Portland Cheers to Belgian Beers
posted March 18, 2012 9:53 PM RSS | iCal | +googleCal
Sat April 21 at 2:00 PM, Metalcraft Fabrication, 723 N Tillamook St
723 N Tillamook St, Portland, OR, USA (Map & Directions)
Oregon Brewers Guild is having their Belgian beer festival April 21. I know you all are interested.
We went last year and thought it was a lot of fun. It's pretty low-key and wasn't very busy compared to the three big beer festivals later in the year. The premise is all the brewers use the same starter and do their own thing with it. 10 drink tickets will go a long ways, making it one of the cheapest festivals in town.
Admission is free-21+ only
$15 for five drink tickets and a stemmed tasting glass, which is required to taste.
$20 for 10 drink tickets and a stemmed tasting glass which is required to taste.
Additional tastes are $1 and can be purchased at the festival entrance.
Metalcraft Fabrication, 723 N Tillamook St
Located 2 blocks south of the first yellow line Max stop north of the Rose Garden. Parking available on the street north towards Russell+SE towards Broadway.
Website
Admission is free-21+ only
$15 for five drink tickets and a stemmed tasting glass, which is required to taste.
$20 for 10 drink tickets and a stemmed tasting glass which is required to taste.
Additional tastes are $1 and can be purchased at the festival entrance.
Metalcraft Fabrication, 723 N Tillamook St
Located 2 blocks south of the first yellow line Max stop north of the Rose Garden. Parking available on the street north towards Russell+SE towards Broadway.
Website
Last year the festival was at the same location, a shop that fabricates tanks for the brewing industry. kpele and I went to the preview night (and I'm trying to figure out how we snagged that invitation) and had a great time.
The nifty thing with this festival is that it is not only strongly local-oriented, but the fact that each beer is brewed on the same yeast is noticeable, and you can learn a lot about the controllable flavors in beer brewing.
posted by Prince_of_Cups at 8:26 AM on March 19, 2012
The nifty thing with this festival is that it is not only strongly local-oriented, but the fact that each beer is brewed on the same yeast is noticeable, and you can learn a lot about the controllable flavors in beer brewing.
posted by Prince_of_Cups at 8:26 AM on March 19, 2012
Sounds fun. Are we thinking lunchtime beers or evening beers?
posted by spherical_perceptions at 8:55 PM on March 19, 2012
posted by spherical_perceptions at 8:55 PM on March 19, 2012
I see no mention of food on the website, so it might be best to either meet somewhere else for a meal first and then go to the festival, or plan on meeting at the festival post-mealtime. I'm guessing the festival will likely be crowded as hell in the evening, so maybe we should shoot for 2pm or so? Or meet for a late lunch/early dinner before heading to the festival?
posted by Greg_Ace at 9:29 AM on March 20, 2012
posted by Greg_Ace at 9:29 AM on March 20, 2012
spherical_perceptions: Sounds fun. Are we thinking lunchtime beers or evening beers?
Mid-afternoon seems ideal to me.
Greg_Ace: I see no mention of food on the website
Last year there were a couple food trucks and several tables outside. From what I remember, the food offered was ok, but not great.
Eating beforehand would probably be a good idea. Better food, less coin.
posted by nickthetourist at 7:48 PM on March 20, 2012
Mid-afternoon seems ideal to me.
Greg_Ace: I see no mention of food on the website
Last year there were a couple food trucks and several tables outside. From what I remember, the food offered was ok, but not great.
Eating beforehand would probably be a good idea. Better food, less coin.
posted by nickthetourist at 7:48 PM on March 20, 2012
There was a philly cheese steak booth and a korean taco truck and something else last year. It's cart food, so it is what it is. We went in the early afternoon last year and it was not crazy busy. I think at least one (maybe more?) of the beers was gone by 4pm.
posted by fiercekitten at 7:55 PM on March 20, 2012
posted by fiercekitten at 7:55 PM on March 20, 2012
Looks like there's the Gotham Tavern about 2 blocks north of the festival site, and a few more places to eat 3-4 blocks away on Russell St. So it shouldn't be too hard to get some grub. And mid-afternoon sounds good to me.
posted by Greg_Ace at 11:06 AM on March 21, 2012
posted by Greg_Ace at 11:06 AM on March 21, 2012
Yeah, -ish... 2-3pm is usually my own definition of "mid-afternoon", but others might differ.
posted by Greg_Ace at 8:15 AM on March 22, 2012
posted by Greg_Ace at 8:15 AM on March 22, 2012
I vote for mid-afternoon provided this is defined by 2pm-ish. With a pre-beer lunch somewhere 1pm-ish.
posted by spherical_perceptions at 3:46 PM on March 24, 2012
posted by spherical_perceptions at 3:46 PM on March 24, 2012
I set it for 2pm. We can arrange for pre-drinking lunch as well.
posted by fiercekitten at 6:04 PM on March 24, 2012
posted by fiercekitten at 6:04 PM on March 24, 2012
I'll drink some beer for you, Specklet.
It will be delicious.
posted by curious nu at 2:23 PM on April 13, 2012
It will be delicious.
posted by curious nu at 2:23 PM on April 13, 2012
Does anyone have any suggestions for lunch? I've tried looking for places along the Yellow line, but most of what comes up is bars. I want fooooooood, then drinking.
posted by fiercekitten at 7:32 PM on April 16, 2012
posted by fiercekitten at 7:32 PM on April 16, 2012
Google shows a Widmer Bros. Gasthaus pub and one of the million McMenamins nearby. Less nearby is Ethiopian and the BBQ place near Toro Bravo. Also Sloan's Tavern which has a semi coming out of the side of it. The food is unremarkable, but I can vouch for the ambiance.
posted by mimo at 7:45 PM on April 16, 2012
posted by mimo at 7:45 PM on April 16, 2012
White Eagle is right near there, it's your typical reliable McMenamins pub. Haven't been to the the Widmer Gasthaus pub a block from there but it looks like that'd be food too, same genre.
posted by cortex at 8:00 PM on April 16, 2012
posted by cortex at 8:00 PM on April 16, 2012
Another idea- Mississippi is right near there, so for example we could eat at Mississippi Pizza, Por Que No, Laughing Planet, or Cup and Saucer. I feel like there's a food cart pod right around there too? I know there's a Flavour (sweet and savory waffle sandwiches) at Fremont and Mississippi.
However, I'm having a little trouble figuring out the best way to get from there to the Beer Festival on mass transit- the 4 runs down Mississippi, but it doesn't go quite far enough to meet up with the MAX, so you'd have to take the bus to Rose Quarter and then get on the yellow line in the opposite direction. I personally don't mind that, but it could take a little while to make the connections, which could cut into beer drinking time. Or, maybe it could be walked- but google street view makes it look a little sketchy, what with all the freeways.
posted by Secretariat at 8:53 AM on April 17, 2012
However, I'm having a little trouble figuring out the best way to get from there to the Beer Festival on mass transit- the 4 runs down Mississippi, but it doesn't go quite far enough to meet up with the MAX, so you'd have to take the bus to Rose Quarter and then get on the yellow line in the opposite direction. I personally don't mind that, but it could take a little while to make the connections, which could cut into beer drinking time. Or, maybe it could be walked- but google street view makes it look a little sketchy, what with all the freeways.
posted by Secretariat at 8:53 AM on April 17, 2012
I'd vote in favor of either of the pubs on Russell St. as closer and more accessible to the festival, over possibly better food on Fremont but requiring more effort and travel logistics - for the public-trans folks, at least.
posted by Greg_Ace at 12:24 PM on April 17, 2012
posted by Greg_Ace at 12:24 PM on April 17, 2012
There's no easy way to connect Interstate and Mississippi other than walking it, which is how I ended up asking for suggestions. The best I can figure is somewhere near Downtown/Rose Garden or up near N Killingsworth (4 stops past the Fest).
posted by fiercekitten at 8:49 PM on April 17, 2012
posted by fiercekitten at 8:49 PM on April 17, 2012
On the positive side, the weather forecast (so far, at least) for Saturday is calling for beautiful Spring weather, so walking might be doable.
posted by Greg_Ace at 3:43 PM on April 18, 2012
posted by Greg_Ace at 3:43 PM on April 18, 2012
Alternatively, some sort of carpooling.
posted by curious nu at 4:32 PM on April 18, 2012
posted by curious nu at 4:32 PM on April 18, 2012
Carpooling is an option. Perhaps we could meet at the Mississippi cart pod and then motor down to the Fest?
posted by fiercekitten at 8:54 PM on April 18, 2012
posted by fiercekitten at 8:54 PM on April 18, 2012
Our friend the Internet says the food carts are at Mississippi and Skidmore (next to Prost). Which is about 1.25 miles, or 30-40 minutes at a group walking pace, from the festival. So yeah, if we're going to do that, carpooling's probably the way to go so we don't spend too much time traveling and not enough time drinking beer!
What time should we meet for lunch - 1pm? Earlier? Later? (Also let's not forget to factor in time to find a parking spot, which could be in short supply)
posted by Greg_Ace at 10:43 AM on April 19, 2012
What time should we meet for lunch - 1pm? Earlier? Later? (Also let's not forget to factor in time to find a parking spot, which could be in short supply)
posted by Greg_Ace at 10:43 AM on April 19, 2012
I was mostly planning on buspooling, given that it's a beer fest where there will be a bunch of beer to drink and I have already gotten the bus driver to agree to not drink.
posted by cortex at 11:01 AM on April 19, 2012
posted by cortex at 11:01 AM on April 19, 2012
and I have already gotten the bus driver to agree to not drink
cortex you are the most selfish person.
posted by curious nu at 1:51 PM on April 19, 2012
cortex you are the most selfish person.
posted by curious nu at 1:51 PM on April 19, 2012
I think the "carpooling" part was intended to be between food and festival areas, because the Widmer and McMenamin's pubs 4-5 blocks away didn't apparently hold enough general appeal.
posted by Greg_Ace at 3:14 PM on April 19, 2012
posted by Greg_Ace at 3:14 PM on April 19, 2012
I have nothing against McMenamins, but have been to them many times. Haven't been to the Widmer so between the two I'd vote for that for purely self-centered reasons.
posted by curious nu at 3:31 PM on April 19, 2012
purely self-centered reasons? perhaps you are the most selfish, nu.
posted by mimo at 8:28 PM on April 19, 2012
posted by mimo at 8:28 PM on April 19, 2012
I just want food sans dairy products and beer that's not IPA.
posted by nickthetourist at 8:43 PM on April 19, 2012
posted by nickthetourist at 8:43 PM on April 19, 2012
Yes, especially in Portland.
posted by nickthetourist at 10:29 PM on April 19, 2012
posted by nickthetourist at 10:29 PM on April 19, 2012
So, noon, 12:30? Widmer? (although the menu doesn't really entice me).
posted by mimo at 9:10 AM on April 20, 2012
posted by mimo at 9:10 AM on April 20, 2012
McM's menu is probably even less so, and there really isn't much super close and/or open at that time on a Saturday near the spot (that I can find), so.. Widmer, sure.
posted by curious nu at 9:36 AM on April 20, 2012
posted by curious nu at 9:36 AM on April 20, 2012
12:30 suits me fine; that would give us time to have a relaxed meal and still get to the festival nice and early.
Also, if anyone is planning to eat somewhere else, it would be a good idea to work out some sort of meeting time and place at the festival itself. Say, the corner of Tillamook and Interstate at 2pm, for instance?
posted by Greg_Ace at 10:44 AM on April 20, 2012
Also, if anyone is planning to eat somewhere else, it would be a good idea to work out some sort of meeting time and place at the festival itself. Say, the corner of Tillamook and Interstate at 2pm, for instance?
posted by Greg_Ace at 10:44 AM on April 20, 2012
Shoot, I didn't mean to be all anti-convenient pub. I just enjoy exploring my options. I haven't been to that Widmer before, so that sounds fine to me.
posted by Secretariat at 6:00 PM on April 20, 2012
posted by Secretariat at 6:00 PM on April 20, 2012
I hear they don't have french fries, oddly?
posted by Secretariat at 6:00 PM on April 20, 2012
posted by Secretariat at 6:00 PM on April 20, 2012
They seem to have a soft pretzel, though.
posted by curious nu at 6:19 PM on April 20, 2012
posted by curious nu at 6:19 PM on April 20, 2012
The Widmer at 12:30 sounds like a good plan to me. Plus it's right on the yellow MAX line.
posted by spherical_perceptions at 8:35 PM on April 20, 2012
posted by spherical_perceptions at 8:35 PM on April 20, 2012
Hey all, we're going to Bunk Sandwiches at the corner of SW 6th and SW Pine. It's right across the street from the US Bank building and the 6th and Pine MAX stop, so it's almost as close for us since we'll have to take Red or Blue line downtown anyway. We'll meet you at the Fest at 2pm.
posted by fiercekitten at 11:19 PM on April 20, 2012
posted by fiercekitten at 11:19 PM on April 20, 2012
Getting a pretty slow start this morning, I think we're not gonna make it to the lunch thing so don't look around wondering where we are or whatever. We'll see about the actual beer thing proper.
posted by cortex at 10:56 AM on April 21, 2012
posted by cortex at 10:56 AM on April 21, 2012
I'm running a little behind this morning so I'll be there closer to 1pm.
posted by spherical_perceptions at 11:41 AM on April 21, 2012
posted by spherical_perceptions at 11:41 AM on April 21, 2012
We are here, waiting near the street corner.
posted by nickthetourist at 1:57 PM on April 21, 2012
posted by nickthetourist at 1:57 PM on April 21, 2012
Only turbodog understands my rye-love.
posted by curious nu at 6:33 PM on April 21, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by curious nu at 6:33 PM on April 21, 2012 [1 favorite]
Y'all can have your rye; that just leaves more coffee stout for me!
posted by Greg_Ace at 7:01 PM on April 21, 2012
posted by Greg_Ace at 7:01 PM on April 21, 2012
Many good beers were had by all.
posted by fiercekitten at 11:02 PM on April 21, 2012
posted by fiercekitten at 11:02 PM on April 21, 2012
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posted by Greg_Ace at 10:13 PM on March 18, 2012