Because I chose not to run with Blake's mildly fallacious argument, but my point is: the PNW accomodates the likes of the R&R - a PNW hophead's kinda joint, and there are other PNW-chauvinist places to be found aplenty, like the Bob Brenlin's trio of Seattle alehouses, but there's also room for variety, much like you have in your back- yard. And you knew that, too, didn't you? C'mon, say you did.
Ain't done Seattle, Don. Need to. But I did NOT see any place with an East Coast kind of tap selection at all in 5 days of pretty intensive beer therapy in the Portland area, even with trips out to Full Sail, Mt. Hood, and Bend. I've heard tell of it, but I've been bamboozled by homers before. I gotta go lay hands on the phenomenon. Now that more money's coming in, maybe I will.
-- Lew Bryson
I've done 2-3 trips each to Seattle and Portland, including Portland in August, and the only place that's immediately springing to mind with anything approaching that sort of selection in those cities is Elysian in Seattle. Good mix of typical PNW hoppy ales, and some nicely done lagers. LaConner can do that as well, although as I recall the selection wasn't as vast.
I did see a good spread of beers at Laurelwood in Portland on my last visit. Couple lagers, and a few ales that weren't the typical hopfest, including one fo the best American-brewed alts I've ever encountered.
I would say, on the whole, the Seattle area seems to do a little better with broader selection and variety than Portland. But I still wouldn't say I've seen the sort of selection there that I've seen in places like the Hop Leaf in Chicago or Blind Tiger in New York.
-Steve
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