Cornelius Pass Roadhouse
4045 N.W. Cornelius Pass Rd.
Hillsboro, OR 97124

Local: (503) 640-6174

http://mcmenamins.com/index.php?loc=13&category=Location%20Homepage

Beers Sampled:

• Blind Abbot Abbey Ale – Dark and sweet like a good Belgium ale should be.

• ESB (on nitro) - Poured dark orange with a big, frothy, white head. It has an aroma of malt and spicy hops. Palate is really smooth, low carbonation and it coats the mouth nicely.

• Edgefield Hard Cider – Possibly the best hard cider in Portland, not too sweet but still has the flavor of a fresh, green apple.

• Copper Moon – The featured beer of the summer, Copper Moon is hoppier than the typical summer ale. It uses three different malts, providing a smooth, but not overly sweet beer. True to Portland, Copper Moon is made from primarily organic ingredients.

• Ruby – Ruby is the perfect beer for a sweltering summer day. This was the first ale in the US to be made with real fruit – 55 pounds per batch. The result is a light and fruity ale packed with raspberry goodness.

Like all McMenamins, expect to sacrifice speedy service for good beer and great atmosphere. The Cornelius Pass Roadhouse is one of McMenamins’ most prolific breweries so there is always something new to try. In the summer it’s a great place to relax outside at one of the many picnic tables made from salvaged timbers and snack on humus, a pub burger or hand cut fries. It is arguably one of the best patios in Portland.  It has seating for hundreds in the sprawling "backyard".  The seats around the large outdoor fireplace are the most sought after.  The beautiful trees surrounding the venue make it a true oasis.  In the winter you can snuggle up to the fire inside Imbrie Hall or the tiny and cozy Little White Shed.

Pros: good beer with plenty of choices, laid back, free wi-fi, lots of outdoor seating, live

music on a regular basis, cajun tots, need I say more?

Cons: service can be slow

If you have never been to Pacific City, then get there now.  It is the perfect time of year for the Oregon Coast, where the crowds are thinner and the beach is just as beautiful.  Also try your hand at Tuna fishing through mid-September.  Located right on the beach – you can actually sit at tables with sand beneath your toes – the Pelican has amazing views of the ocean. The menu is typical pub food with some fresh seafood tossed in. The food is good, but the prices are a tad high, what can you expect, they are ON the beach. The Pelican has managed to find a balance between being a traditional dark-paneled pub and a family friendly restaurant without diminishing either.

Pelican Pub & Brewery
Pacific City, Oregon
(503) 965-7007

Beers Sampled:

• Surfer Summer Ale

  • The slight herbal fruity smell from this golden glacial hopped concoction make it on of the freshest summer ales I have ever tasted!  Here is the rundown:

  • Ingredients:

    • Golden Promise malt
      Wheat malt
      Torrefied wheat
      Glacier hops
      Pure local water
      Pure ale yeast

  • Specifications:

    • 12.5 degrees Plato
      Alcohol: 5.5% by volume
      Bitterness: 26 IBU
      Color: 8 SRM

• Saison du Pelican

  • Beautiful saison belgian style ale, with a sweet spicy twinge, think spicy citrus.  It aftertaste is especially nice, and its very drinkable.  Here is the rundown:

  • Ingredients:

    • Pale Ale malt
      Flaked Spelt
      Glacier hops
      Pure local water
      Belgian-type ale yeast

  • Specifications:

    • 13.2 degrees Plato
      Alcohol: 6.0% by volume
      Bitterness: 25 IBU
      Color: 8 SRM

• Doryman's Dark Ale

• Dark rich with malts and very balanced.  It can be a great compliment to the fish and chips available here.  I think this is a quintessential coastal beer, and you should not leave the Pelican without tasting it. 
• Ingredients:

• Pale Ale Malt
  White Wheat Malt
  Caramel Malt
  Chocolate Malt
  Mt. Hood Hops
  Cascade Hops
  Magnum Hops
  Pure Local Water
  Pure Ale Yeast

• Specifications:

  • 14 degrees Plato
    Alcohol: 5.8% by volume
    Bitterness: 42 IBU
    Color: 33 lovibond

Pros: good service, incredible views, you can wander in off of the beach for a beer, when the weather is good there is sandy play area for your kids that you can see from the outdoor tables.

Cons: prices are a little high

Go to their Fall Brewers Dinner on October 18th 2008

where Head Brewer Darron Welch and Executive Chef Pieter Vanden Hogen prepare another fabulous dinner event featuring the foods of Spain expertly paired with the award winning beers of the Pelican Pub & Brewery. Book Early as the dinners sell out well in advance.
$75 per person
Doors open at 6:30pm with Dinner at 7:00pm.  Call the Brewery for more details and tell them Brew Republic Sent You!