Portland Brewing Company
(short notes)

Portland, Oregon

All beers sampled at either the Flanders Street Brewpub (now closed) or the "new" brewery (now not so new) located at 2730 NW 31st Ave.

McTarnahan's "Scottish Style" Ale

American Amber Ale

* * * 1/2

Originally positioned as a Scottish, but it was obviously not and the brewery has since taken to calling it an American Amber. This review is based on repeated sampling. Nice, assertive hoppy aroma. Maltiness, especially a light crystal note, grows in the aroma as the beer warms. A good malty base, with a hint of crystal, support an outstanding hoppy profile. Floral and citruisy notes from hops, but the yeast must be a clean fermenter because the beer lacks any serious estery profile. Finishes a bit on the dry side. Sampled at the Flanders Street on July 27, 1996.

Ostler's Best Bitter

English Bitter

* * * 1/2

This beer claims an English heritiage, and for the most part it carries through on those claims. The beer has a nice copper color with a subtle and nuanced flavor profile. Nice balance of UK hops and a maltiness with obvious signs of crystal. This sample was too gassy; the beer would have benefited tremendously by less carbonation. Sampled at the Flanders Street on July 27, 1996.

Bavarian Weizen

Bavarian Weizen

* * * *

Served in a nice weizen glass; spritzy with a nice rocky white head that lingers. The beer is slightly hazy, but a bit too clear for my tastes in the style. The color is nice. The aroma is dominated, as required, by banana, phenolic, and spicy notes all singing in harmonic balance. The flavor has a light clove at the beginning, moving into a bigger banana, and finishes with a decent maltiness, but the finish is a bit thin. Still, an excellent interpretation of the style. The banana is a bit too dominant; I'd rather see a bit more clove. Also, I'd say the malt profile could be a bit chunkier, and I suspect that this beer was not decocted. Sampled at the Flanders Street on July 27, 1996.

Tartan

"Extra Bitter Scottish Style Amber Ale"

* * * *

Question: what the hell is an "extra bitter scottish style amber ale"? Answer: A damned nice beer. This beer had nice nuanced malty notes with a strong crystal component. Good solid hop flavor, aroma, and bitterness. I have no idea what the hell it is, but it is excellent. Sampled at the Flanders Street on July 27, 1996.

Portland Porter

Porter

* * * *

Definately a robust porter; no doubt about that. As I was sipping from my pint, a companion interjected with "that's not lacework. That's a coat!". Clearly, the beer had a nice head and excellent retention properties. The aroma included strong notes of patent malt, with some hoppiness; the roasted malt dominates. The flavor focuses on these same roasty notes buttressed by some basic maltiness. This full-bodied porter is excellent. Sampled at the new brewery, July 29, 1994.

Portland Stout

PNW Stout

* * * 1/2

This beer, oddly enough, is slightly lighter overall than the porter, except in the level of perceptible alcohol. The head is lighter, with less head retention. The nose screams roasted barley. The flavor begins with a malty base that quickly warms the palate with alcoholic strength. A strong roasted barley note finishes this beer out. All in all, a terrific stout, but I find the obvious presence of alcohol a bit offsetting. Sampled at the new brewery, July 29, 1994.