Bend beer basics bask buzzed beaverstated brewlovers ... OK I've run out of alliteration on that one, but there's big excitement in the Pearl.

The first Deschutes Brewery in Portland officially opens Friday, May 2 and some of Portland's media got a sneak peek last Friday night as they busted out their signature - and some new - beers and gourmet Northwest cuisine.

Built in the former Jim Stevens auto building, the outside looks still familiar, as the neon reminds you of the old shop. They also reused a lot of the timber and other materials for the structure and bartop.

Beavers and Urinals

Really. One of the first things that strikes you are the intricate beaver sculptures in wild poses that adorn some table tops and an arch separating the standing bar from the dining area.
Wow, those are some beavers doing crazy things man. They were done by Sisters woodcarver J. Chester Armstrong and feature all kinds of NW wildlife scenes.

Renovators spent about $5 million. It kind of feels like Central Oregon too.

The author, beer, beaver. Photo courtesy Kristina Baesler/Pearl District Business Association

In the men's room, the turn-of-the-last-century sarcophigi urinals were salvaged from New York. They're huge porcelain reverse thrones. I only mention this impressive architectural detail since they make a point of it in the press pack. And they're cool.

It's a pretty big place too, you can't really tell from the outside or the dining room, until you slink back to the brewery area. Almost the whole block and much spacier than the Bend brewery, though I do love that one so too. That may not last long though, I can see Deschutes being a very popular place to drop in for a quick one with the workmates on Fridays or First Thursdays.

More: KGW's Joe Smith checks out the new Deschutes

The menu has pub favorites and some more gourmet-type items aimed at the denizens of the Pearl no doubt. But -- haachi maachi, man, good stuff by top notch chefs. Ale-fried fish and chips, braised Obsidian Stout beef, baby back honey porter BBQ ribs ... whew.

You also may have noticed the Green Lake Ale popping up around town, it's their newest cure for spring summer envy.

Welcome Deschutes, it's good to taste a part of our wild Oregon right here downtown.

1 Comments

Anastasia Beaverhausen said:

Booyah! Can't wait to get my beer buzz on @ the best brewery while biting some bread by the blithe, balling beavers (blush!).

Does this woodcarver have a website?

Very debonair portrait of the Scenester, btw...

Thanks for giving us the hot happenings around town!

May 2, 2008 3:36 PM

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