West Coast Brew Trip

[bahua]

I'm hopping on a plane on Sunday for my big adventure. Here's the rough itinerary I've drafted. Amtrak has told us to expect delays, so after the trip, I'll post again with what actually happened.

Sun, Aug 27
(6pm): arrive in LA, meet up with friend and traveling companion, Craig. hang out in Santa Monica

Mon, Aug 28
(10:30am): depart from LA's Union Station on the Coast Starlight
(9:30pm): arrive at Oakland's Jack London Square, try some beer bars, catch the BART into the city, and stay at a hostel downtown

Tue, Aug 29
(all day): wander around San Francisco, go to Toronado, Anchor, City Beer Store, gape in awe at America's best city
(9:45pm): catch the train in Oakland

Wed, Aug 30
(2am): arrive in Chico, go to bed
(10am): eat, make a beeline for Sierra Nevada Brewing Co, and possibly Butte Creek Brewery as well

Thu, Aug 31
(2am): get back on the train, fall asleep
(4pm): arrive in Portland, make merry, stay at a hostel in the Hawthorne

Fri, Sep 1
(all day): wander around Portland, gape in awe, drink beer in America's most beer-rich city

Sat, Sep 2
(5pm): get on the train again
(8:30pm): arrive in Seattle

Sun, Sep 3: ?

Mon, Sep 4: Craig flies home

Tue, Sep 5: I fly home

I am open to suggestions for any part of the trip, especially Seattle, which is the only part I've never visited.

[Beermo]

take lots of good pics.

[macnw]

When in Portland go to Widmer, Bridgeport, Lucky Labrador, Roots(Organic), New Old Lompoc, Horse Brass Pub (best selection in town, neat shop next to pub, multiple brews for sale), McMenamin's pubs(multiple locations). Just a few ideas. That train trip is a real pain in the ass. Last time I took that route it took almost 24 hours, I don't know how many hours btwn SF and Portland.

[kard]

When in Portland go to Widmer, Bridgeport, Lucky Labrador, Roots(Organic), New Old Lompoc, Horse Brass Pub (best selection in town, neat shop next to pub, multiple brews for sale), McMenamin's pubs(multiple locations). Just a few ideas. That train trip is a real pain in the ass. Last time I took that route it took almost 24 hours, I don't know how many hours btwn SF and Portland.

It too me about 20 hours from Oakland to Portland last April.  Awesome trip.  But we started out of Oakland 5 hours late.

Bring a pillow.  You'll need it when sleeping in the train stations while you wait.

[bahua]

In Portland, I plan on going to the Kennedy School, and if we can swing it, Edgefield. Both are McMenamin's holdings.

We will definitely go to Tugboat Brewing, on Ankeny, just off Burnside near the Pearl. Portland City Grill will be one of the first places we go, though. I'm not particularly concerned about having enough to do in Portland, as I know it relatively well. I'm more concerned about Seattle, which I have never visited, not even to change planes.

[bbqboy]

Lagunitas, baby!
what about pyramid in Berkeley?

[bahua]

We will definitely be drinking plenty of Lagunitas, but the brewery itself is too far off the beaten train track.

This is above my computer desk. I see this every day.

[img height=450 width=600]http://bahua.com/pics/pics/rando/050poster.jpg[/img]

Rest assured, I will not accidentally miss Lagunitas' beer while I'm in CA. It's the first order of business when I get to Toronado.

Pyramid has a brewery in Seattle too, but I'll probably be missing it, because I don't think their beer is actually that good, anyway.

[warwickland]

i know local places and beers are where its at, but i guess rogue isnt doable?

[bahua]

Rogue has brewpubs in at least Portland and SF. Their main brewery is in an expensive resort town on the coast, called Newport, OR. It would have required us to take a day besides, a bus to the coast from Albany, OR, and an expensive hotel night, just to make it to a brewery whose beer we can get all over the Northwest, including in bars owned and operated by them.

Rogue is more of a car day trip from Portland.

[KCLofts]

I don't know that I have any specific recommendations for bars or breweries in Seattle, but the city market downtown is awesome.  The variety is amazing.

[bbqboy]

Too bad you're not driving  sf to eugene and catching the Alcala;
It's beer/sceney central.
Rogue started here, got wiped out by the '97 flood and never rebuilt.
Newport branch became the main, and now Portland..

[bahua]

We might rent a car for a day in Portland, but I don't think we'll have enough time. Also, the cities will have plenty to keep our attention while we're there.

I wouldn't mind doing a trip at some point that's car-based, out of Portland or Seattle.

[macnw]

You're crazy if you drive in Seattle or at least you will feel like after you get done!

[DaveKCMO]

that amtrak route has some serious track maintenance going on just south of eugene. regardless, it's supposed to be a beautiful trip and i'm insanely jealous, so kick back, forget about the schedule (assuming they don't shift you to a bus at some point), and enjoy the localized treats they serve (maybe even local brews/wines). you might upgrade while on board to a roomette and get a reduced rate. that should help if you end up spending two nights aboard instead of one.

[bahua]

I was really worried that the construction would affect the California segment, but I've been checking arrival times for my stops this week(especially Chico), and it hasn't been outlandishly late, and usually on time. Arriving late for a 4pm(Portland) scheduled arrival is not a big deal. Arriving late for a 2am(Chico) scheduled arrival would suck ass.

[warwickland]

We might rent a car for a day in Portland, but I don't think we'll have enough time. Also, the cities will have plenty to keep our attention while we're there.

I wouldn't mind doing a trip at some point that's car-based, out of Portland or Seattle.

sorry if i am an ass and think that sounds un-vaguely ironic. 

realistically, i do a lot of camping on my vacations and havent figured out how to do train based camping. those state parks are usually a hike down the road...

[GRID]

You're crazy if you drive in Seattle or at least you will feel like after you get done!

why's that?

It's easy to get around, even during rush hour, especially if you are traveling and have family or the other half in the car.  Just ride the busway, monorail and the trolley for grins.

HOV stands for baHua On Vacation

[bahua]

realistically, i do a lot of camping on my vacations and havent figured out how to do train based camping. those state parks are usually a hike down the road...

"Walking/Transit distance" will be a theme on this trip. If we have to drive to get someplace, we probably won't go.

[warwickland]

"Walking/Transit distance" will be a theme on this trip. If we have to drive to get someplace, we probably won't go.

should be interesting, ive been wanting to do something like this on either coast but it is cost prohibitive for me right now.

[bbqboy]

Currently, we've been gettting A tribute to "Freak Out" 40th  anniversary Ale, complete with album cover + FZ quotes all over  on Label. Really Cool.