We had time for a brewery in Portland, too.

Burnside Brewing Company was near our dinner restaurant so we had a quick beer before grubbing.

The menu has a lot of options, but there was one that stood out to me: Sweet Heat - Wheat ale with apricot puree and imported Jamaican Scotch Bonnet peppers.

Wow, you can actually taste the heat in this beer. Like, my throat was actually tingling.

We are brewers who make great beer.  Starting in 2010 the goal of having an independent, creative brewery in the heart of Portland, came to fruition. After a Gold Medal at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver and 500 plus beers later, Burnside Brewing is proud to be a fixture on the inner east side along with other quality distilleries, breweries and small business owners. Our tanks are working seven days a week, on a 15 barrel system, allowing us to provide a wide variety of beer choices throughout the year (SOURCE).

It was well-balanced, though, and very good. Plus the nice heat at the end. Now, that's a good beer.



Grade: A

Listen, I only went to so many breweries in Seattle for ~research~. It's good to see how other places are doing things so I can see how West Virginia fits in. 

We stopped at Old Stove Brewing Co. for a drink.

Usually, I go for a sampler, but I had already made up my mind here.

The Saison de Poele is a flavorful Belgian farmhouse style beer, brewed with white wheat and oats and a sour mash. Cloudy and gold in color, and hopped with Centennial and Sorachi Ace. 

Like the Pike Place Market we call home, Old Stove Brewing is all about local flavor and dedication to the craft. We are Seattle’s newest brewery, even if our old stove is from 1905 –as old as the Market itself. Queen Anne resident Chris Moore grew up chopping Michigan hardwoods and stoking the family Kalamazoo stove to keep the house warm. His love affair with the warmth-giving pieces of functional art has been glowing ever since. So when Co-Founders Chris and Brian decided to open a brewery, they knew they had to bring in their friendly old partner. A Kalamazoo stove occupies a place of honor in the corner and on the mural that brings the early days of the Market to life. This may be your grandfather’s heater, but this is not your grandfather’s beer. We piped steam into our brewery – not an easy task, but a good one for brewing beer and sustainable fuels. We scour the Pacific Northwest for the best hops and grains. We treat the water differently for each style of beer. We make sure ingredients are fresh, temperatures are precise and lines are clean. We welcome young ones, too. Kids will marvel at the mural and its hidden treasures while you sample one of our highly drinkable beverages – no iPad needed. “If you came in and, God forbid, you order an iced tea instead of a beer with a sandwich,’’ Brian says, “you’re still going to love that sandwich and the environment.’’ But go ahead and order a beer and savor the spirit of the Market. And cozy up to our old Kalamazoo stove – it’ll feel like an old friend.

This beer was good. I like a just slightly sour beer, so this is up my alley. I only wish it was even more so. Not bad, though.

Grade: B

Whilst on Bainbridge Island, we had to check out a brewery.

Bainbridge Island Brewing was nearby, and looked inviting.

Inside, they have the bar, as well as some tables and an upstairs that partially overlooks the space.

In order to try a few different beers, I went with a sampler and choose their kolsch, a scotch ale, a barleywine and an IPA.

And, of course, a small cheese plate to accompany it. And by cheese plate, I mean a package of smoked gouda cheese, some rice crackers in a ziploc bag and a paper towel. But, I don't hate it.

Each of these were great. I especially liked their kolsch. The IPA here was good too. It had a nice balance.

The cheese was delicious and I ate every bite of it. The best part, though, is that they were very puppy-friendly so I got to watch all kinds of pups, drink beer and eat cheese. What could be better.

Grade: A

There is a brewery right in Pike Place Market, which is pretty cool.

It's as old as I am, but The Pike Brewing Company is pretty lively. There were lots of folks eating and drinking throughout the sort of sprawling dining area.

We came just for some drinks, though.

We each ordered the sampler, which came with Pike Naughty Nellie, Pike Place Ale, Pike IPA, Pike Kilt Lifter, Pike XXXXX, and Pike Monk's Uncle.

These were all a bit underwhelming for me. Heavy or bland or just not all that exciting. I didn't mind the golden Nellie beer, but even then, not super exciting.

So, we were definitely in search of a good brewery - maybe a bit further away from the touristy area of Pike Place. Nothing especially bad here, but nothing I got excited about either.




Grade: C

Rivesville is becoming one cool little town.

Lodged between Morgantown and Fairmont off the beaten track, this town has a record shop, a tasty restaurant and now - West Virginia's newest brewery.

Short Story Brewing was founded by a brother, sister, and the sister's husband: Aaron, Abby and Mike. The trio wanted to create great beer in their community, and the brewery has a literature theme which pleases me. 

It's a nice little scenic drive to get here, there's tons of parking and the building - it's just beautiful. It's sleek, a little hipster and cozy all at once.

Their beers currently (as per Brilliant Stream):

We got a flight so we could sample them all, and I loved Working Title so much that I ended up taking a growler home with me. Aaron was also kind enough to show us the beautiful brewing system. 

If you haven't been here, make plans to immediately. The place is gorgeous, the beer is absolutely delicious, and there's a really cool vibe here where I can see them being a strong force in the revitalization of this community.

Stop by, have a drink (or two), snack on some popcorn and enjoy the card catalog flights :)