Horse Brass Pub

Maxine was really humoring me Saturday. The Wharton event had ended, we’d stopped at Target on the way back to our house, and it was still only about 8 PM. “Would you be OK trying another beer place?” I asked. So, we stopped home to check on Cassie and then drove the 10 minutes over to the Horse Brass Pub.

It’s a dark, rough beamed place, with flags and old posters around. Opened in 1976. People talking loudly in big groups. Darts games going in several directions. Gloomy yellow lighting. Have I discouraged you yet?

56 beers on tap. They reprint their beers menu 3 times EACH WEEK as they change out what they’re serving. This place is a MUST VISIT.

Noticing me reading the beer menu, our waitress came over, so I asked her help. “I like hoppy IPA’s, but more for flavor/finishing hops, not for bittering. Can you recommend something?”

How many places could you say something like that and get a credible answer in return? Here, anyway you could.

Our beers for the night: I started with the recommended Vortex IPA from St. George Brewing in Astoria, Oregon. And, it was exactly what I was looking for. Then, I had an Old Tavern Rat Aged Dark Barleywine (despite the name, Barleywine is a beer style) from Lompoc Brewing here in Portland. Also very very good. And, no rat’s tails in my glass. Maxine had a Black Cherry Stout from Walking Man Brewing in Stevenson, Washington. This one was extraordinary (the others were too, but this was unique). When you started to taste it, the mouthful began with black cherry flavors dominating, but then your mouth would notice as the coffee stout flavor took over – this in each mouthful! Fantastic.

Even though we have quite a few more beer places to check out in the time we have, we’ll be back to the Horse Brass Pub – maybe in a few days after they’ve changed their beer menu!