Deschutes Opens in the Pearl!

The good folks over at Deschutes are now ready to open their Portland Pearl District location. We are happy to bring you the full details of this great beer event courtesy of the little Deschutes press elves:

DESCHUTES BREWERY OPENS NEW PEARL DISTRICT LOCATION
Deschutes Brings Award-Winning Beers to Portland’s Brewery Blocks

(May 1, 2008 – Bend, OR) The new Deschutes Brewery and Public House in Portland opens May 2nd, 2008. The first Deschutes Brewery facility to open outside of the brewery’s hometown of Bend, Oregon, the brewpub is located in the heart of Portland’s buzzing Pearl District and will open just in time to celebrate the brewery’s 20th anniversary on June 27th. Great food and beer brewed on-site take center stage at the pub, perfectly blending Bend’s relaxed and casual atmosphere with Portland’s lively beer culture.

“Traditionally, European pubs were gathering places for all members of the community,” says Deschutes Brewery Founder and President Gary Fish. “We want to create an environment that is as welcoming to families as it is for people looking to relax with a beer after work.”

After searching numerous locations, the new home for the Portland pub was found in a 10,000 square foot space at the corner of NW 11th Avenue and Davis Street. The building, formerly an auto body shop, was built in 1919 and has been meticulously redesigned by the renowned local Emmons Architects team. Great pains have been taken to ensure the building’s original features are kept intact and the new design maintains its historical integrity. The original wood beamed ceiling remains undamaged and additional massive reclaimed old growth timber beams salvaged from a variety of local projects are seeded throughout the interior spaces, appearing as mantle pieces, tables and the main bar.


Decor
Although the exterior of the building remains largely unchanged, the painted scrollwork that formerly advertised the services available at the auto-shop now lists Deschutes Brewery’s diverse selection of beers. Located on Portland’s iconic streetcar line, the brewery is ideal for people watching, both in the restaurant and from the outdoor seating area during the warm summer months.

In keeping with Deschutes’ goal of quality food and beer in a comfortable environment, the Portland pub is designed as a Northwest interpretation of a Scottish pub. Traditionally, Scottish pubs are small, intimate spaces adorned with photos and artifacts collected from patrons over the years. These same elements are mirrored in the decor of the new Portland location. A large, crimson wall separates the main dining room from the brewery and kitchen and is adorned with picture frames of various colors and sizes. Some frames are windows into the kitchen and brewery, while others house pictures, mirrors and even televisions.

An expansive space, the interior dining room will seat 190, with the bar accommodating an additional 56, and 24 outdoor dining seats available in the summer. The large dining room is dominated by four timber frame cubes that divide the space into smaller dining areas reminiscent of Scottish pubs. A wooden gate with scenes of Oregon wildlife, carved by renowned Sisters, Oregon chainsaw artist J. Chester Armstrong, encloses each smaller dining area.

Beer
The Kaspar Shulz brewhouse, hand-selected by Deschutes Brewmaster Larry Sidor, was manufactured in 1994 and features a hand-hammered copper exterior and stainless steel interior. The brewhouse will quench Portland patrons’ thirst with an estimated annual production capacity of about 4,200 barrels. The brewery will produce all the traditional Deschutes year-round beers and seasonal offerings, as well as a selection of experimental brews developed by brewer Cam O’Connor that will be exclusive to the Portland pub.

Food
The food at the Portland pub will remain true to the style of the Bend Brewery and Public House, taking traditional pub food to the next level by offering favorites from the Bend pub like the Brewery Corned Beef Reuben, Buffalo Ravioli and Brewery Fish and Chips, along with new menu items like Smoked Caribbean Wings, Obsidian Stout Braised Beef, and Hop-Infused Cheesecake with Black Cherry Sauce that are exclusive to the Portland location. “We want people who have visited our Bend pub to find all the things they love, but also a new selection that fits with Portland’s burgeoning culinary climate,” says executive Chef Jeff Usinowicz.

Not to be outdone, the high quality beers at the pub will be matched by the high standards of the food. All menu items will be made from scratch including house-made breads, sauces and house-cured meats. All specials will be accompanied by beer pairing suggestions.

Appetizers $5 - $13; Sandwiches $9 - $12; Entrees $11 - $25

In addition to using sustainable, natural and organic products whenever possible, the pub will participate in recycling and composting programs. Spent hops and grains from the brewing process will be collected and given to a local cattle farmer for cattle feed and compost; the beef raised on these spent grains will then be purchased by the brewery and used in the pub kitchen. Other environmentally friendly features include an energy capturing system in the brewery that reclaims heat, which is used to pre-warm the wort on its way to the kettle. Energy Star rated kitchen equipment and HVAC systems reduce the pub’s overall energy consumption.

Community Involvement
During its 20-year history, Deschutes Brewery has remained committed to building strong ties with the local community. “One of Deschutes’ core values is, ‘sharing our success with the community,’” says Deschutes Brewery Founder and President Gary Fish. This is a tradition the Portland pub has continued by celebrating its opening in partnership with Oregon Trout, an organization that is not afraid to think big when tackling the very real, very challenging issues facing the quality of water in Oregon's rivers. The brewery recognizes the value of healthy rivers - after all, it takes healthy waters to make great beer. On April 26, the pub hosted a sold-out preview event that raised $12,000 for Oregon Trout.

“We have been part of the Portland community for nearly 20 years now and this pub will definitely reinforce our role in the community,” says Fish.

The Deschutes Brewery and Public House is located at 210 NW Eleventh Ave. Reservations are accepted for parties of eight or more by calling (503) 296-4906.

Hours:
Lunch: 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily Dinner: 5:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. daily.