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1411 NW Flanders St., 541-585-1007, 10barrel.com.
[NOT FOR FUSSING OVER] When Bend's beloved 10 Barrel
announced it was opening a satellite brewpub in Portland, we were
stoked. Along with the arrival of Fat Head's (page 46) and the continued
excellence of Deschutes (page 42), the Pearl District would be relevant
to beer culture for the first time since the old Weinhard brewery tore
out its tanks in 1999. The vibe changed in November, when 10 Barrel sold
out to Anheuser-Busch before its Portland shop had even opened. A few
interested observers applauded, many more kvetched. Are mergers and
acquisitions a healthy part of capitalism? Was this a cynical cash-in on
the brand's cachet? The answers will come elsewhere—all we've got time
to do is talk about the brewpub. Sadly, it didn't open before this guide
hit streets, though the tanks are installed and staff is hired. The
space looks great and the Bend pub makes some of that city's best
pizzas, so we're expecting good things. So long as they keep great
brewers on their roster and give them room to experiment, the
Clydesdales shouldn't trample a good thing.
DRINK THIS: Bud Light Lime-A-Rita—it's kind of like Swill, but shelf-stable.
WWeek 2015