Full Sail Brewing Company

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This is another brewery that has a special place in my heart. Full Sail Brewing Company is a local, employee-owned company in the Columbia River Gorge. Founded in 1987, it is one of the oldest microbreweries in Oregon. And the first in the Northwest to have commercial bottling success.

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The brewery itself is is located in charming town of Hood River, Oregon, just an hour from Portland. They bought the abandoned Diamond Fruit Cannery and transformed it into a place to pursue their dreams. The first beer they produced was a golden ale.  As business began to boom, they added more beers, including a porter, an amber, and a winter ale. They continued to grow and now feature two core beers, a few seasonal, special releases, and session lagers.

Photo courtesy of my boyfriend

Not only do you need to try the beer, but you need to visit the brewery as well. The Columbia River Gorge is one of the most spectacular sights in the world. It is located right along the Interstate 84, making it very hard to miss. You get an amazing view of the river and the surrounding landscape. The pub offers Pacific Northwest inspired food prepared with local ingredients. I usually get the Hummus Plate (just minus the feta). The Brewery offers tours everyday on the hour from 1-4 PM. The staff member are very nice and very knowledgeable. And, you get a free beer glass at the end!

Here are my two favorites beers:

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Full Sail Amber Ale: I love the chocolate malt in this beer. It has a unique taste---sweet and malty, but somehow a little spice too. It was very groundbreaking at the time-- just like the Oregonian spirit. This is one of the flagship brews and has won numerous awards. 

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LTD 03:This is a seasonal beer, only available from June to September (which is usually when I visit home anyways).  Full Sail calls it a pale-golden, I was argue it is more on the golden side. I do agree that it is a "thirst quencher", especially after a long, hot day. The hoppy/floral combination is what draws me to it.

You can find Full Sail Beers almost anywhere nowadays. If I can find them in a literal shack of a store on the Kohala Coast of the Big Island, you should have no trouble at all.

The reason (besides the awesome beer) this company has a special place in my heart is because it was the place my sweetheart and I discovered our mutual love for beer. He was in Hood River doing an internship with one of our geology professors. The first day he was there, I asked how he liked Full Sail. He answered, "How do you know where I am?"  I responded ,"You would be crazy not to be there!" Later he invited me to come join them for the day since I only lived an hour away. After a long and tortuous day of hiking to find a hidden fault, we were exhausted and thirsty. He suggest we get beer from Full Sail and I knew right then that I wanted to date this boy.

What I like the most about Full Sail is that it uses all local ingredients and is committed to being an active member of the local community. These are people who truly enjoy beer and want to make a good product.  As the bottle caps say, they really are just "stoked to brew."

Sources:
Full Sail Brewery Tour
http://www.fullsailbrewing.com/full-sail-story.cfm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Full_Sail_Brewing_Company

McMenamin's Cornelius Pass Road House and Imbrie Hall

All photos from here

My hometown is Hillsboro, Oregon and there is no way I make my first review about any other place than McMenamin's Cornelius Pass Road House and Imbrie Hall.  I went to the restaurant a child with my family and it was one of the first bars I ever went with my friends when I turned 21.

Oregonians know and love McMenamin's Restaurants. There are several locations around Oregon and Washington. They purchase historic buildings and turn them into amazing brewpubs and restaurants. They are decorated a little eclectic, but very warm and inviting. Every location feels like you are sitting at your friend's house for dinner.  I am partial to the Road House because it is right down the street from my parents' house. They all have similar menus that vary seasonally, and feature McMenamin's own beers.

Cornelis Pass Road House and Imbrie Hall are two historic buildings for the town of Hillsboro. Built in 1850, Imbrie Hall was the original home of pioneer Robert Imbrie.  As his family grew he built a second house next door, the road house. In the late 1970s, the Imbrie family opened a restaurant. In 1986 McMenanmin's leased the property and over the next couple decades (and a legal battle over construction rights) restored the house. Lastly, in 2001 Imbrie Hall opened.

The grounds are lit- up at night during the summer.

Today you can dine in either building. The Road House has both in door and out door seating. My dad loves coming for late dinners in the summer. They have picnic tables and lights around the property. He enjoys the warm evenings with his family and a cold beer. Inside, like I said, feels like you are sitting in a friend's country home for dinner in the 1850s. However, Imbrie Hall is my favorite of the two buildings. It is a mix between an 1850s saloon and a barn house. The dark wood and metal fixtures are gorgeous. My mom and I often go for lunch when I am home. The menu is the same in both buildings though.

Ok, now for the beer. I know the selection by heart by now so I have my own opinions. You can check out their own descriptions here.  I am going to discuss my three favorites.

Ruby:
I love this beer so much it was the only thing I wanted to toast with for my graduation from the University of Oregon. It is a light ale with a little pink tint. It is a little sweet and very refreshing on a hot day. It has fresh Oregon raspberries brewed right in. My mom and I both think it tastes a little grapefruit for some reason. This is more of "girly" beer but that does not make it any less amazing.

Hammerhead:
It's a classic golden ale. Hoppy and a little malty. It goes great with anything on the menu, but I suggest using it wash down a burger because they make their own buns with the beer!

Terminator Stout:
It's dark, rich, and chocolatey. If you like dark beers, this is the one for you.

They also have seasonal ales that change often so I suggest trying them too. I can't remember what it was called, but I had this wheat one a few years back that I still dream of often.

Man, this post made me homesick--and thirsty!