Here’s a wild idea for the writers of Portlandia: Instead of another batch of episodes revolving around tired Portland stereotypes, how about actually trying to emphasize some positive things about the city? A whole season of that show could revolve around the cast having revelatory experiences in this city’s breweries—breweries that produce what is arguably the best beer in the country.
Here’s a wild idea for the writers of Portlandia: Instead of another batch of episodes revolving around tired Portland stereotypes, how about actually trying to emphasize some positive things about the city? A whole season of that show could revolve around the cast having revelatory experiences in this city’s breweries—breweries that produce what is arguably the best beer in the country.
At the very least, you’d have to agree that Portland’s breweries are the country’s most interesting. How many other cities can lay claim to a brewing company that not only offers a drink called Voodoo Bacon Maple Ale but also a beer named after the local urban university?
One need look no further than Rogue Brewery for a celebration of everything exceptional about Portland beer. Luckily, Portland State students have easy access, as Rogue has recently set up shop on the PSU campus (at the corner of Southwest Park Avenue and Montgomery Street, near Starbucks and Subway).
Rogue has already begun attracting attention for its newest brew: the Voodoo Doughnuts–inspired Bacon Maple Ale. Naturally, as the pastry in question is objectively delicious, the beer has similarly sky-scraping taste expectations. It is good, but in a very weird way: it starts off sweet, then within a split second the bacon flavor becomes dominant and lingers on the tongue. If you’re a fan of drinks that taste like cured meat, then you’ll be in heaven. (I am, and I was.)
Rogue’s other calabration of Stumptown, of course, is its Portland State University IPA. PSU is the only university in the nation with its own official beer, and it tastes amazing. Though the hops are a little overwhelming, it’s extremely smooth and goes down easy. If Terminal Gravity IPA is a 10 out of 10, PSU IPA easily checks in at around 9.5.
Other enjoyable brews include Honey Orange Wheat Ale (light, airy and smoky—the perfect drink complement to a plate of chicken wings), Cap’n Sig’s Northwestern Ale (foamy, heavy and a worthy adversary to Guinness) and Chocolate Stout (probably contains more real chocolate than most chocolate bars), but the PSU IPA and the Voodoo Bacon Maple Ale are definitely the can’t-miss options. Be sure to pick up a bottle of the latter to go—the vibrant pink bottle doubles as a great apartment decoration.
