Maltose Parrot wrote:I hear good things about McMenamins!
McMenamins has several locations throughout Oregon, brewpubs mostly. I have experienced pretty inconsistent beers at the different locations that I have been to.
+1 for Deschutes. Also, BridgePort and Rogue are good places to visit in town.
I saw a werewolf drinking a pina colada down at Trader Vic's
My Wife and I visited early January - Breakside, Rogue, Deschutes, Cascade, Hair of the Dog, and Upright.
You cannot make a mistake on any of them. Hair of the Dog surprised me with how good the food was... really really good. The beer there is good too and its a cool setup - we chatted up a local couple there for a bit. Since I am a "farmhouse" guy my favorite was Upright. I really enjoyed that it is hidden underground and you have to go through a sports bar to get there. It feels like a dungeon but I enjoyed that aspect + the beers are excellent and they play good music. You are also basically drinking where they brew next to fermentors, barrels, and a sweet coolship.
Cascade was most disappointing as all the beers were hit or miss. I actually sent one back because I thought the tap was bad but was assured it was not. Was not a fan of the crowd there as we sat next to a bunch of guys looking to get drunk and start something. That said - still worth visiting.
If you have a chance to grab a bite I suggest Irving Street - high end delicious local cuisine.