McMenamins's Mill Creek is one of the earlier brewpubs I can remember enjoying. It's got a funky artistic flair and a nice homey feel inside. I like the burgers and Love the fries! (especially with their tartar) They have a nice selection of well made beers. My only criticism is that I can't recall ever feeling like their beers were overly intense and I like to push my boundaries. I really just love the vibe and the atmosphere that is McMenamin's and am a loyal follower.While the Mill Creek pub is nice, it is in a strip mall and isn't really the reason I have such passion for the McMenamin's experience. In 1999 I spent a month in Vancouver, WA for my employer. I had read previously about the really unique old buildings that the McMenamin brothers had turned into breweries so I decided to find some of them.
The Kennedy Schoolhouse 5736 NE 33rd Ave Portland, OR 97211 - This was the first haven that I located on my journey. Kennedy School opened in 1915 and closed in 1975 when the school district declared it too old and crumbling to repair. The McMenamin brothers bought it in the nineties and re-opened spring of 1997. When I pulled up to the school I couldn't help second-guessing my directions. For all appearances this was an old elementary school. I parked my car and walked up the path to the doors and entered to find what was still very much a school inside, but with really unique vibrant art everywhere. I turned down the hallway and entered a bar that was a classroom complete with the school clock on the wall. I sat down and had a beer in there and relished the feeling of drinking in class. Further exploration revealed a restaurant in the cafeteria, and a movie theater. There was a really whimsical feeling to this place that was alot of fun. I would like to come back here someday with friends or family and spend more time exploring.
Edgefield 2126 SW Halsey St Troutdale, OR 97060 - Just about 15 minutes outside of downtown Portland Edgefield is in my experience the premier beer drinkers playground in the Northwest. Formerly a poor farm for seven decades Edgefield was finally locked up in 1982. The 300+ acre complex sat there neglected, plundered, and deteriorating until the McMenamin brothers purchased it in 1990. They started revitalizing the complex in stages and as they went popularity grew to the point that now most of Edgefield has been repaired, restored, and put to a creative new use. Edgefield also commissions a staff of artists to decorate any and every nook and cranny they see fit with art that often time speaks to the history of Edgefield.
I was able to meet up with a couple of friends that happened to be in Portland as well, and we headed out to Edgefield one evening. Out in the country and hidden in the hedges we came upon Edgefield and wound up the drive to find lots of parking available. We found our way to the power station pub and stepped inside to find a nice traditional McMenamin's pub atmosphere inside. We sat down and ordered meals and beers and enjoyed the merriment for a while. After that we located the theater (where by the way you can eat your pub food and drink your beer while watching a reasonably priced movie) but didn't go in. Then we wound our way up a path to the distillery which was located in what was formerly a root cellar turned stable. We enjoyed some more beverages there and then sadly had to leave as we found it had gotten late rather suddenly. I know I barely scratched the surface of Edgefield as there is a hotel that is reputed to be haunted, a golf course, pool hall, winery and tasting room, spa and more. Plan to spend a good chunk of time if you are able to investigate this gem for yourself.
And now for some exciting new news if you hadn't heard yet. McMenamin's has signed a deal with the city of Bothell to purchase the Anderson School building which is a really cool art deco style brick building that was built in 1931. They are planning a hotel, spa, pub brewing complex there that is required to be completed by June 2013. They purchased the public pool as well in the deal. The pool has problems right now, and isn't open anyway because the city couldn't find a way to make money on it. McMenamin's has agreed to restore the pool and allow the public to use it free for the next 15 years as part of the deal. I love the impact McMenamins has on the community around Portland and have been eagerly waiting for them to get into a cool restoration project in the Seattle area. They tried to purchase the seminary building at St. Edwards park in a similar proposal in 2005, but were shot down by people in the community and the city. I will never understand why they battled this. It seemed like a perfect fit to me. Hooray for Bothell and Hooray for McMenamin's! I eagerly await my chance to see what results!
