As the weather heats up, nothing sounds more tempting than drinking a cold beer in the hot sun. Unfortunately, the few bar patios in Portland are either covered, too small and crowded or both. Fortunately, Apex Bar has hit the scene with a great patio and a long list of good beers.
Stand at the corner of Southeast 12th and Division Street and it’s easy to see Apex’s best asset: its patio. With rows of long, community-style benches and shady umbrellas, the large patio is the perfect place to drink a beer in the sun.
Since its grand opening on May 7, that’s just what the neighborhood has been doing. The bar has already seen good business. It’s a mellow afternoon destination and it sees a big crowd on weekend nights.
Why so much love? It might be the big patio or the four pinball machines that Apex tunes up twice a week. The owner, Jesse McCann, is a big fan of pinball, and he keeps the machines at their best.
McCann has two other passions—besides beers, of course—that give Apex its personality: bicycles and motorcycles. Pictures of both are hung on Apex’s walls, including a large photograph of naked bicyclists above the bar. Also nailed against the walls are shelves designed for helmets.
The huge bicycle rack on the patio reveals McCann’s passion, too. It would take an enormous crowd to fill up the rack, which is sure to make many bicyclists sigh with affection for the place.
For all the space on the patio, don’t expect smokers. Apex doesn’t allow smoking, so patrons can breathe free.
far. They’re sure to keep a wide selection as well. On any given day, there are over 20 taps to choose from, including stouts, Belgians, IPAs, goses and just about any other style possible.
This week the bar is adding 20 more taps so that more beers can be available on draft regularly. The new taps will be turned on gradually over the next month or so. A number of bottled beers are also available.
Though it is unique enough to stand its ground in a section of the city with a large bar scene, Apex will likely fare better where it is. While a few other bars can be found near Apex, they are mostly those disappointingly standard dive bars which depend on lottery and cheap PBR to bring in patrons.
People in the neighborhood are glad to have Apex nearby. It’s a ton better than a dive bar, the beer is good and the prices are reasonable. Not to mention, the friendly service is excellent.
Apex doesn’t serve food, but once again, its location is helpful. Next door to the bar is Los Gorditos, which serves Mexican food for both the meat eater and the vegan. A few blocks east is New Seasons, where a big deli awaits.
For summertime beer drinking, Apex Bar is the place to go. With a big patio, lots of bicycle parking, great beer and some pinball for the restless, it might be the best place to sit in the sun.