Hood River, OR - Full Sail Pub

Our family has a long history of enjoying venues that offer excellent beer and wine.  I have a vivid memory of slipping a little taste of Riesling to our oldest son when we were on a family outing to a winery in the Finger Lakes region of NY.  He was 16 and I wanted him to appreciate the fine wine produced in the region.  I also remember ordering a glass of San Giovese for our youngest son in Venice so he could get the full experience of Italy.  He was also 16. So now, all the children are of legal age, and they all appreciate fine wine and quality beer.  Our family outings often include sampling the finest naturally fermented beverages available in the area.  It only made sense that on the final days of our summer vacation, we traveled to Hood River in search of both.



The unasuming entrance to Full Sail leads to the famous pub.

As fans of Full Sail beer, a trip to their brewpub in Hood River, OR was much anticpated, and thoroughly savored.   

What did we have: We enjoyed their superior beer and their unexpectedly delicious pub grub.
What's fun: Full Sail is a pleasant pub overlooking the mighty Columbia Gorge dotted with colorful wind and kite surfers that serves amazing beer and surprisingly good food.

Everyone in our family is a fan of Full Sail beer, so we decided to end our vacation together with a short trip to Hood River and a stop at the pub. Since we had been on brewery tours, we decided to pass up that experience and make our way directly to the drinking establishment. The pub is located on an unassuming street overlooking the Columbia Gorge. The first thing you notice when you enter are the wall of windows along the back allowing for amazing views of the river below, and the numerous colorful wind and kite surfers.  It is quite breathtaking and even if the beer and food wasn't that good, it still would have been a worthwhile visit. Fortunately for us, that wasn't the case.

A sampler of beer, an amazing view. 

What did we have: We wanted to try all the available beers, so we ordered two samplers, that featured seven of the twelve beers they had on tap. They offered everything from a mellow and flavorful lager to a highly hopped IPA. One thing about Full Sail that differentiates it from many other breweries is the consistency and quality of the beer. Even the brews that weren't my favorites had interesting character, depth and levels of flavor. My choices included their Pale Ale which was crisp and refreshing, the LTD 03, a lager bursting with flavor and the Belgian Style Dubbel which was bold with the perfect balance of malt and hops.  Just thinking about it makes me smile. We ordered food which was surprisingly good. Since it was a chilly day I enjoyed the Mediterranean chicken soup with orzo. The fries were a big hit with our gang, and perhaps the best of all was the turkey brie and apple panini served on garlic toast.

Delicious food and tasty beer makes for happy folks!

What was fun: A family outing to a great brew pub is always fun. Discovering 12 different beers on tap, enjoying samples of all of them, and taking in the spectacular view, added to the experience. Finding out that the food far exceeded our expectations was a pleasant surprise. Visiting the pub during the middle of the day, without crowds, when we could relax, enjoy our beer and savor the experience was priceless.  

Portland, OR - Pix Patisserie

The bright red exterior of Pix Patisserie. 

When I asked my friend Betsy to find us a great place in Portland that served chocolate desserts, I knew I wouldn't be disappointed. If there is one person who knows chocolate, it's Betsy. When I walked into Pix Patisserie, located on an artsy block of Division Street, and took one look at the display case, I knew I  hit the mother lode!  Row upon row of pastries, each presented as mini masterpieces. Pix serves amazing chocolate, fine wine and tasty local beer, all served in a cozy, eclectic atmosphere that oozes ambiance and encourages friendly conversation. Not since visiting the French Broad Chocolate Lounge in Asheville was I so excited.  The desserts tasted as good as they looked which is saying a lot.


Kitchy, whimsical and cozy.

Our visit to Pix took place after a wonderful seafood meal, so unfortunately we all were pretty full.  But that did not prevent us from drooling at the site of the vast offerings.  The decor is  is warm and inviting with various sizes of solid wood tables scattered throughout the room. On the back wall there is another display case featuring individually hand made chocolates of every shape and flavor. Hanging from light fixtures are sock monkeys adding a whimsical feel to the place.  We were urged to grab a table quickly, and wise advice it was, since the room filled up just a few minutes after we arrived. 




Take your pick.

 What did we have:  This was a very tough decision since literally everything looked so good.  After some lengthy deliberation, my husband and I chose to share the Concord, a combination of chocolate mouse, chocolate meringue, chocolate ganache, so beautifully designed that I almost hated to take a bite.  Once I did, it was hard to stop raving. 

Betsy and Larry ordered a hand crafted, dark chocolate caramel flaked with sea salt, and a French almond macaron.  After checking out the selection of wine that paired well with desserts, we all chose a glass of our preference. The patisseries also features a few local draught beers and specialty coffee drinks.  If chocolate isn't your thing (really, it's not?) no problem.  Pix also specializes in numerous non-chocolate pastries, too.

What's fun:  Goodness, how can I be any more enthusiastic?  I have to say everything about a visit to Pix is fun!  The funky location on Division Street, the bright red exterior and warm yellow interior, the cozy atmosphere, and of course, the incredible selection of mouth-watering temptations accompanied with a glass of wine or beer.  It was a perfect way to end a wonderful day in Oregon with two of our favorite friends.

Dundee, OR - Domaine Drouhin

The attractive entrance to Domaine Drouhin Winery. 

Domaine Drouhin offers wine tasting in a sophisticated atmosphere offering spectacular views.
What did we have: the standard three flight wine tasting plus the bonus of a couple of special varietals
What was fun: the scenery is breathtaking, the wine is elegant, and if they happen to open a few special bottles, you're in for a real treat.

Enjoying fine wine on the outdoor patio. 

After enjoying a leisurely hour of wine tasting at the comfortable Erath Winery with our good friends, Betsy and Larry, we only had time for one more stop that afternoon. So we made our way up the winding roads in Dundee, Oregon to the highly recommended Domaine Drouhin. The winery sits perched on top of a high hill. The unassuming entrance led way to the spacious tasting room and outdoor patio.  I would call the decor sophisticated minimalist, sleek styling featuring rich earth colors. Very fitting for the fine wine we tasted, and quite the opposite from the homey feel of Erath.  Once we ordered our wine tastings - a flight of three wines for $10 - we found a table on the outdoor patio and were impressed with the dramatic view of of the 225 acres of vineyards.  It was simply gorgeous. Sitting next to us was a table of patrons who clearly were VIPs.  The red carpet treatment was being offered this group as bottles were being opened and wine was being tossed out after a few sips.  This is important to note, because we benefited by their visit that afternoon.  Our attractive server was very informative, explaining about each wine we sampled. The Drouhin family also owns the Joseph Drouhin Winery in Burgandy, France. Both wineries produce outstanding wine and have won numerous awards internationally and are rated very highly by the Wine Spectator.

At Domaine Drouhin it's all about the wine and the view. 

What did we have:  We enjoyed all three wines offered in the standard flight.  Prices ranged from $30 a bottle for the crisp 2009 Oregon Chardonnay Arthur to $65 for the bold 2007 Oregon Pinot Noir Laurene.  We all enjoyed the $50 bottle of the 2009 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley where 95% of the grapes are estate grown and the taste is richly layered with bursts of fruit.  We were in for a real treat when our server brought us a couple leftovers from VIP table.  Our bonus wines included a Chablis produced in Burgandy, and the very special 2000 Oregon Pinot Noir Louise Cuvee, a bottle that usually sells for $100.  Even my unsophisticated palate could appreciate the depth and elegant character of a very good bottle of wine.

What was fun:  The setting itself is quite wonderful, and the wine is excellent.  Picnicking is not allowed at Domaine Drouhin, so a trip there is all about the wine and the view.  Although we thoroughly enjoyed our special wine tasting at the estate, none of us felt compelled to buy a bottle to bring home.  Since several varietals are widely distributed, it won't preclude me from purchasing a bottle or two in the future.

Dundee,OR - Erath Winery

The colorful front entrance to Erath Winery's Tasting Room.

Erath Winery offers a relaxing atmosphere in a lovely setting featuring excellent, moderately priced wine.
What did we have: a sampling of Erath wine while sitting on the outdoor patio overlooking the vineyards
What was fun: drinking quality wine with good friends in a scenic location

It's hard to beat an afternoon of wine tasting in the Willamette Valley of Oregon.  It is even better when you're  reconnecting with good friends who have relocated to the area.  We chose Erath Winery as our first stop.  Erath has wide distribution of their well known Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris, and we've enjoyed many a bottle over the years in Georgia.  I was curious to try some of the estate wines and other varietals.  We drove up a winding gravely road surrounded by fields of grape vines on our approach to the winery.  The tasting room and outdoor patio is located at the winery on the top of a rolling hills with rows upon rows of ripening grapes,  After enjoying a substantial and tasty lunch at the Community Plate in downtown McMinnville, we did not bring a picnic lunch as you are invited to do at the winery.  We definitely wanted to sit outdoors where we could enjoy our conversation while leisurely tasting wine and taking in the scenery.  It was a lovely experience.

A couple of happy wine tasters.

What did we have:  The wine tasting consists of six samples of wine for $10.  If you spend $30 on wine, the tasting is free.  Since there were four of us, and planned to make at least one more winery stop, we chose to share two tastings.  Our server brought them out to us, and for over an hour we tasted wine, enjoyed our converstaion, and took in the beautiful view. We sampled a 2010 Pinot Gris Rose, 2010 Pinot Blanc, 2009 Pinot Gris, 2009 Estate Selection Pinot Noir, 2008 Battle Creek Pinot Noir and a 2008 Leland Pinot Noir.  Bottle prices range from high teens to around 50 dollars.  We enjoyed them all, but my favorite was the moderately priced  Estate Pinot Noir. It has a hint of fruit and hint of smoke, bold yet bright, with a smooth finish.  My husband liked the festive Pinot Blanc so we left with a bottle of each. Our friends also bought a bottle of Pinot Noir, so there was so the tasting fee was waived.  

The view from the outdoor patio.

What was fun:  Erath is the perfect setting to enjoy wine tasting with friends.  The location, nestled in the rolling hills of the Willamette Valley, enhanced the experience. The hostess was relaxed and unpretentious, and encouraged us to enjoy our time there. The quality of the wine is good and the prices were friendly to our dwindling vacation budget. Next time we'll bring some cheese, bread and fruit along with us, drink a little more wine, and linger a little longer.

Decatur, GA - The Brick Store Pub

A crowd gathers outside the popular Brick Store Pub.

Last weekend my husband and I went to Atlanta to do a little shopping and catch a Braves game.  Long story short, we never made it to the Braves game, but we did discover a great new pub which rates high in ambiance, good food and, especially, great beer.  The Brick Store Pub is located in the heart of Decatur, Georgia, an intown suburb of Atlanta.  Decatur is a progressive city with a trendy downtown made up of mostly independent restaurants, shops and businesses.  The Brick Store is perfectly located and perfectly named.  The pub has a brick exterior and beautiful exposed brick walls on the interior.  It's is small, cozy and is eclectically decorated with art and photographs.  The Brick Store has an upstairs loft which is named the Belgian Bar, and hence, serves Belgian, high gravity draft beers.  The eight taps rotate regularly.  Downstairs the pub has 17 taps, all craft beer, some popular local brews and some lesser known.  I was lucky to discover a new ale that has become a fast favorite.

A LaTrappe Witte and a Jolly Pumpkin Maracaibo.  Yum!

What did we have:  I wanted to try something I had never had before and the Jolly Pumpkin Maracaibo sounded interesting.  Jolly Pumpkin is an artisan brewery in Dexter, Michigan and I was not familiar with it's beer.  I was lucky to get the last pour from that keg, because this is one special beer.  I think the Brick Store staff did a good job with the description on the menu "an amazingly complex beer with layer after layer of interesting flavors. Some funk in the finish"  My husband chose, a LaTrappe Witte,from the Netherlands, the only Trappist white beer in the world.  He enjoyed it thoroughly.  The Brick Store offers some fine grub, too.  The locally grown philosophy was very apparent in the Veggie Sammy that I ordered.  It was bursting with fresh vegetables and spread with a spicy white bean hummus on foccacia.  Excellent!  My husband chose another of his favorites,  the bratwurst.  The side we chose was heirloom tomatoes with vinaigrette. The food was a perfect pairing with our tasty brews.

Great energy, great atmosphere at the Brick Store Pub.

What was fun:  The Brick Store Pub is popular! Arriving at 5 pm we were lucky to get the last available table.  By the time we left there was a crowd outside waiting.  That said, the atmosphere is lively, with great energy.  The service was excellent and the staff was willing to talk about the beers, make recommendations, provide info about the history and insight about the philosophy of the pub.  It's been successful for 14 years and strives to offer selections of beer that are not always available in the area.  The beer will change seasonally and I imagine if I were to return this weekend there would be new choices. Although we're not able to return this weekend, we definitely will return to the Brick Store Pub.  And if you're ever lucky enough to be in downtown Decatur, GA, I recommend you check it out, too. 










Munich, Germany - Chinesischer Turm (Chinese Tower)

A beautiful afternoon at the Chinesischer Turm.

After a few days of visiting castles and hiking in the Alps, we found our way to Munich, the last stop on our Bavarian adventure.  With over 200 beer gardens in the city, how do you choose where to go?  First we went to, arguably, the most famous, the Hofbrauhaus, a raucous indoor/outdoor beer hall with a long history.  Then we popped into a few lesser known and less noteworthy (but all enjoyable) venues.  It wasn't until we made our way to the English Gardens and the Chinesischer Turm beer garden, that I found one I wanted to write about.






This guy is having fun!

 Our time in Munich was limited and we wanted to see as much as we could.  Since it was a glorious summer day, we rented bicycles and spent the entire day maneuvering through the traffic through interesting neighborhoods, down the bike paths of the Lech River and through the wonderful English Gardens.  You can ride for hours through the English Gardens, as it's one of the largest public parks in Europe, located in the center of Munich.  After four solid hours on our bikes we were ready for some refreshments.  We parked our bikes by the beer garden and found a free table under the shade of a large chestnut tree.  The garden is just lovely, with tables set under lush trees and surrounded by grassy lawns and flower beds. In the center is the Chinese Tower, a wooden structure that was constructed around 1790. (It was destroyed during WWII, but was rebuilt shortly after the war.)  The location is nearby the University of Munich, hence a younger crowd frequents the beer garden.  The day we were there, it was not overly crowded, but I was told it is one of the city's largest and can seat up to 8,000 people. Being a traditional beer garden, it was self serve.  My husband went for the beer and I went for some sustenance.

The carriage driver catches a quick beer in between trips. 

What did we have:  The Chinesischer Turm serves Hofbrau beer which is high quality and flavorful.  Since I was really thirsty, I decided to try a radler, which is a helles beer mixed with lemon drink, similar to a British shandy.  Radler means, "one for the bike" and is often drunk as the last drink at the end of a long night of revelry.  It was a good choice for the occasion, but I doubt I'd make it a regular favorite.  Somehow it reminded me of drinking wine coolers, and why dilute that delicious German beer?  My husband chose his favorite, a dunkel and enjoyed every sip.  We ate an interesting combination of bratwurst, purple cabbage, Greek salad, and pretzels.  Don't ask me why, they just all looked great and I walked down the food line and made my selection.  And they were all tasty.  The salads in Germany are made from the freshest ingredients, and did not disappoint.


What was fun:  We loved the kick-back atmosphere of the English Gardens and Chinesischer Turm.  It was such a relaxing atmosphere, we could have sat there all afternoon, drinking beer, watching the folks strolling through the park, and enjoying the gorgeous day.  We were only in Munich for such a short time we wanted to cover a little more territory before we called it a day.  So we turned in our mugs, collecting the required deposit, and made our way back to our bikes.  As I sit writing this review, in our air conditioned home, looking out on a sweltering Georgia afternoon, what I'd give to be back riding bikes and drinking beer in Munich's second largest beer garden.

A Little About Wine and Chocolate

The bride and groom enjoyed their wine. 

Although we clearly focused on beer during this romp through Bavaria, we did not forget our other loves...wine and chocolate.  Matter of fact, I must admit, on a few evenings I got a little "beered out" and switched to a very popular drink in Munich, a aperol spritz which is made from prosecco and aperol, an bright orange aperitif similar to compari.  I first tried one at the wedding reception and enjoyed it.  Later I saw people drinking them in outdoor cafes, restaurants and even beer gardens. I gladly joined in.  We also had some lovely white wine at the wedding reception.  It was 2009 Escherndorfer Lump Silvaner Kabinett trocken (dry).  I was not familiar with Silvaner grapes before drinking this wine, but I discovered they are the third most commonly grown grape in Germany.  The wine tasted like dry Riesling, crisp with a slight fruitiness that I enjoyed so much I drank a few too many glasses.  Ah, the joy of wedding receptions!  




Schuhbecks chocolate shop is tempting.

 Although we did not have many chocolate desserts in Bavaria, we did order a chocolate souffle with vanilla sauce and Johannes berries, at a lovely sidewalk cafe one night. It was quite spectacular, and since I hadn't had any chocolate for a number of days, it was truly appreciated.  We also stopped at Schuhbecks, a sophisticated chocolate shop that features homemade chocolate from Germany and other gourmet brands from Belgium, Switzerland and Italy.  I did a little shopping there and brought back some great chocolate including a sampler box of dark chocolate flavored with spices including cardamon, anise and cinnamon. 
On this trip it was about the beer, but when we return to Germany (and we will!) a drive through wine country and a few more chocolate shops will be on the itinerary. 

You can find great chocolate desserts in Munich.

Bavaria, Germany - Andechs Abbey and Beer Garden




This photo was "borrowed" from Wikipedia. 
Andechs Monestary in all it's glory.

After we arrived in Bavaria, our family and friends highly recommended a trip to Andechs Abbey.  They said it is a MUST for any beer lover. With all the wedding festivities, our time was tight, but we were able to slip away and spend a few hours at Andechs. I'm so glad we didn't miss out on the experience...and the beer!

The colorful beer garden at Andechs Abbey.

Perched up on a hill overlooking the picturesque Ammersee (Ammer lake) sits the Benedictine monastery where monks have been praying and making beer since 1455.  If we had the time, we would have loved to tour the entire monastery, but since we only had a few hours, we knew our priorities.  After a quick tour of the ornate Baroque church, we headed directly to the beer garden.  It has a large indoor beer hall and outdoor garden overlooking the lake.  In both areas, patrons sat on long tables enjoying giant mugs of beer and huge plates of food. Fortunately we were with a large group, including an experienced German traveler who knew the ropes.  It was at Andechs where we learned how a true beer garden works.  There are no servers, you pick up what you want at counters. One line forms near the kitchen area where food is served.  Another line forms by the counter in front of huge kegs of beer. The lines may be long, but due to German efficiency, they move very quickly.  Several people from our party went to pick up the beer, and several went for food.  The mugs are designed so you can carry three, four or even five at a time. We ended up with a table full of  food and drink, undoubtedly some of the best that Germany has to offer.



It's easy to carry four beers.

 What did we have:  Since it was a chilly afternoon, and I tend to pick my beer type by the climate, I chose to drink a half-liter of dunkel (dark ale).  Others selected the traditional helles (blond lager) and the weiss (hefeweiss wheat).  Everyone raved. The beer at Andechs is truly tasty, and beautiful in color, too.  As for food, we had a virtual feast.  We purchased plates of bratwurst, pork ribs and large soft pretzels.  In addition there were bowls of traditional potato salad and sauerkraut. I sampled it all and now I understand why Germans are such hearty folks.  Definitely a stick-to-your-ribs meal. I had to take a long hike the next day to make up for this meal.

The boy was happy with his souvenirs. 

What's fun:  The atmosphere at Andech is truly unique.  First of all, the physical location and the long history makes it truly awe inspiring.  Over the years multitudes have visited the monastery to pray, sometimes in hopes of a miracle cure that reportedly has occurred.  But once you step into the beer garden, it's all festivity and fun. Crowds of locals and tourists alike, enjoying their beer and food in the lively beer hall.  Outside, the garden is surrounded with bright orange geraniums. Patrons sit with their dogs sitting quietly beside them, or in one case, snuggled on an old man's lap. Since the seating is family style, old sit with young, couples next to families, everyone immersed in conversation.  It's the German way, and it's fun.  Also, there is a great gift shop, one like I've never been to before.  Half the shop is dedicated to religious artifacts, a variety of crosses, medals and statues of saints.  The other half has beer steins, bottle openers and bottled beer.  It's really unusual, but since there is something there for every visitors, I bet they make a hefty profit.





Monks have been making beer for years.