Dinining Out For Life, Blazers and Pasties at Saraveza

Thursday evening we hit Saraveza to watch the Blazers game, drink some amazing beers and support a great cause, Dining Out For Life.  Sara and crew were donating a generous portion of their dinner hour sales to Portland’s HIV Day Center, OHSU Partnership Project and Dining Out For Life.  Even better, in Saraveza’s back room, Double Mountain, Firestone Walker and Nectar Ales generously donated kegs for the evening.  The back room was hosting a 6-10pm happy hour which was sweet!  I would have paid full price though, because 100% of Double Mountain, Firestone Walker and Nectar Ales proceeds went back to the fundraiser .

We showed up at Saraveza around 6pm and met our good friend Mark who was already sitting at a table sipping a pint of Terminal Gravity Double IPA.  This was the first time the three of us had seen this beer on tap.  I thought it looked nice in the glass, but after a taste I was not moved by it.  I think Mark felt the same, because when he finished what was left he went for a pint of Amnesia’s Trail Hazer.  Actually, that is what we all ordered.  Trail Hazer came out around the winter holidays.  I believe it was supposed to be a seasonal release, but it was so popular, Amnesia decided to keep it on tap.  However, it is still not listed on their main menu board. Hopefully, with the end of the Blazers season, they will not decide to remove Trail Hazer for the season as well.  Trail Hazer is an amazing, very drinkable year round beer.

When our server came around again, we all put in an order for ‘The Potater’ pasty and grabbed a tavern treat; house baked Chex Mix.  The Chex Mix came first.  It was standard Chex Mix with flair.  It had some mixed nuts and some spice added.  It paired well with our beers.  The pasties showed up and looked delicious, and delicious they were.  My friend Mark commented that they looked like a calzone, which they did.  I was not sure on the origin of the pasty so I looked it up today.  I read that the exact origin is unclear, but it has a strong association with Cornwall.  I guess in Cornwall during the 17th and 18th centuries, tin miners and other workers adopted it due to its unique shape, forming a complete meal that can be carried easily and eaten without cutlery.  So there you go.  If you happen to see pasties on a menu, do not expect a pair of breasts with the areola and nipple covered.

Tasty Pasty!

Tasty Pasty?

We spent the 1^st half of the Blazers game in the front portion of Saraveza. The TV sound was muted.  This was somewhat disappointing, but I guess we were not at a sports bar.  People were still cheering on the Blazers though.  I would say about 75% of the people at Saraveza were watching the game.  I think some of the non-interested parties were startled when excited fans, including ourselves, would shout out a YEAH or an AH.  My beer goddess has severe sports turrets.  It is highly entertaining!  However, I almost lost my hearing in my right ear one time while watching a football game with her.

For the 2^nd half of the game we went to the back room.  This meant going outside and walking down the sidewalk to gain access.  A little awkward, but it was nice to take in a breath of fresh air. My buddy Mark had left us at this point.  He went to grab his squeeze at the airport.  We wish Mark would have stayed.  He was a valuable part of our Blazers cheerleading squad.  Mark and his honey caught the remainder of the game at their neighborhood haunt, Breakside Brewery.  Oh, and I forgot to point out that the sound was pumping in  Saraveza's back room.  Sweet!

Wallace, Aldridge and Matthews checking out their fans at Saraveza

Come to my mouth

As you know, the Blazers did not pull off the win Thursday night.  I thought for sure they were going to do it.   It was disappointing, but I believe we will have an even stronger team next season. The big winner of the evening was The Dining Out For Life fundraiser!  A well deserved win!

A Microhopic Saturday!

Saturday!  What a day!  The sun was out and it was surprisingly temperate.  Not only that, but the Trail Blazers won their second home game of the finals.  GO BLAZERS!!!  As nice as the day was, I was looking forward to the evening.   We were going out with great friends for dinner and for an event taking place at Migration Brewing called Microhopic.  Microhopic is Brewpublic’s baby.  This would be their third installment of the ongoing series and it was fantastic.  The affair showcases new and interesting breweries and beer styles from around Oregon.  Brewpublic did an excellent job at hosting the event and the breweries represented all brought something different to tantalize the taste buds.

The evening began early; around the 4^th quarter of the Blazers game.  My friend showed up with a case of 22’s of his latest homebrew; a super hopped IPA that is to die for.  I think he said it was around 108 IBUs.  Yowza!  He has been brewing beer for over a year now and has it dialed in.  It would be great to see him advance to nano brewery status.

A delicious homebrewed beverage

After a few pints of scrumdiddlyumptious home brewed IPA, the nail biting Blazer game wrapped up in our favor and lifted our already good spirits even higher.  It was now time to take the jaunt to Ken’s Artisan Pizza for dinner.  We waited for a table for about an hour, but it was well worth it as always.  Our friends had never been and thought it was delicious.  A must visit if you like pizza, just do not get in the way.

Our hour wait at Ken's was soothed with
a variety of fine beers

Where's my pizza!

With our bellies full of pie and pints, it was time to hit the main event:  Microhopic at Migration Brewing.  We arrived to find it not as busy as we had anticipated.  There were some staples from the beer community present, including Angelo and crew from Brewpublic, Carl from Belmont Station and several brewers.  Ashley’s Brewvana bus, Angel was parked street side with a dog in the driver’s seat.  I asked the dog if it knew Ashley’s whereabouts, but the furry little fellow was too busy trying to figure out how to get the bus started so he could hit the nearest Petco.

Hop on the bus Gus

Brewpublic's mastermind, Angelo and
some random guy

We seated ourselves at a table in Migration and my hop goddess ordered us a taster tray of the (5) beers being represented.  Breakside Brewery furnished a Rye Kolsch and used their famed randall filter to give us a special treat; a beer infused with juniper berries and cucumbers.  Our neighborhood favorite, Amnesia, provided a fine dry-hopped ale called Red Handed.  Burnside Brewing presented their Stock Ale, which I tasted at their headquarters a few weeks ago.  The Stock Ale is a nice ESB that is rich in copper color and goes down smooth.  My favorite of the evening was Migration’s baby dubbed PDX.  It was similar to a Kolsch, but had a hoppy bit and well balanced flavor.  I have only been to Migration a few times before this evening’s event and had never taken a strong hold to any of their beers, but this one had me at hello.  Beetje, a nano brewery that operates out of their garage and relatively new to my vocabulary was also in the house.  They brought forth a Belgian Inspired Ale that was favored by the patrons.

The crew at Migration

This was my first Microhopic event and it was a good one.  I am looking forward to the next one Brewpublic graces us with.  Thanks guys!

Astoria Part II: The Wet Dog Cafe/Astoria Brewing Company

After walking the dogs and a quick stop at the hotel room we decided it was time to eat.  Fortunately, my cute beer loving cohort had done some web research on Astoria before we left and found another brew pub called the Wet Dog Café, which is also the Astoria Brewing Company.  Here is a little background on Wet Dog snatched directly from their website:

“The Wet Dog Café was founded in 1995. The Brewery was added in 1997 under the name Pacific Rim Brewery. The name of the Brewery was changed to Astoria Brewing Co. in 2005 to commemorate Astoria’s First Brewing Company which was established in 1872.”

I came across a picture in our hotel room (see below).  Is this what the Wet Dog was referring to as Astoria’s first brewing company?  Nonetheless, I thought it was a great historical picture and worthy of being in this post.

Old Astoria brewery pic: North Coast Brewery

The Wet Dog Café/Astoria Brewing Co. was about the same size as Fort George, but had a different feel and vibe.  Not in a bad way, just different.  After glancing over the beer menu we decided to steer away from the taster tray (bad beer drinkers) and went straight for a Solar Dog IPA and a Bitter Bitch IPA.  My sweetie had the Solar Dog and said it was good; a little citrusy and not extremely hoppy.  I had the Bitter Bitch, which certainly had a bitter finish, but was by no means a bitch.  It was pleasing to my senses, unlike any bitch I have ever encountered.  We both loved the Bitter Bitch name though and I thoroughly enjoyed drinking it.  As we sipped our pints our server came by and asked if we wanted to order food.  She told us the kitchen was closing in 40 minutes, so we looked at the appetizer list and asked for the spinach and artichoke dip.  The menu at The Wet Dog is huge!  With so much to choose from we were looking forward to trying something more substantial on the menu.  Then the wah, wah, wah happened.  The dip came…we tried it…and it was cold.  I am not sure what happened, but if you are not competent in the basics then what would an entrée hold.  Which brings me back to a sign in their window we saw earlier that day which read ‘Warm Beer, Cold Food, Come on in’.  To sum things up, the Bitter Bitch IPA was a blue ribbon winner, but the cold appetizer failed to qualify.  I would try eating at The Wet Dog again, but it was not going to be this evening.  Oh, of notable mention before moving on were their fantastic beer t-shirts. Nice designs, but a little pricey at $24.

The premises

Classic and 1/2 true on our visit

The innererds

Solar Dog IPA patiently waiting for lift-off

At this point we were still hungry.  Earlier that day, The Astoria Coffee House & Bistro recommended The Voodoo Room for pizza and drinks.  So on we went.  It was an excellent choice.  The pizza was amazing and the house made chili flakes spiced up the night and our taste buds.  The Voodoo Room is neither a brewery nor a brew pub, so I will not elaborate too much, but they did have good beer on tap, including (2) selections from our recently visited Fort George.  If you are up for hanging out after 9pm in Astoria this is the place.  Live music, a great bartender (that thought he was great) and a chance to mingle with the locals.  Did I mention that we saw our Fort George tap room server here?  Then we saw him the next day walking the streets of Astoria.  Small town, but a great town. Go.   

The Voodoo Room's amazing bartender who knew it

The missing Goonie

                                                            

Astoria Part I: Fort George Brewing

We left for Astoria Friday morning.   I have lived in Oregon for 15 years and this would be my first time visiting the city.  I have driven through it several times, but had never stopped.  My lovely traveling companion was pretty much in the same boat.  However, she had never even driven through it.  What is wrong with us?  I could certainly insert a lengthy list here for myself.

Our first experience in Astoria turned out to be remarkable, despite the fact that it rained the entire time on Friday.  The city is quite the charmer.  It has extensive maritime history, beautiful historic homes, is site to several Hollywood movies and has a downtown that is quaint, but thriving with many restaurants, coffee shops and most notable for this particular piece, Fort George Brewing.

The beautiful facade

Fort George was our first libation stop.  The building was named after the grounds to which it stands on.  It was originally the site of Fort Astoria (also named Fort George) which was an active fur trading post in its heyday.  The site was added to the list of Historic places on November 5^th, 1961 and marked by the building.  Thanks Wikipedia!  You rock!  You can read more if you are interested in history of Fort Astoria by clicking the link below: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Astoria#cite_note-nhlsum-1

We stepped inside the brew pub, which was airy and rather large.  To our surprise it was fairly quiet for 4pm on a Friday. This was okay though.  It just meant that we would not have to wait long to try their extensive beer list. We were having trouble making a decision on what to order, so we opted for a taster try.  A great choice by the way at any brewing establishment that you are unfamiliar with.  Unfortunately, I typically do not heed my own advice.  You can see the list of beers that we consumed in the following photo.  Our favs were the 1811 Lager (the year Fort Asotria was founded), Sunrise Oatmeal Pale Ale, Nut Red Ale and Vortex IPA. On the dark side, The Coffee Girl Stout was a stand out for us.  It was somewhat humbling to see and taste the amazing beer selection that Fort George has to offer.  You can find their 1811 and Vortex IPA in 16oz cans, but they turnout so much more.  A great reason to visit the brewery! 



The beer menu with the amazing unicorn chalk drawing

Little beers rule!

Stool sample!

After consuming our tasters, our server offered us a visit of their production facility, which was just beyond the sticker plastered door and few steps away in another building. He said that we looked like we appreciated good beer.  I am not sure how you can tell that about a person, but we took it as a kind compliment, and of course took him up on his offer.

I ordered a pint of Sunrise Oatmeal Pale Ale before we took the brief walk over to see where this fine beer was birthed.  The entrance door was not marked well, but our server had pointed to the door that was slightly ajar and said, “just go in there”. We walked though the door to be greeted by a blue room full of kegs and then saw another door about 30 feet in front of us with a hand made sign that read “YES!  THIS IS TAP ROOM ENTRANCE”.  Wow, a tap room!  I don’t think our server mentioned this to us.  If he did, I missed it while being thoroughly immersed in our beer flight.  The tap room was fairly new, but was warm and inviting; a good place to talk about beer.  The tap list included some additional beers that were not served in the pub.  A fine gentleman named John who was in charge of the taps gave us some good information on the beers, the canning facility and the popularity of the game Corn Hole in Astoria.  From the tap room you can see everything that takes place in the brewing area, but you are allowed to go inside the production area as well, which contains a foosball table (one of my favorite table games) and a full size shuffle board court.

The famed tap room entrance

Tap Room = Heaven

Sexy foosball table and a hot game of Corn Hole taking place

Happy camper  

Finally, it was time to say goodbye to Fort George as we had to head back to walk our dogs and seek out dinner.  I wanted to visit the public house later that evening, but unfortunately we never made it. Astoria was determined to show us more of what she had to offer.  Stay tuned for, Astoria Part II: ‘Title to Be Determined’.