Oh I didn't mean to sound like a Portland snob, I was just curious. More and more keep opening up here in town, they're even out in the 'burbs now! Gresham, Hillsboro, and Beaverton...
I useta *hate* hoppy beers, then one day in Austin about 12 years ago, some switch was flipped. It was (I think, details are hazy, haha) a beer from California, maybe Arrogant Bastard, that made me change my mind. Anyway, it had an incredible grapefruit smell to it (love citrus), and showed me that not all hoppy beers had to be resin-y. Insta-convert!
But thankfully here in town, brewers are slowly abandoning a whole menu of Uber-Hoppy beers. I think simple palate boredom (not to mention marketing, ahem) is responsible.
My own tastes go towards sweet beers like London Porters, or sour Belgian Abbey brews (I'll try anything from Belgium).
Growing up in Texas I still like a light(er) beer in the hot summer months, and Corona with lime fits the bill admirably. But I still would rather have a Bohemia or Negra Modelo.
Have not heard of Esrella Damm (out of touch), so I can't give my 2 cents. I'll look for it in future...
Mike said:
Oh, yea, I guess I was lumping all of Oregon together there, will have to try some PDX specific beers next time I'm up that way (late August most likely). My favorite go to beers? Cold ones! Nah really, I am a creature of opportunity, it's what ever is available most of the time and most of the time at the dives I'm in Stella seems to be the "upgrade beer" if you don't want bud/miller/coors lite. Sadly when I'm on my home turf, I don't seem to get out to the (very) few places near me that carry unique and well crafted beers. I'm also not a fan of the hoppy beers. Maybe my beer palette's not well developed or something. My wife carries Estrella Damm so I seem to drink that when I get a chance and it's a nice lager if not a bit generic I guess.
