A while back I was vacationing in Portland and I happened into the Bagdad Theatre and Brew Pub on Hawthorne. Hawthorne is one of those very groovy, eclectic, artist streets that you find in most big cities, like Soho in New York. But Soho doesn’t have this kind of pub. It was open and airy with customers spilling out onto the sidewalk seating. The service was friendly and knowledgeable. The food was excellent and consistent, I know because I went there a lot during my trip. Although their Apple cider shouldn’t be missed the real star was their summer special beer, Ruby. My companion, who wasn’t much of a beer drinker ordered it on the suggestion of our server. I much prefer darker beers truth be told, but with the insistent encouragement from my companion I took a sip, then ordered one for myself. It was smooth and went down like ice tea, and was just as refreshing. It was cherry red and smelled of spring, that flower and fruity scent that floats on the air around parks and gardens. the flavor was crisp with a tinge of apple mixed with malt. Ruby tripped on the tongue as light as water and just as quenching. If you happen to be in Portland stop into the Bagdad Theatre and Brew Pub and order a Ruby, you won’t be disappointed, unless you of course go there during the winter season. It is, unfortunately, only a summer beer.
Cheers
