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- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night, Dinner
- Music:
- Live
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
245 reviews for Horse Brass Pub
Review Highlights
"I'm here for the Scotch egg and fish and chips."
(in 38 reviews)
"First off, their beer selection is top notch."
(in 60 reviews)
"One of my personal favorites is the Fish and Chips."
(in 72 reviews)
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244 reviews in English
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Review from Emilie S.
1/28/2012
Love these guys.
Excellent beer selection in a perfectly cozy environment.
I recommend the vegetable pastie. -
Review from Doug S.
Portland, OR
1/27/2012 26 Check-ins Here
What else can be said? It's the FREAKIN' HORSE BRASS!!!!!! As we approach the one year anniversary of Don Younger's passing, let's never forget the man that made this place what it is today. If you haven't been here before, you must go. If you have, then you already know. Best craft beer place in the country, bar none.
So let's all lift a pint in Don Younger's honor, and thank him for allowing us to all enjoy this legendary establishment. Remember, "it's not about the beer, it's about the beer!" Cheers! -
Review from Hannah B.
Portland, OR
12/26/2011
Rude staff, unwelcoming.
We went to have a good time, play darts, and visit with family. After verifying by phone that our family members that were minors could play darts, we were told in house that it was illegal for them to play. We confronted a manager who then told us outright that it was house policy and that we were not listening to him on the phone. The rules were reasonable. The way in which information was relayed to us was outright rude, and the staff were belittling and snappy.
Definitely will not be getting our service again. -
Review from Rosy D.
Portland, OR
1/28/2012
I've been to pubs in England and this is the only place I've been that comes close. Very Noisy at certain points of the night, Dart Boards, Insane collection of beer, really cool decor. Best Fish and Chips I've ever had. Come here often!
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Review from Jenn A.
12/4/2011 8 Check-ins Here
My friends refer to this as their "living room," and if I lived a bit closer it would be mine as well. I can (and have) spent hours on end drinking from a incredible selection of beer and having in depth conversations on life, the universe, and everything. Also a terrific place to play cards, board games, or darts!
The fish and chips are bomb-diggity, and you can get a sample of a beer to try it before you commit to a pint.Listed in: Game-friendly spots
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Review from Af R.
Portland, OR
12/23/2011
Awesome selection of beers. Great fish (and chips minus the chips), it's halibut and the batter is great. You can also get a half order, which is two pieces instead of four. The chips however need to be improved. I bit into at least three that were hard on the inside. They could use some seasoning and another 5 minutes cooking and the whole meal would be great.
Our waiter had what seemed like half of the place and it was packed on a Thursday. He was running around like crazy but still got all our orders right, props to him! -
Review from Chad C.
Vancouver, WA
11/19/2011
I've been here once, and it's the only place that I've been shooed away from the bar at. Was meeting friends, found their table and sat down for a few minutes, then went to get a drink. Since it's a British Pub, I figured that, like all the pubs I'd been to in England, you had to utilize your foot muscles and move your body from here to the bar and ask the dude or gal behind said bar for a beverage.
But no. As I was standing a few steps from the bar thinking if I wanted a beer or something better, one of the two women that were standing at about the same distance from the bar said to me, "Do you need a beer, SIR?"
"Uh, yeah. Are you in line?"
"No, you just came from my section; management frowns upon lines at the bar."
I didn't tell her that maybe management would be happier if the service staff didn't stand around yammering amongst themselves or if she'd come by the table after seeing me in her section that maybe we wouldn't have this problem.
So, she follows me back to the table, comes back once over the next hour or so, then comes back and asks if we want to cash out so we can leave.
Didn't have any food, just a Bacardi cuba libre, but from the menu things didn't look very British. If I were to come back, it would be because I had no where else to go or because my friends were too stubborn to go elsewhere. -
Review from Beth G.
Portland, OR
1/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
I've lived in Portland for 15 years, and this was my first visit to the Horse Brass. It's previous reputation as a smoker's bar kept me away, but now the place is cleaned up, and it was great. It's bigger than I expected, and looks pretty much like pubs we visited in England. We both had the Sunday Special--Shepherd's Pie with Salad for $6.95. It was HUGE (we should have split one), and very, very good. You just can't argue with a value like that. We'll be back.
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Review from Jim B.
Portland, OR
1/17/2012
Great pub! It may not have the most progressive menu but the beer and atmosphere makes up for it. Don't miss the small glasses of beer at $2-3 so you can sample off their extensive list (their are usually 2 beer lists and a few more on the board). Plus the 20 oz for $4-5 is a bargain. Very comfortable hangout where even on a crowded weekend night you're still likely to find a seat.Guaranteed a good evening whether on your own or with a crowd.
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Review from Beth F.
Happy Valley, OR
1/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
Hands down our favorite pub! So many beers on tap you have to flip through a menu! Food selection is limited, but the fish and chips are the best I've had. Sit at the bar and entertain yourself watching the bartenders bustle about. Always crowded and lively - very fun!
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Review from Keith T.
Portland, OR
1/30/2012
Awesome selection, killer bar, great people. No wonder Esquire named it the best bar in America.
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Review from Tony P.
Portland, OR
12/29/2011
Rad selection of beers from the NW on tap here, but the fish and chips were some of the best I have ever had, and that includes several servings from my trips across the pond to Ireland and the UK. The bar tender (didnt catch his name) was really attentive and the wait staff was expedient and couteous. I went in the early evening before hapy hour during the week, so it wasn't busy with only about two dozen patrons (the place is really big and plenty of room at the bars and tables/booths), but imagine this place must get pretty chaotic in the evenings and weekends. I'll definitely be back to try more of their beer selections as well as pub grub.
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Review from Justin C.
Portland, OR
11/15/2011
4 stars but loses 2.
I like this place and I've gone there many many times. But it loses points for two things: no wifi and mediocre service. The wifi is a big issue because the cell-data reception in that neighborhood is terrible. So I'll be sitting at lunch talking with a buddy and I'll want to show them something on the internet and nope can't do it because there's no reception or wifi.
Waitress told me that management "doesn't want to have people working on laptops etc while they are there". I say: "That blows, I bet half the people who walk in there have smart phones on them. Plus, who would go to a loud bar with TVs to do work??"
The service, well I guess there's just not enough waitstaff for the crowd. Usually 2 waiters when the place is nearly full. -
Review from Dolly E.
Vancouver, WA
1/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
Just got the Anthem Pear Cider! This place has a great selection of beers as well as great British pub food. We come to the brass a few times a year.
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Review from Anna B.
9/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
I've got some very fond memories of this place and some terrible memories of this place. Luckily, I was inebriated enough all times that on the scale of good to bad, even the bad was still good.
The beer selection is awesome. If you are into beer, this is a wonderful place to go. I've had many a brew at the HB that I'd never seen elsewhere, but don't look to the servers to help explain any of the beer business, they are far too busy. Thankfully, I've always gone there with beer people, so they can help me out as I am certainly no expert. HB also always has some interesting cider.
Aside from the extensive and interesting draught list, though, there is not a ton to write home about. The place gets wicked packed on weekend nights especially, which is great for them, don't get me wrong, but it can be very difficult to get a drink. If the bar's full, forget about even trying to get close to it and cross your fingers that you get a server. There are also a handful of rules regarding what kinds of mixed drinks they will make, which is totes fine by me - your place, your rules, but they make no sense.
Not a ton of places around town one can get British Pub Grub, so kudos for that. It's really all about the fish and chips, y'all. They do it well.
Awesome beer place. If you're not as into beer, though, might not be too special for you. It does get rowdy-ruckusy fun during/after sporting events, if that's your jam. My jam's a little more like a topping for crumpets, though,. so I usually only end up at Ye Olde Horse Brass when it's not my turn to pick.Listed in: All Pony, All the Time.
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Review from Jim K.
Portland, OR
12/25/2011
Great place to have a pint and chat with friends. The scotch egg is artery clogging goodness, and the pasties are tasty. Service is friendly, but they have a common tendency to run out of beers on tap. That's OK though, since there are always a slew of others that are available. It's kindof a different experience since there's no longer smoking allowed indoors in Oregon. This used to be one of the smokiest places in town, but now the air is clear and ready for all who enjoy a good pint.
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Review from Mary P J.
Portland, OR
12/24/2011
First of all- best fish sandwich I have had in my life. The fish was cooked perfectly, the veggies were fresh, and it was served hot. The beer selection is large. Usually, it is crowded and difficult to find a table or people you are meeting. Service was a little slow, but the servers were friendly and the atmosphere was pretty pubby.
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Review from Jessica B.
Syracuse, NY
Updated - 7/13/2011
Ok, I was in love with this place the first time I came in. It has a great atmosphere and the beer and food is good. However, the last time I came in I had the most awful experience with our service that i will literally never go in there again. It's not worth it. She was down right condescending.
It was so bad that I tried to find a manger to speak with about it. However, when I approached the bartender to ask for a manager the response I got was " we all just manage ourselves."
I don't think that is working out for them.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/27/2010
Stopped in on a whim while on the lookout for food. This place is deceptively big inside. Good food… Read more »
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Review from C. Y.
Seattle, WA
9/16/2011
If you're reading this, chances are you already know how what an amazing selection of beers the Horse Brass has, and that the atmosphere can't be beat! All of those bases have been covered so I'd like to focus on something else: the service.
My last visit was truly something special. It was one of those visits where the service is so good you leave feeling as if what you paid wasn't nearly enough and the tip you left, no matter how generous, was lacking. The bartender here was so friendly, so genuine, and so fun to talk to that I felt like I'd made a friend in the few hours I was there. My girlfriend felt the same.
Amusingly, this was the last place we visited during our trip and we both agreed it would be the first place we'd visit on our return. Other beer bars take notice, this is how you do it. -
Review from Johnny C.
Sacramento, CA
8/16/2011
This place is legit. True British pub with darts.
The fried fish is sublime. Hot out of the deep fryer, very moist and delicious, the fries were burnt. -
Review from Kenda D.
Portland, OR
10/4/2011
I am always disappointed when I go to the Horse Brass Pub. The only good thing on the menu is the Scotch Egg, if it gets to you still hot. They have a lot of beer, ok so. There are LOTS of places in Portland to get beer, and I cannot understand why this place is so popular. The Cocktails are the worst in town, even worse than McMenimins.
They use a one ounce pouring device, the bartender never even touches the bottle. Why even have hard liquor if your going to make a shitty drink? They should be a true pub and lose the hard stuff. Its lousy anyway and your better off going somewhere with better food and stronger drinks. They don't even have Whip cream. WHAT BAR doesn't have whip cream??!! I do not see myself going again.... Unless my beer drinking husband drags me kicking and screaming. -
Review from Alison V.
5/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
So the husband and I came here for dinner. He was lured in by the full English breakfast. We also heard great things about the bar. Sadly, we were driving back to Seattle that day and drinking was not an option (also due to feeling oh-so-fabulous from a beer event the night before).
The place was nearly empty and we snagged a table in a somewhat dark corner. Our server was friendly and took our order promptly. The food came out quick and was tasty. They served British baked beans (a different sauce than American style and vegetarian) and they were delicious with the toast.
Overall, I enjoyed my time here, and wish I could have enjoyed their wide beer menu.Listed in: So you like to drink?
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Review from Walter K.
6/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place feels like it was picked up out of England and dropped into Portland. On top of the perfect atmosphere, this place pours great beer and has awesome staff. If I lived in Portland, it would certainly be one of my normal haunts.
I certainly have a soft spot for an authentic British pub. But if you simply like great beer with solid bartending, Brass Horse will please. -
Review from Beth W.
Portland, OR
6/18/2011
Where's the happy hour? Where is it? And get rid of all these new, dumb soccer fans. Let's get on with it.
Love the fresh fish.
Not a fan of the soggy fries.
NEVER get the coffee. Starbuck's Via (instant coffee) is better and that ain't sayin' much.
LOVE all the taps.
NOT happy about NO happy hour -- especially since it's the closest bar to Beth Willie's abode.
The owner is kinda a creepy jerk.
Enjoy how my friends from out of town ALWAYS get wasted here and must be carried a block home.
And a pitcher of BOONT. Oh, Horse Brass. That's a better deal than buying it at the store.
Breakfast. Not so good. Will do in a pinch. -
Review from Jason W.
Vancouver, WA
9/2/2011
I've only been in a couple of times so far. My voice class likes to go here en masse after a performance. Love the dark cherry stout, and fish and chips. Only had one slightly sour-attitude from a waitress/barmaid, but figured she had a bad day. The other guy who took our orders was quick and efficient.
It's rather noisy and you have to lean in to hear the person next to you, but overall the atmosphere felt positive and pub-like. Too bad they lock the piano, we have an excellent piano player. -
Review from Keely B.
Sacramento, CA
11/13/2011
Old school pub. Amazing selection of hard to find brews...not limited to Portland area. We found California brews we had never heard of. Great ploughman lunch too!
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Review from Jason G.
Vancouver, WA
10/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great spot to sample a huge variety of Craft Beers. Has an English flare and the menu to match. Friendly service.
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Review from Christopher W.
Ridgefield, WA
The look and feel of an old school British pub. The food is great!
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Review from Katya J.
Portland, OR
3/15/2011
This place is way bigger inside than the facade would indicate, and the servers always seem overwhelmed as a result. I spend more time waiting for drinks and such here than almost any other place I've been in Portland. But the food is good, at least, if it's your bag; English fare is really not my cup of tea (*wink*).
At least the place has a warm yet anonymous feel to it, since it is busy enough to feel welcoming and also like no one will overhear you. Great place to go catch up with friends, but I don't feel any remarkable affection for it. I'd normally give it three stars, but I think it deserves a whole extra star for the truly epic drink list. -
Review from John D.
Portland, OR
2/1/2011 33 Check-ins Here
This neighborhood often feels like a small town tucked up against a cute little mountain. Everything we need is here within walking distance, including one of the most famous beer pubs in Cascadia, maybe even the world.
This is where Portland craft brewing got much of its first public exposure. This was one of the first bars willing to take a chance on something outside of the Blitz/Olympia/Budwesier bottle.
This is my local pub, so my opinion might be a little biased.
They have one of the most interesting beer lists in town. Sit at the bar if you can, table service is stretched thin on a busy night. -
Review from Shovelle S.
Portland, OR
5/10/2011 3 Check-ins Here
We were doing our laundry up the street so we decided to walk to HBP for some lunch. The first thought that entered my mind was that it actually seemed like a true pub. Dimly lit, dark wood, kinda creaky when you walk. I loved the atmosphere and off the wall eclectic decor. You could tell this place has been the local pub forever just by looking around. It just felt comfortable and laid back.
We decided to try the fish and chips, which were fantastic! Fries still had the skins on them and the fish was flaky and fresh tasting. Their beer menu was crazy..it was hard to focus on just one. Excellent place, good service, fun environment.
.Now we have something to look forward to on laundry day. Cheers! -
Review from Andrew C.
I'm not feeling it. But, I don't often feel English Pubs, or Irish Pubs or... Pubs where dudes are talking (screaming) at each other in crazy accents getting louder and louder with every brew.
But hey. Top notch beer selection can't be beat, and they're huge on showing soccer games which is pretty awesome. Word is that they show every Timbers game as well. I imagine it's mainly the EPL the rest of the time.
Outside of the beer: Boring food. Glacial servers.
At least the smoking ban went into effect. If it were what it is and still smokey, the Horse Brass would be unbearable.
If you're into the old world atmospheric themes, love beer and live nearby, this place probably fits your bill. Have at. -
Review from christopher s.
Portland, OR
5/2/2011
The beer selections is MORE then suffice for myself. I've heard it been ragged on by what seems to be superhuman beer connisseurs, but I always am satisfied by it.
Can't really speak for the brit authenticity of it, but that's none of my concern.
The food is always maybe a dollar out of what I would want to pay, but the fish and chips is worth that.
Always crowded, I wish there were more then 1 or 2 hostesses in a room full of patrons, but, I also am not their bookkeeper. -
Review from Karl R.
Portland, OR
10/18/2011
This is THE PUB. If only smoking were not criminal behavior in a place designated to be for drinking beer and smoking. Other than nazi smoking ban compliance (can't really afford not to) this is THE PUB. Thanks to Don and the great staff. Headed back every time I'm not there.
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Review from Jessica K.
Portland, OR
7/20/2011 3 Check-ins Here
So I started out this review thinking Horse Brass was a 4 star kind of place. But then I realized this British style pub is a Portland beer institution for me and meets two of my main criteria for five stars:
1) I feel a horrible twinge of longing if I pass by that can only be rectified by stopping in.
2) If I'm willing to change out of my pjs and drive across town to go there. True story. I was craving one of their Scotch eggs (egg wrapped in sausage and deep fried), we viewed their guest taplist online, which is always vast and kept up to date and it was decided. Out of the pajamas, into proper clothes, kidnapped our friend and off we went on a fantastic beer voyage.
So what if the service is sometimes a little slow? The place has chairs and tables crammed into every nook and cranny, so it holds a lot of people. And all of them are thirsty and throwing back those 20 oz Imperial pints of delicious beer like it's running out. With that much beer flowing, I'm actually impressed at how quickly we get our beer sometimes. I've never once caught attitude from the staff and even better, they are all really knowledgeable about the beer. Our server last night was probably the fastest I've had and even crossed the beers they were out of off our menu before we could start perusing. And peruse you will, there are over 50 beers on tap here at any given time. They always have the classics like Black Butte Porter, Terminal Gravity IPA, Blue Dot IPA, Trumer Pils, Rogue Hazelnut and Guinness. Then there's the guest tap of awesomeness featuring great Northwest and California brews. Several cask options. And the hook: The coming soon beers so you can plan your next visit. I come here for some favorite beers I know won't be on tap anywhere else in town and also if I have a friend who doesn't know what they like, so they can try a lot of different breweries and styles at once. If you can't find a beer you like here, you just aren't trying hard enough! If you don't do beer, they have a full bar and some wine as well.
The food is British comfort/pub food, heavy on the sausage. Meat pies, fish and chips and yes, my beloved Scotch egg. Not a ton of options for vegetarians, but they do have salads, cheese plates and a gardenburger, and considering the neighborhood, you should be able to find something else nearby. I even discovered last night that they do breakfast on Saturdays and Sundays in case you want to get your beer on early.
Our kidnapped friend? He woke up the next morning on his couch with no recollection of how he got there, but he did forever afterward know what a Scotch egg was and where he could find, dare I say it, the best taplist in town. -
Review from Heather C.
Portland, OR
9/29/2011
The Horse Brass is the place to go on rainy, chilly Portland nights. It's a cozy, little joint with all kinds of beer choices and yummy English Pub style food. I'm a pilsner fan and very happy with what they have to offer. An additional perk: cute dudes.
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Review from Annie G.
Portland, OR
5/15/2011
I've taken out-of-town friends here on a number of occasions, and they always marvel at the beer selection. The seasonal/rotating tap list is quite large and I don't think I've ever drank the same beer twice here.
Did you know that they also make cocktails? Don't even think about it. Stick to the beer.
The niceness of the staff is hit-or-miss. Some are super cool but others seem to have a perpetual frown on their face.
We usually order the fish and chips if we're hungry. The fish is consistently good, however the fries are consistently sub-par. They're usually half burnt but rubbery at the same time. That's forgivable, though, because you can douse them in the malt vinegar or HP sauce. -
Review from Warren H.
Portland, OR
11/3/2011 3 Check-ins Here
How do you rate one of your favorite pubs when you get the same crabby unwelcoming waitress multiple times? The last time I was here @ Horse brass I was meeting a large group of friends, 20 heavy beer drinkers that are big tippers, easily a $1000 table. I was early and able to avoid this regular grumpy waitress. Tonight, with my family we happen to sit in her area. It was the same cold, unfriendly vibe from her as previous visits. I've had great experiences from other waitstaff and bartenders @ Horse brass, the food specials are amazing and the beer selection is unsurpassed. Do I go back and just accept poor customer service, or go to one of the other amazing PDX pubs? I tipped less then 10%, I am usually a 20 to 25% tipper, but I did write a note on the receipt stating my reasons. I'm so torn, but my wife says she won't go back. This is a shame as we've been going since our arrival in PDX.
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Review from Christian L.
Portland, OR
11/8/2010
I feel like I should be writing a five star review based on the heaps of praise that have been leveled at Horse Brass in the time that I've been here. Had it been from one person, or even two I would have written it off as a minor thing, but several have told me how good the place was.
With this in mind, Saturday night rainy, wet and slightly miserable, I decided to check the pub out. It seemed like English weather had picked a perfect evening for me.
The interior is exactly what I would have expected it to be, dark, covered in rich woods, warm with people talking and playing darts. After sitting down I realized that I just couldn't get a grip on the place. There were the serious beer drinkers and dart players, the hipsters who just sort of filled up corners in skinny jeans, neighborhood locals, and people like me who had heard good things and just looked hungry.
And that's the thing, I don't at this point know what the place was... lots of beers sure, but not so many as to make it a magnificent collection (I was disjointed to see pages of IPAs but no Carlsberg which I would frequently drink in the UK). I ordered the Fish and Chips which honestly didn't do anything for me that Long John Silvers hasn't in the past unless the inclusion of HR Brown Sauce was supposed to transport me to Piccadilly Square and hide the general blandness of the food.
I guess the thing is, it wasn't /bad/. It just wasn't /good/. The thing that finally put me over though, was the service. My waitress had this demeanor that just made me feel as though actually waiting on me was putting her out in a major way. I just couldn't get comfortable. There was something essential missing- much like the feeling you get when you go to Epcot's World Pavilion and you walk between the countries. Sure they have the facade of what they claim to be... just not the heart to make it true. -
Review from jeff k.
Portland, OR
4/10/2011 9 Check-ins Here
I really like the horse brass these days. My first visit was before the smoking ban, and while I enjoyed it then, there were too many other good options in town that were smoke free, so I didn't return until later. Now it's a regular stop for me.
I love the atmosphere here. It's a dark, cozy, unpretentious, english style pub. While this bar is fairly large, it's usually relatively full, with both customers and cheer. Most of the decor is vintage UK breweriana, with some older oregon brewery stuff for good measure.
The quality for both food and drink is very good. While there are a pretty extensive number of taps, you'll only find craft micro's and imports on the list. The halibut fish and chips is my favorite in town (sorry hawthorne fish house!), and the daily specials never disappoint. On numerous visits, I couldn't help buy feel like I was eating a good hearty home cooked meal.
The service here is generally pretty good, but when it's busy, it can get a little slow. Any time I've had a question about a beer, the bartenders and servers have been knowledgeable about the products their serving.
The selection here is constantly changing, but is generally pretty good. My only pliny the younger was from the brass. They are the only place in town that got russian river publication when it came out. They had a deschutesapolooza event a few years back with an Abyss vertical and other vintage treats that was awesome.
I already mentioned the food, but I'll go one step further. If I'm on the east side, and want good beer AND food, this is usually my pick. I think the food is always solid, and you can't beat the prices on it either - leaves more for beer!
That brings me to value. I think the beers are always priced right, and the food prices are even better. Combined with the atmosphere, quality, and service, I'm never unhappy when I get my tab.
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