Sunday 19th June 2011
Bob Thompson
I alighted from the number 6 bus at the intersection with NE Failing Street and walked five blocks west till I reached N Williams Avenue. Here, on the corner, at 3901B, I found the 5th Quadrant.
Before entering the brewpub I was intrigued by the British-built Bristol Lodekka bus parked opposite. It had been converted into a shop selling ladies clothing and seemed to be doing a good trade, see photo.
The brewpub is part of a small group that includes the Lompoc houses in central Portland.
The beers offered this day were Fool's Golden Ale (5.0%), very light with no bitterness, Condor Pale Ale (5.2%), a bit more hoppy, Centennial IPA (6.0%), fantastic, the real deal, C-Note IPA (6.9%), unbelievable bitter, the most I've ever had. The name comes from the seven hop varieties used: Crystal, Cluster, Cascade, Chinook, Centennial, Columbus and Challenger. Most are American. Proletariat Red (6,2%), nice, more bitter than most red ales, LSD (Lompoc Strong Dark) (6.9%), smokey and bitter, great!, Sockeye Cream Stout (4.9%). This was the permanent range.
Specials were Mai Bock (8.4%), Willy's Wheat (5.9%), Don's Bitter (3.8%), Kick Axe Dry Hopped Pale Ale (5.5%), Heaven's Helles (5.3%), and Sour Willy (4.5%).
I had a taster tray of the seven residents plus Don's Bitter, which was pleasant but not particularly distinctive. As seen by my comments I really liked most of these beers. And I was further encouraged to find that they have opened another bar just around the corner, see article on the Sidebar.
Important Information:
The 5th Quadrant, 3901 N Williams Avenue, Portland OR. 97227.
Open: Monday-Thursday 11.00-24.00; Friday & Saturday 11.00-01.00; Sunday 11.00-23.00
The frequent bus No 6 runs North-South along Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard from the City Centre. Alight at the NE Failing Street stop and walk five blocks west.
The slightly less frequent No 44 stops outside and also comes from the city centre. Note that this route southbound is one block west.
Bus No 4 direct to Union station runs along N Vancouver Avenue 3 blocks south and 1 block west.
