Not All McMenamins Are Created Equal

Monday September 7th Good Rats Andy, Kelly L., Darren and I with DD and Good Rat wannabe Delany, made a tour of a few McMenamins. The rat route was created by Kelly L. and I and I will admit it was rather ambitious. We selected 8, count 'em 8 McMenamins to visit.

The first stop was what has become my current favorite the Rock Creek Tavern. We arrived shortly after 11am and the place hadn't started to fill up yet but by the time we'd had our lunch it was hoppin'. It's worth mentioning that some of us had their potato soup which was very good. For drinks I started out with the Rubinator, a GR Patricia fave. I had only tasted it one time but it's a fine mix of Ruby and Terminator Stout. I then moved on to the Ruby which I find to be a nice summer time brew.

We then moved just down the road to the Roadhouse. This is a second favorite of mine. I'm not that crazy about Imbrie Hall which to me seems like a big warehouse, but the rest of the grounds are fun but disappointingly the White Shed (Whisky and Cigar bar) is not open on Mondays. Kelly L. and I got to show the old farm house off to the others and had fun showing them the "secret door" next to a fireplace. That was good for a few laughs and I'll say no more.

We drove the short distance to the Oak Hills Brewpub but were disappointed to find that it's in a strip mall. GR Kelly L. took a quick look inside and reported that that it looked fair enough but come on, a strip mall? We didn't stay.

We moved on to McMenamins Cedar Hills and guess what? Another strip mall. After having gone ten minutes without a brew we decided we better stop. Again, it wasn't too bad inside, there was a pool table and best of all a real old fashioned pin ball machine at fifty cents a pop! Well, the pool was free.

At some point GR Darren suggested we go to the Lloyd Center Theaters and watch Hangover. We got there a few, and I mean just a few, minutes early so we went to a place I can't remember the name of and had another drink or was it two? By that time I couldn't really remember. Then it was on to the movie. I don't know if it was the alcohol or if it was truly funny but I laughed a lot. In fact I think I want to add it to my Netflix cue for when it becomes available on DVD. I'll stop short of recommending it although I know GR Darren does so take that for what it's worth.

We skipped the next 3 that were on our list and drove directly to Ringlers Annex. Now I must clarify something. I said earlier that Rock Creek was my favorite and Roadhouse was second. The Annex is really a great place. It's the place where "everybody knows your name". If I was downtown Portland I would call the Annex my favorite. So maybe it depends on where I am at the time. Hey, as long as they have quality beer what the heck. I say it's possible to have two favorites.

All in all it was a very nice day. Many thanks to Delany for driving! It was great seeing GR Andy again. Whether we want to admit it or not we really miss him. This trip was supposed to include GR Ron as a going away, have a great after life but he was on "vacation" making his final move of stuff from their local house to their dry side house. Lest we forget Ron... Prost!

I'm writing this an entire week after this trip and I just got back from Bellingham after taking Miss M back to school. Last night we had dinner at Boundary Bay. The nice thing was Marie and Miss M agreed to drop me off there and they went shopping before they returned for dinner. Now that may sound like I got the raw end of the deal. After all, Marie had the credit card. But the way I see it is, I got to sit outside on their deck, in super nice weather and drink good beer listening to a band they had playing below me in their beer garden.

Miss M turns 21 in January and she wants the Good Rats to come to Bellingham sometime next year and tour some of the pubs in her area. I know there are other good places to go but I'm not sure how many of you would want to make that kind of trip. I think it would need to be an over nighter. If no one else wants to go that's alright. Marie and I enjoy that area a lot and we'll have a good time without you.

With all that said... carry on.

Calling All Good Rats

This looks like fun. Unfortunatley I don't think I'll be able to attend although I'll be driving nearby enroute to Bellingham for the weekend. Morgan doesn't really need to go back to school does she?

Bring your Dogs and drink some Frogs!

Issaquah, Washington, September 1, 2009 - On September 19th and 20th, two-legged and four-legged animals and humans will leap, run, ride and hop to the FIRST ANNUAL FROGS & DOGS FESTIVAL. Frogs and Dogs Festival is an outdoor gathering of everything in food or beer that involves either frogs or dogs.

Located just east of the Mecca of Frog Beer (Issaquah Brewhouse), there will be doggie dancing, doggie musical chairs, celebrity dog look alike contests, a free dog wash, frogger video tournament and of course a leap frog competition.

This dog-friendly festival will feature a prime selection of Microbrews, famous dog beers and Issaquah Brewhouse's series of Frog beers. The line-up includes:

* Laughing Buddha * Boundary Bay * Georgetown * Mac & Jacks* Snoqualmie * Hair of the Dog * Flying Dog * Laughing Dog * Sea Dog * Dogfish Head * White Frog Ale * Ménage a Frog *

There will be fun stuff for the kids, including a frog and dog coloring contest and games. Entry to this event is $10 and includes five taster tokens (kids, dogs and frogs get in free when accompanied by an adult).

Proceeds from the festival will benefit "Reach for the Sky July" (http://www.reachfortheskyjuly.org/), a three week all scholarship summer arts day camp for Issaquah and the Snoqualmie Valley underserved youths ages eight through twelve.

FROGS AND DOGS: September 19-20, 2009
HOURS: Noon to 10 p.m. (Saturday)
Noon to 6 p.m. (Sunday)

LOCATION: 35 W. Sunset Way / Issaquah, WA 98027
(425) 557-1911

Volunteers Needed: Get in free, get a shirt and join the Issaquah Brewhouse family.For more information visit http://www.rogue.com/ or contact Brett Joyce at (503) 241-3800 or email brett@rogue.com.

For more info contact: BrandtGulden@rogue.com
Follow Issaquah Brewery on twitter
Issaquah Brewery (425) 557-1911
35 W. Sunset Way / Issaquah, WA 98027

Must TV Viewing

I don't know what it is about television shows that run for a number of seasons before I find out how good they are and start watching. I've mentioned "The Wire" in another post. An HBO series my son told me about that I loved. The series had already concluded before I started watching episodes I downloaded but better late than never I guess.

Now comes "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia". This series is found on FX and my daughter told me about it. This series has run at least four seasons now and I'm just starting season one thanks to Netflix. This is a very funny program and I recommend it. I've posted links to some YouTube clips if you want to check it out. Kitten Mittens is a good clip to watch although I haven't seen the whole episode yet. I'm watching each one in order.

A Few Musings

Lots has been happening. Well, during the past week anyway.

I've been thinking about trying my hand at brewing my own beer for some time now. As I mentioned in an earlier post I helped Good Rat Mike make up a batch and decided that I COULD do it. So, last Wednesday I attended the beginning beer making class at Bader Brewing in Vancouver. Doctor of Beer School JP and Professor of Beer School Tom made it a most enjoyable, memorable experience. Not only did I learn a lot but we tasted a number of different brews they had made up. I would highly recommend the class to anyone thinking of brewing beer. I also recommend that when the Doctor or Professor asks for volunteers raise your hand fast and enthusiastically. By doing so you will be the first to sample their beer and you might even get to taste some that no one else does. Volunteering in this class is a good thing. Now I just have to assemble all the utensils etc. I need to get started.

The next night GR Kelly and my oldest son, who I guess is really an honorary Good Rat by virtue of being my son, went to a Scotch tasting event at McMenamins Road House. Okay, it wasn't beer but we did drink some IPA and Ruby while we were there so I think that should count for something. What a night. We sat outside and the weather was absolutely perfect, the three others at our table were most interesting, the food was very good and of course the Scotch and the education about each of the five we tasted was grand. After it was over everyone just kind of hung around, talking and drinking a little more, enjoying the company, the venue and the weather. I look forward to doing that again.

Early this morning and I do mean early, as in 2:30am, Marie and I drove GR Matt to PDX for his flight to D.C. He'll be living with his best friend while going to graduate school. Although we'll miss having him closer, I feel a little better knowing he forgot his bottle of 15 year Laphroaig. I'll think of you Matt every time I have a sip... Prost!

Deck Party 2009

Well, another deck party has come and gone. The weather was perfect, the company was great and of course the beer was marvelous. I'm thinking that next year we need to start a little later in the afternoon so more than just a couple of us feel like sitting around after the sun goes down.

On a downer note Good Rat Patricia has left us for a new life in Milwaukee. If you haven't seen her blog, check it out. I created a link to it along with the other blog links. Word has it that she may be back this way in a month or two and perhaps the Good Rats can gather to hear about the big city.

While I'm saying good bye, here's to Good Rat Ron who will be leaving us soon for the dry side of the state. For those that don't know GR Ron is the one who has helped me keep my sanity these last few years. Some may wonder about that so just image what kind of basket case I would have been without him around. Who knows what the next few years might mean to my well being.

So, as a fare-thee-well to the departed and soon to be, here are the lyrics to an old song written by Shane MacGowan a former member of The Pogues. If you haven't heard it find it on Rhapsody or iTunes and check it out. It's also featured in several episodes (including the series finale) of HBO's The Wire. Which by the way if you have never seen it I think you should. Start with season 1 episode 1 and watch them in order to the end of season 5.

The cadillac stood by the house

And the yanks they were within

And the tinker boys they hissed advice

'Hot-wire her with a pin'

Then we turned and shook as we had a look

In the room where the dead man lay

So big Jim Dwyer made his last trip

To the shores where his fathers lay

But fifteen minutes later

We had our first taste of whiskey

There was uncles giving lectures

On ancient Irish history

The men all started telling jokes

And the women they got frisky

By five o'clock in the evening

Every bastard there was piskey

Fare thee well gone away

There's nothing left to say

Farewell to New York City boys

To Boston and PA

He took them out

With a well-aimed clout

and they often heard him say

I'm a free born man of the USA

He fought the champ in Pittsburgh

And he slashed him to the ground

He took on Tiny Tartanella

And it only went one round

He never had no time for reds

For drink or dice or whores

But he never threw a fight

When the fight was right

So they sent him to the war

Fare thee well gone away

There's nothing left to say

With a sláinte Joe and an Erin go

My love's in Amerikay

They're calling out the rosary

Spanish wine from far away

I'm a free born man of the USA

This morning on the harbour

When I said goodbye to you

I remember how I swore

That I'd come back to you one day

And as the sunset came to meet

The evening on the hill

I told you I'd always love you

I always did and I always will

Fare thee well gone away

There's nothing left to say

But to say adieu

To your eyes as blue

As the water in the bay

And to big Jim Dwyer

The man of war

Who was often heard to say

I'm a free born man of the USA

Prost! my friends...

Spur Of The Moment Trip 06/27/09

Good Rat Kelly L. suggested GR Ron and I go out to lunch on Saturday. He wanted to show us a couple of McMenamins I had never been to. Driving through St. Helens we headed to Cornelius Pass.

We stopped first at the McMenamins Rock Creek Tavern. The tavern burned down in 2002 but was rebuilt in the same style as the original. Two old barns in the area were dismantled and the wood was used in the new construction. The tavern features some wonderful stained glass including some antique panes that frame the kitchen entrance. A beautiful ceramic-tile fireplace salvaged from Portland's historic St. Francis Hotel occupies one wall of the building. It is believed that this 1925 fireplace is the work of the same craftsmen who created similar pieces for Timberline Lodge. You'll also find a Round Oak wood stove, vintage tin signs, black and white photos of the area from the teens to the 1940's and art work including mushrooms in various forms.

Ruby (beer) was on our minds when we first arrived but we were talked into trying a seasonal loganberry brew called Purple Haze. Although similar to Ruby we all agreed we preferred the former. For the second round GR Kelly L. tried the Rubinator, a combination of Ruby and Terminator Stout. I'd never heard of the Rubinator until GR Patricia had one on a recent GR Trip. Although I didn't order one GR Kelly L. allowed me a small sample and I must say I would give it a go next time.

After lunch we drove the five minutes or so to the McMenamins Cornelius Pass Roadhouse. This is a large complex with a number of buildings and outside wedding meadows, groves and glens. We missed looking at the Italian Villa-style house which sits next door to the main pub, Imbrie Hall, so I have a good excuse to go back.

Imbrie Hall opened in 2001 and features a gallery of artwork and some intriguing architectural relics and oddities. There are huge columns from Portland's old Washington Hotel, which support massive beams from Port of Portland's Terminal No. 5 and wall posts and headers out of a barn near Forest Grove. There are rafters salvaged from Portland's Blitz-Weinhard brewery and wide planks from Seagram's old distillery in St. Louis. From the loft is a view of the kitchen and an unobstructed perspective of a cookline in action.

There were two weddings going on while we were there and one of them was using the Octagonal Barn so we didn't get to look inside. This former milking parlor with a central feeding bin is now used for festive concerts, parties and other social gatherings for two-legged friends.

The White Shed is a very small rustic pub next to the Barn. Originally it was used as cold storage for milk freshly retrieved from the adjacent dairy barn. Today it's a cozy place for a whisky or (heaven forbid) a cigar.

The Brewery was closed by the time we got there but is open for viewing earlier in the day. Also of note is Big Red, a colossal ceramic torch commissioned by George Lucas who wanted dramatic lighting along the two-mile long driveway leading to his Skywalker Ranch in California. Plans for his torch-lined entry fell through and now it serves as a beacon for the tired and hungry masses who come in search of comfort, sustenance, and good times.

The smaller cozy feel of Rock Creek intrigued us the most and we agreed that we liked it better than the sprawling Roadhouse. Both are worth checking out though. It was a grand afternoon worth repeating very soon.

My Anacortes Trip

Hello Good Rats and Prost!

Thing #1 had a baseball tournament in Anacortes this weekend so here I am. But I'm writing after my recent trip to The Rockfish Grill and Anacortes Brewing. If you're ever up this way you must check it out. For lunch I had the ESB and Trippel Belgian. Both were very nice but the Belgian was absolutely wonderful. Oh yeah, I had the San Juan Salad too and I would very definately order it again. Tomorrow is Father's Day and I've been asked what I want to do. Well, besides a baseball game or two, visiting Anacortes Brewing is top on my list.

The June/July 2009 Northwest Brewing News has an article about Anacortes Brewing and it also lists some other good places to check out. You don't suppose the better halves would let us do an over nighter in this area? GR Ron, who spent a great deal of time in this area in a previous life, could likely help us out with the sight seeing. But then again, who wants to sight see when there are good brews to check out.