awesome from all staff, and I was also fortunate to be there during the fresh hops season(Fall) so I got to try some fresh hops beers on draught and cask.
To Try: Black Butte Porter, Mirror Pond Pale, Chain Breaker White IPA, Red Chair NWPA, and any of the fresh hops/cask beers.
Cascade Brewing Barrel House
$$$$I was recommended to go to this brewery when I told someone that my favorite style/conditioning technique was sour and barrel aged beers. I hit this world class place up and had a couple small glasses of sours, it was amazing, but not cheep for the beer. They have a great selection of draught sours aged in all sorts of barrels and even have two beers that are tapped "live from the barrel", meaning they are poured straight from that barrel to you snifter... for optimal flavor!
To Try: Either of the beers "Live from the barrel", Wild Elderberry, Vlad the Imp Aler, and Kriek Ale.
Green Dragon Bistro & Brew Pub
$$$Owned and operated by Rogue Ales, this brewpub/taproom boasts an eclectic mix of beers on 62 taps. It has decent prices and happy hour specials. I am not sure how often they do this but when I visited they had a Green Flash Brewing(San Diego, CA) tap takeover with 20 taps devoted to one of my favorite brewers. Needless to say I liked the pub, but watch out, they do not list the serving sizes of their pints on the menu. Be careful to either ask what the glass size is or be open to receive any sized glass.
To Try: Anything by Green Flash Brewing
Amnesia Brewing
$$I loved the vibe at this place, a great patio with afternoon sun, an open air brewery that is clearly visible from the bar, friendly staff, and a head brewer that is always willing to have a beer and talk shop. Not much else I can say really, awesome place.
To Try: Copacetic IPA, Slow Train Porter, or any fresh hop beer.
Hopworks Urban Bike Bar
$$Located on one of Portlands busiest bike routes in the North East, this place has great vibe, awesome happy hour, and great pretzels! All the beers here are organic, and pretty good. They aren't my favorite brewer but they do a number of good beers. Be sure to check out the sweet merch they have(Really cool cycle caps, and jerseys)
To Try: Cascadian Secession Dark Ale, Ace of Spades IPA, Survival 7-Grain Stout, and any of the IPX single hops series.
APEX Beer Bar
$$$Sitting here right now as I write this post, listening to a playlist of a wide variety of awesome tunes and enjoying a fresh hop American Pale Ale. This place has a HUGE patio/outdoor seating area, 50 taps, lots of bottles, fair prices(relative to Canadian pint prices), and big screen tv's that show the current tap list... cool.
To Try: Anthing... I trust these folks to tap great beers(But if they have anything from Unibroue, drink that)
Food-y
Ford Food + Drink
$$$Located in Portland's South-East, this place is a great place for we; the traveler. Good coffee, pastries(Check the day olds if your stretched, they are still great), lots of seating and an open WiFi network. Leather bound seats on one side, a carpeted/pillowed area on another, bar, beer taps, wine, soup and sandwiches, this is a trendy little place to chat with your hommies from around the world while waiting for happy hour.
The Hilt
$$Great Happy hour specials on beer and food. Yup, it is cheep, and has great food for all. They have about 8 taps, lots of vegetarian options, some pin ball, indoor and outdoor seating, pool table, and WiFi.
To Try: The Garbonzo Burger(Veg-y), Kasseri Fries, and Mushroom Swiss Burger(Meat-y)
My Fathers Place
$Your basic diner/dive bar. Good, home-y breakfasts, coffee refills, and biscuits and gravy. No WiFi though!
To Try: Its a big menu, try what you want, its hard to screw up breakfast.
Seven Virtues Cafe
$$Whoa! Its a bit out of the way, but meh!... good place to hit p the WiFi, grab a bagel sandwich, and/or wait out the rain.
To Try: Great Coffee, and I had 'The Vegan' breakfast bagelwich(house made hummus, tomatoes, red onion, and spinnach) and it was filling and taste-y.
Shop-y
Velo-Cult Bike Shop
$$$The price symbol above reflects only beer... I did not try a tune up, coffee, buy a Bern helmet, or book the space for an event. Yup they do it all, this is the perfect example of an all in one mixed use bike shop. I found it a little out of the way, but if your into bikes, make the trip out here for a beer, tune up, or just to check out the massive selection of vintage bikes hanging from the ceiling(psst... I think the owner has an addiction to bikes)
To Try: Anderson Valley Brewing Fall Mornin', Anything by pFriem Family Brewers or 21st Amendment Brewing.
Next Adventure
$-$$$This is a nice outdoors store that is a great alternative to REI... and remember Oregon is the place to pick up that tent you have always wanted or that jacket to keep dry(No Taxes!).
These guys have a basement full of used gear, clothes, and other nick-knacks. I got a almost new Mountain Hard Ware Paclite shell for only $45... deal.
Alberta Cooperative Grocery
$$$$Cause I love Co-op's I will rep these guys... a great place to pick up bulk organic and local foods. As well as a good selection of healthy food stuffs and local beer(bottles). The service is Friendly and the cashiers want to talk... don't be afraid, introduce yourself!
To Try: Cause I am backpacking... Organic Oats, Dried fruit, produce, and Indian Life dinners.
Smoke-y
82nd Pipe and Tobacco
$Out of the way(82 blocks east of Willamette River) this shop was great. Great service, great selection of pipes of all prices, great selection or pipe tobacco and cigars, and due to a grand fathered law, a cigar lounge... they also *may* let you smoke your pipe in the lounge... be nice to them!
To Try: Acadian Perique, Original Mixture, and Scottish Mixture by MacBaren Tobacco.
McMenamins Greater Trumps
$$This is a shnazzy little joint in the South-East that is a cigar lounge with booze. Owned and operated by McMenamins, you can BYO cigars to this lounge and smoke 'em(they even tolerate pipe tobacco).
McMenamins Kennedy School
$$Ok, pay attention kids! This is a converted school that is the ultimate adults playground. With hotel rooms, cigar lounge, whiskey tasting room, theater, 2 bars, and outdoor soaking pool, you can easily lose attention in class. The soaking pool is open to guests until 8 pm and BE WARNED pipe smokers, they do not allow pipes in the cigar lounge... against the law or some garbage.
To Try: The wide variety of tater-tots(delicious), Teminator Stout, Hammerhead NWPA, and Ruby Ale.
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