Bend, OR - Deschutes Brew Pub

Deschutes Brew Pub in downtown Bend, OR. 

Deschutes Brew Pub: a classic brew pub located in scenic Bend, Oregon

What did we have:  A sampler of Deschutes amazing beers.

What's fun:  A lively brew pub located in a vibrant downtown Bend, offering a wide variety of their excellent microbrews.


If you love beer, a visit to the world famous Deschutes Brew Pub  in Bend, Oregon is a must.  Established in 1988, this is the real deal.  Located in the heart of downtown Bend, Deschutes is a bustling pub filled with enthusiastic patrons.  The pub is currently undergoing a major renovation, which is much needed.  There are currently 25 tables, and there is almost always a wait.  We were told 40 minutes when we arrived on a Friday evening around 5:30 pm, but it was worth waiting.  The new expansion will triple the size and include a banquet room.  There is no disruption of service while the expansion is taking place, and the doors to the new addition should be open in early 2012.  In the mean time, we made our way up to the busy bar and enjoyed a pint as we waited for our table.  Bend is a truly friendly town, and we struck up conversations with both locals and visitors as we were waiting.  A mix of singles, couples, and groups of friends surrounded the bar.  The Deschutes dining area is family friendly and there were many family groups with children at the tables.

A fine sampling of six great Deschutes beer. 

What did we have:  Once seated I selected the sampler which included six 5 oz glasses.  I was able to select any combination I wanted from the 22 beers on tap.  I chose the Twilight Ale, Black Butte Porter, Pompion Nitro, Mathilda's Ring, Benderweisse and Prima Chela.  What a great selection!  I really loved them all, but I can't stop thinking about the Prima Chela, a great concoction combining malt from Vienna, yeast from Mexico City and hops from Germany. Mellow and tasty! Another standout was the Pompion Nitro, a pumpkin beer with the flavor of many different spices.  I really must rave about Deschutes beer.  It really is something special.  We also enjoyed the ahi tuna and fresh halibit sandwiches accompanied by a wonderful side salad with Deschutes special vinaigrette dressing.  We topped our meal with a chocolate sundae shooter, the perfect ending to great evening.

The bartender fills the growler for a happy customer. 

What's fun:   First of all, Bend is such festive town, that the location in the heart of the city is perfect.  The clientele includes a nice mix of locals and visitors, and everyone is congenial.  If you're in town by yourself, Deschutes would be the perfect place to go to make a friend or two. The ambiance is warm and welcoming, the service outstanding, and the BEER....what more can I say.  They serve their beverages in a great selection of interesting glasses.  If you want a keepsake, you can buy one to bring home. The t-shirts are colorful and attractive as well.  I promise, that once you visit Deschutes Brew Pub, you're not likely to forget the experience.

A chocolate sundae to finish our meal. 

Eugene, OR - King Estate Winery

With so many wineries to choose from in Oregon, it was hard to decide where to visit first. We chose the King Estate Winery due to its reputation of having excellent food and great wine. My husband and I enjoyed the thirty minute scenic drive through the lush rolling hills southwest of Eugene.  You can't miss the winery since it appears like a castle perched high on the hilltop, surrounded by 30 acres of spectacular grounds.  The restaurant and tasting room is located at the very top of the hill and offers magnificent views.  There is a casual elegance about the interior design, accented with rich cherry wood, large picture windows, and soothing Mediterranean colors.  The feeling is polished and immaculate.  We were seated in the private dining room at an intimate table looking out on the patio.  If the weather had been nicer, it would have been lovely to sit outdoors.  The food is an epicurean's delight.  Many of the ingredients are grown on property or purchased from local growers.  After taking the first bite of food and sip of their signature Pinot Gris, we knew we chose well. 

What did we have: We decided to try the Signature wine sampler which includes their Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir, the two wines they are famous for.  Chardonnay and a dry rose were also included.  All four were pleasant, but the Pinot Gris is the variety that stands out.  All the items on the lunch menu sounded wonderful. My husband wanted to try the barbecue quail and I selected the smoked trout club with delicious apple cured bacon and pickles cured on the property.  The home made potato chips were a real treat.  I would say that any foodie would enjoy the offerings at King Estate.  We saved room for the bittersweet chocolate marquise, topped with homemade coffee toffee crunch ice cream.  Only one word to describe this dessert - yum.  Our server delighted us by bringing a sampling of the Vin Glace  a sweet dessert wine with a crisp finish that was the perfect sipping wine to end our meal.   Feeling full and content, we made our way to the tasting room to check out a few other offerings.  I requested tastings of the Acrobat and Domaine Pinot Gris to compare with the Signature.  The Domaine is an outstanding wine made exclusively from organic grapes grown on the estate offered at a higher price.  But all three are very enjoyable and we purchased bottles of each.

What's fun: The King Estate is a destination in itself.  I wish we had more time so we could have taken the tour and seen more of the estate.  It's a "feel good" kind of place knowing the ingredients grown on property are organic and top quality.  The wine tasting process is fun.  You can opt for three sample of the Signature varietals at no charge or pay $5 to try the more expensive wines.  There were a group of college girls next to me sampling a $60 bottle of Pinot Noir.  They admitted rarely paying more than $8 for a bottle of wine, so this was a real treat for them.  The server was personable and knowledgeable about the wine.  The entire staff was welcoming enhancing the experience.  We had planned to stop at a few other wineries before leaving the Eugene area, but truthfully, King Estate satisfied all our wine and food desires for that day.

Bend, OR - 10 Barrel Brewing Company

Fast becoming one of our favorite stops in Bend, Oregon,  is the 10 Barrel Brewing Company. The original design of the pub, the award winning brews and the outstanding pizza keeps us coming back.  On this visit we were joined by our daughter and her family.  If you want to experience a cross section of the Bend community, this is the place to visit.  A favorite of locals and visitors, it's the perfect place to meet up with friends after a day of skiing, hiking or work.   The large patio has a fire pit, so patrons can always enjoy sitting outdoors no matter what the weather.  The wall  that faces that patio has two large garage doors that can be raised or lowered depending on the weather, giving the pub an al fresco feel on warm days. This is also true for the bar which features outdoor seating weather permitting.  The feel of the pub is industrial, but warm and friendly.  On my first visit I thought it might have been a renovated gas station, but was informed it actually was a bakery.  The unique design was the brain child of the innovative creators.

What did we have:  The beer selection ranges from golden ale to a dark black ale, as well as a number of hoppy selections with a little higher alcohol content.  I was in the mood for a lighter beer and chose the "Mike-Saw-Sasquatch" Session Ale, a flavorful golden ale with just a touch of sweetness.  It was smooth and delicious. My husband ordered the Irish Red Ale since he enjoys a little malty flavor. Although she usually favors the award winning Black Sinister Ale, our daughter decided on a glass of wine and selected the Loosen Riesling for its bright, fruit inspired character. A pizza margarita, a hippy pie (their loaded veggie) and a "can't fail" peperoni pizza, satisfied everyone's cravings.  The generous portion of chocolate cake topped with vanilla ice cream was delivered with five spoons, and was devoured in no time by this chocolate loving crowd.

What's fun: Oh my gosh, at 10 Barrel it's everything!  The brews, the food, the atmosphere all add to the fun factor. We've been there during all seasons and it's always filled with happy folks. I've had great conversations with locals sipping nice dark brews by the outdoor fire pit.  Pubs are always most fun when the crowd represents a cross section of the community.  That is definitely the case at 10 Barrel.  It's a comfortable place for families and groups of friends. The friendly, kick-back atmosphere encourages anyone who visits to have a good time.  If you want to experience the flavor of Bend, definitely check out 10 Barrel.

Bend, OR - Bend Brewing Company

Our travels have landed us in Bend, Oregon, home of numerous world class microbreweries.  We decided to visit three pubs this visit, and started with one of the older establishments, the Bend Brewing Company.  Located on a side street off bustling downtown Bend, the brew pub is housed in an older structure situated just off the Deschutes River.  Inside there is a cozy bar and a number of tables where patrons can gaze out the large picture windows at the river, or watch a game on the big screen TV.  Since it was glorious day, we decided to have lunch and sample beer on the outdoor patio.  Accompanying my husband and me on this occasion was our daughter. We found the perfect table for three and settled in for some good food and tasty beer.
 
What did we have: Since this was our first visit, we ordered a sampler which featured ten beers, five of their standards and five seasonals.  It was a very nice selection and we enthusiastically enjoyed most of the them.  The seasonals were my favorities.  I particularly liked the  flavorful Doppelback and the Scotch Ale.  The Outback is one of their signature offerings and is a smooth and  robust old ale.  I was not as enthusiastic about the hefeweisen, usually one of my favorites.  It  was a little lackluster for my taste.  Their porter and stout IPA are both great sipping beers and would be incredibly rewarding after a day of skiing. I definitely need to put in a plug for the food.  The steelhead  trout was very fresh and nicely seasoned served blackened on the caeser salad or grilled on the foccacia sandwich.  The crab cake sandwich was delectable.  Of course we ordered their molten chocolate lava cake served with vanilla ice cream.  The cake was light with very rich dark chocolate flavor.  A definite winner. 

What’s fun: The atmosphere at the Bend Brewing Company is very welcoming.  You can see that the indoor bar area offers a  cozy and warm respite during the winter, and the outside patio a huge hit in the summer.  With ten of their own beers to choose from, there should be something that will please any beer drinker.  The menu is definitely a notch above usual pub grub.  The location near the river, and only a short walk from the heart of downtown Bend , it’s easy to see why Bend Brewing company has been a mainstay since 1995.  If you’re looking for a souvenir, they offer a colorful selection of T-shirts, hats and pint glasses. If you visit Bend, you should put this one on your list.

Las Vegas, NV - Yard House

In our family, a trip to Las Vegas includes a visit to the Yard House.   A popular. boisterous eating and drinking establishment offering 138 beers on tap, a variety of specialty drinks and house martinis, and a decent selection of wine from the west coast, South America and New Zealand.  The food menu offers something for everyone. Located in the trendy Towne Square, a few miles from the strip, the Yard House is always busy.  We chose to go for an early dinner on a Friday night to take advantage of happy hour prices and to get a table without waiting. Accompanying my husband and me, were our son, his wife and their two young children.   We tend to be a loud and happy crew so we fit right in at the Yard House. Although we prefer frequenting independent establishments, this is one chain, we really like.

What did we have:   Decisions, decisions.  How do you decide when there are so many great choices?  I decided to try a six pack beer sampler.  They select the beers for you,and my sampler included Spaten Octoberfest from Germany, Stone Arrogant Bastard from Escondido, California, Big Sky Moose Drool, from Missoula, Montana , House Honey Blonde, a Yard House  Craft Beer from Paso Robles, California, and  Full Sail  Amber  and  Pale from Hood River, Oregon.  Of this tasty group, I liked the Moose Drool the best. It’s a brown ale with a nice malted, roasted nutty flavor. My husband had the North Coast Pranqster, one of his all time favorites, and our son chose Franziskaner Hefe-Dunkel. We all thoroughly enjoyed our meals which consisted of signature salads and comfort food which included amazing mac and cheese.  Just as there is a beverage choice for everyone, there is also a meal to appeal to any taste. We sampled the two chocolate desserts offered on the menu - the mini chocolate souffle and the fresh baked brownie topped with vanilla ice cream. Of the two,we preferred the souffle since it has a richer, dark chocolate flavor.

What’s fun:  The atmosphere at the Yard House is loud and lively  with  rock music, big screen TVs featuring a variety of sporting events and large tables of folks having a good time. The  long bar spans the center of the restaurant and is surrounded with  the numerous beer taps. There is outside dining that may be more appealing to anyone wanting to have a quiet conversation.   The name, the Yard House, comes from the tall (actually half a yard) glasses that hold 32 ounces of beer and are a great gimmick for the very thirsty patron.  I love the menu which separates beers into categories. The Ales are broken down in groupings such as Blond, Honey, Pub Cream Ales, Belgian Fruit, White Ales and more.  The menu also features a Lager section and even Anomalies which include cider and seasonal beers.  It makes the selection process a little easier No one in our party chose to drink wine or cocktails on this visit, so guess we’ll have to return and sample those next time. Lucky us.

The freshly baked chocolate brownie.  Perfect sampler for four adults and one child!

Athens, GA - Trappeze Pub

 

Trappeze Pub in downtown Athens, Georgia

You can travel the world for beer, wine or chocolate, but sometimes, there is no place like home. Athens, Georgia is a college town where University of Georgia, this year's #1 party school, is located. (It’s also a damn good University and my employer.)  With a couple bars on every corner and $1. PBRs and Jager shots, no trouble finding a drink in Athens. I am happy to say that Trappeze is not your average college bar. In Athens, it’s in a class by itself

 Why go: First of all, there is something for everyone.  There are 35 craft beers on tap, over 200 different varieties in bottles and not a Budweiser, Miller or Coors in sight.  Wine is available by glass, bottle or on draught. There is a coffee bar offering espresso drinks, and the Highwire Lounge, their sister bar, is attached, and specializes in signature cocktails and single malt scotch. The food menu is fairly limited, but is very tasty. There are a variety of pub grub items, but the emphasis on locally grown ingredients makes everything a notch above the usual. They always have an amazing dinner special if you’re really hungry. Their signature dessert is a chocolate cake that is baked by small local bakery and is insanely good.  It has a light, airy texture rather than a heavy density, and just enough dark chocolate frosting. It's served with a dollop of real whipped cream. Perfection.

The bar

What did we have:  This is not my first visit to Trappeze.  You might even say I’m a regular, but not so much of a regular that the bartender yells “Liz!” when I walk in the door.  During this visit I was accompanied by my husband, Bruce, and my son, Greg, who just successfully completed his junior year at Georgia Tech. We were celebrating.  Bruce decided to try the Aecht Schlenkerla Fastenbier from Germany.  It is a Rauchbier with 5.5.% alcohol and had quite a smokey flavor.  Fortunately, he only ordered a half pour (available in all draught beers) since it was not his favorite.  Greg tried the Lagunitis Wilco Tango Foxtrot, a cask ale with 7.8% alcohol and a slightly hoppy finish.  He loved it.  I chose the draught wine.  On the menu it’s listed as Bonne Etiole, but actually it’s from Lucky Star Winery from California.  If you know French, you’ll understand that the Trappeze folks are having a little joke on us.  Bonne Etiole is lucky star in French.  I was a little dubious about the concept of draught wine, think wine in a box, until the bartender educated me.  The wine is aged in barrels and instead of bottled, it’s put in kegs.  He insisted that the wine stays fresher and is less likely to be damaged by light or heat.  He was right, the wine is very pleasant.  I had a glass of the chardonnay which had a crisp, slightly sweet flavor, perhaps a hint of pears and citrus. 

What’s fun:  The atmosphere at Trappeze is casual and relaxed.  It’s a gorgeous bar with dark wood overtones and a variety of gleaming beer taps.  It’s located on the corner of two centrally located streets in downtown Athens which is bustling with students and other young adults, so the people watching outside the windows is always fun.  There are outside tables, on the sidewalk, if you'd like to drink al fresco.  The pub is always lively but not uncomfortably packed.  The crowd is a cross section of locals and visitors.  You might see a table of graduate students, a family with a couple of toddlers, a couple of undergrads on dates, and some professor types.  It’s also a popular place for students to bring their out-of- town parents when they visit.  As my son says, "people don’t go to Trappeze to get drunk." The offerings are quality products and not inexpensive. The half pour option is great and they will always give you a small taste if you’d like to try something on tap.  One of my favorite things about Trappeze are the glasses.  You’ll never know the shape and size of glass your beer will arrive in.  The bartender told me there is a reason that certain beers are served in different glasses, but all I know is that I like the surprise.  And if you really like the glass, they’ll sell it to you.  Check it out, you won’t be sorry.