Beer Guide 2015: Old Ivy

By Martin Cizmar

Old Ivy

108 W Evergreen Blvd., Suite A, Vancouver, Wash., 360-993-1827, oldivybrewery.com. noon-11 pm Tuesday-Saturday, noon-9 pm Sunday.

[OG TUCKY] Old Ivy is Vancouver's Horse Brass. As Salmon Creek Brewery, the space has been ground zero for 'Couvian beer since 1994, recently making a long, slow transition into Old Ivy. Salmon Creek's suds had slipped, but this OG beer bar is much improved under brewer Chris Spollen, formerly of Amnesia. The food is already pretty great—the juicy burger and chili are recommended if you can handle a total meat-bombing—and the house beer selection is coming around. The most exciting thing we've had from Spollen's new system is Big Newton, a chewy imperial brown with mission figs that has a nice round, earthy flavor. Oh, and like the old Horse Brass, the city's best bottle shop sits next door, well-stocked with bottles you won't find on this side of the border, such as Almanac's sought-after sours and Black Raven's stellar IPA.

DRINK THIS: Big Newton, unless you see something interesting from a Seattle brewery that doesn't distribute in Oregon.

WWeek 2015

Willamette Week’s reporting has concrete impacts that change laws, force action from civic leaders, and drive compromised politicians from public office. Support WW's journalism today.