When I stopped at a gas station in Tumalo OR to get fuel before leaving for Yakima, I saw a sign that said “Growlers Filled” and under that “18 Taps.” Thinking it was a joke, I asked the gas station attendant (they still have those in Oregon), and she said, yep we’ll fill your growler and we’ve 18 of the best Bend has to offer. I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t have an empty growler and wouldn’t have known what to do with a growler in a gas station ;-)
It was an uneventful drive up Hwy 97 through central Oregon, and across the Columbia just west of The Dalles, and on up to Yakima WA. I found my RV park, obeyed the “do not drive tent stakes into our lawn, you may endanger the underground utilities,” dropped the trailer and headed into town to visit the town’s brewpubs.
Two of the four brew pubs have closed recently, leaving Bale Breaker and Yakima Craft Brewing Co (YCBC). Neither of which has a restaurant. I had a pint of the Pale Ale at YCBC, after ordering a pint of the amber. The bar tender was apologetic, someone had mislabeled two kegs of pale as 1982 Amber. She offered to comp me the beer, but since I was having only one, I elected to pay for my pint, and she comped me a 22 of the 1982 Amber. I had a pint of the 1982 later at Bert’s Pub with a nice pulled-pork sandwich. Bert’s was packed because it’s trivia night. I got about ½ of the questions right on the first card, and bailed. Headed to Bale Breaker. I got there too late for last call so headed back to my trailer to open the growler of 29er Brown Ale from Goodlife. It’s a very nice beer, solid hop presence, but with a nice malt character behind the hops.
I saw hops growing, early season yet, on my way into town, but there’s a huge John I. Haas hops processing facility near my RV Park. It covers acres with multiple buildings labeled “storage” and a building marked CO2 extraction. Serious stuff there. They are owned by Barth-Haas and are a small part of the B-H worldwide hops empire. Well it is Yakima, after all.
In the morning, I was off to Winthrop WA, a “western” town in the mountains of northern Washington. Many buildings date from the turn of the 20th century and earlier.
Winthrop WA
I stayed at the Pine Near RV Park in the center of town. What a great park. All grass, well maintained, properly managed, and very quiet. The place was not just recommended by Brian Woods, but he insisted that I go there and stay at Anna’s park. She’s a high energy lady who takes good care of her guests and treated me like a friend.
Pine Near RV Park
One of the main attractions of the town is the Old Schoolhouse Brewpub. They have won tons of awards in regional competitions, and produce several fine beers. Certainly on a par with the best of Bend. I sat out on the patio overlooking the river and tasted several of their beers, including a Brown, a Porter, and and ESB. The ESB was a very nice that is worth having a 2nd pint, and maybe even a 3rd ;-) Their award-winning beer is an DIPA and I’m sure it’s way too hoppy for me. Didn’t even try it.
After a few beers at Old Schoolhouse, I went to the Mexican restaurant next door for dinner. I had a pork dish cooked with pumpkin seeds as seasoning. Very authentic, and very good.
When I returned to my trailer, I introduced myself to my neighbor in the park. The neighbor lives in a completely original 1962 Boles Aero trailer. He found the trailer on CL, snapped it up and towed it to Pine Near.
I turned in fairly early because I had told Brian Woods I would meet him for lunch at Whiskey Jack’s in Westbank, BC for lunch. I had no idea what I was getting into when I said that.