The Gerding Theater at the Armory, in front of us, is Portland's biggest theater company, and was built in 1891.
Drop-in visitors can check out the historic building, and grab a bite at the Armory Cafe inside.
The fortress like Annex—with its thick walls, reinforced wooden doors, loopholes, turrets and parapets, initially provided the Oregon National Guard with space for drill maneuvers, and all-season target practice.
But by the mid-1890s, it had definitely taken on the character of a public hall. It functioned as a concert, dance and lecture hall. And it hosted opera singers, symphony orchestras, auto, food, rose & baby shows, carnivals, circuses, conventions and three US presidents.
And, next door, is Deschutes Brewery & Public House. Our 1st stop.
The Pearl district features 4 of the over 50 breweries within Portland: the 10 barrel Brewery, the Backwoods Brewery, Von Ebert Brewery, and the Deschutes Brewery & Public House, where you can pair a hoppy Mirror Pond Pale Ale—or one of the other 18 beers on tap—with an elk burger, or fried chicken and waffles. "This place is really good. The food is awesome and the experience is nice too. Get a sampler platter of beer to try their delicious brews. Fresh squeezed IPA, yes please! Pine drop is delish!"
With over 50 micro-breweries within the city, Portland is known as the, "beer capital of the world", because it boasts more breweries per capita than any other city on earth!
Why Portland?
Malted grains, Old World traditions and north west classic recipes. And because we have the perfect ingredients—hardy hops (an early and profitable crop for Willamette Valley farms) and barley, grown right in our own backyard—Oregon's Willamette & Washington's Yakima Valleys—which produces 95% of the nations hops.
In Portland, exceptional beer has become the rule.
Deschutes Brewery & Public House -
It's still on the short-list for the state's best brewery, and has a huge selection--everything from 4.5% cask ales, experimental Belgium's, to imperial giants. Try their Fresh-Squeezed IPA. In the Pearl. This Portland-outpost brewpub, (originally from Bend Oregon), is a tight tabled Pearl District beer barn, not overtly pleasant. But one settles in immediately, upon tasting its rotating array of interesting seasonals, and experimentals.
Winter favorites included the Cassis Abbey, a wine-stained black currant sour, with a dry finish, and the fireplace comforts of the house's, Bomb Squad Smoked Imperial, which clambers back to tickle the entire top of the palate, and maybe even the sinuses, before settling into dark chocolate.
So even if you're rammed too close to some dude, who just tricked out his Dodge Ram, for no reason at all, the taster tray will soon distract you, and the servers are overworked but quick on delivery. And their garlic burger, comes with whole cloves of garlic so soft you can spread them around! Says MATTHEW KORFHAGE, of Willamette Week.
Some of the one off beers, are brewed on-site, in the shining copper kettles. But most are brewed in the larger Bend brewery.
Classics include Mirror Pond, and Black Butte Porter. But don't ignore the one offs, which include saisons to black India Pale Ales, raspberry stouts, smoked wheat beers and gluten-free spiced golden ales.
Insider's Tip - There is always 2 beers on cask. Try the same beer on cask, and keg, and notice the difference, all in the name of beerducation.
(PSSTS! - It's the 5th largest craft brewery in the U.S.)
Of special note, if you ordered the quote, free, un quote, tour, the meal cost, as well as the beer cost, is on you.
Next, is 10 Barrel Brewing.
Drop-in visitors can check out the historic building, and grab a bite at the Armory Cafe inside.
The fortress like Annex—with its thick walls, reinforced wooden doors, loopholes, turrets and parapets, initially provided the Oregon National Guard with space for drill maneuvers, and all-season target practice.
But by the mid-1890s, it had definitely taken on the character of a public hall. It functioned as a concert, dance and lecture hall. And it hosted opera singers, symphony orchestras, auto, food, rose & baby shows, carnivals, circuses, conventions and three US presidents.
And, next door, is Deschutes Brewery & Public House. Our 1st stop.
The Pearl district features 4 of the over 50 breweries within Portland: the 10 barrel Brewery, the Backwoods Brewery, Von Ebert Brewery, and the Deschutes Brewery & Public House, where you can pair a hoppy Mirror Pond Pale Ale—or one of the other 18 beers on tap—with an elk burger, or fried chicken and waffles. "This place is really good. The food is awesome and the experience is nice too. Get a sampler platter of beer to try their delicious brews. Fresh squeezed IPA, yes please! Pine drop is delish!"
With over 50 micro-breweries within the city, Portland is known as the, "beer capital of the world", because it boasts more breweries per capita than any other city on earth!
Why Portland?
Malted grains, Old World traditions and north west classic recipes. And because we have the perfect ingredients—hardy hops (an early and profitable crop for Willamette Valley farms) and barley, grown right in our own backyard—Oregon's Willamette & Washington's Yakima Valleys—which produces 95% of the nations hops.
In Portland, exceptional beer has become the rule.
Deschutes Brewery & Public House -
It's still on the short-list for the state's best brewery, and has a huge selection--everything from 4.5% cask ales, experimental Belgium's, to imperial giants. Try their Fresh-Squeezed IPA. In the Pearl. This Portland-outpost brewpub, (originally from Bend Oregon), is a tight tabled Pearl District beer barn, not overtly pleasant. But one settles in immediately, upon tasting its rotating array of interesting seasonals, and experimentals.
Winter favorites included the Cassis Abbey, a wine-stained black currant sour, with a dry finish, and the fireplace comforts of the house's, Bomb Squad Smoked Imperial, which clambers back to tickle the entire top of the palate, and maybe even the sinuses, before settling into dark chocolate.
So even if you're rammed too close to some dude, who just tricked out his Dodge Ram, for no reason at all, the taster tray will soon distract you, and the servers are overworked but quick on delivery. And their garlic burger, comes with whole cloves of garlic so soft you can spread them around! Says MATTHEW KORFHAGE, of Willamette Week.
Some of the one off beers, are brewed on-site, in the shining copper kettles. But most are brewed in the larger Bend brewery.
Classics include Mirror Pond, and Black Butte Porter. But don't ignore the one offs, which include saisons to black India Pale Ales, raspberry stouts, smoked wheat beers and gluten-free spiced golden ales.
Insider's Tip - There is always 2 beers on cask. Try the same beer on cask, and keg, and notice the difference, all in the name of beerducation.
(PSSTS! - It's the 5th largest craft brewery in the U.S.)
Of special note, if you ordered the quote, free, un quote, tour, the meal cost, as well as the beer cost, is on you.
Next, is 10 Barrel Brewing.