Best/Worst places to go get a beer
I’m not big on bars. Usually too smoky and at least somewhat over-priced, I’ve learned that sitting at home and drinking a bottle of beer while watching television can be just as fun as going to a bar and paying for the same experience.
However, there are times when it is good to get out, to mingle among the masses, and to take in a different atmosphere. So, let us discuss the best and worst places to do that.
I think it goes without saying that in “places to go get a beer” I mean a bar-type establishment, although there are certainly exceptions to that rule (i.e. the McMenamins theater-pubs, which are the best thing since sliced bread). So, please focus your opinions toward alcohol service establishments (and, for the moment, focus on beer providers; we’ll do liquor and wine in separate posts).
BEST:
Kell’s– I’ve only been to Kell’s a few times, but I’ve found that, as long as it isn’t packed with people, it’s a great place to take in a beverage while watching some (euro)football, or watching people.
The Lotus– My guilty pleasure. I love this place and everything it’s about.
Stanich’s– Come for the burgers, stay for the beer. Besides being able to see flags for my high school, college, and law school all on the same walls, this is a nice place to hang for a relatively smoke-free and always pleasant time.
PGE Park– Breaking my own rules. But I count Thirsty Thursday as drinking in front of a live TV performance.
WORST:
Any of The Cheerfuls–Sports Page, Tortoise, or Jolly Roger, all have too much smoke. If you’re a smoker, you may not mind, but I went to watch a Duck’s game last year with my brother-in-law, and almost died of an asthma attack in the first ten minutes. Plus, the beer’s way overpriced.
So, give me your thoughts…
Related posts:
One of the best I’ve been to is the Broadway Saloon at 12434 SW Broadway St in Beaverton. It has a variety of micro brews and some of the biggest hamburgers in the Portland area. The atmosphere doesn’t seem heavy with smoke, either.
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Ok, sorry about that. I tried to post a comment earlier, and it gave me an error that the site hadn’t defined a “comment pending” template. This time, it didn’t. Feel free to delete both of these.
The New Old Lompac on NW 23rd has to be my favorite. My least favorite is anywhere with a cover.
My two favorite beer places:
The Goose Hollow Inn, owned by former mayor Bud Clark, has $6 pitchers of Henry’s Private Reserve every day and was the first to start serving it in the 70’s (I think). Plus, they have really good Reubens.
The Horse Brass Pub. Very English, but not too smokey since they have a good air filter system. There’s something like 50 beers on tap, and a good menu of interesting pub food like Scotch eggs and steak and kidney pie.
Both establishments are also places where the music isn’t too loud and you can actually have a conversation without yelling.