Roots Organic Brewery

 I visited Roots brewery, in its very inconspicuous location just off of SE Hawthorne on SE 7th, this evening for the first time since they expanded their menu.  As always, the beer and beer selection is excellent, and the menu finally makes Roots worthy of visiting for an evening out with friends.  On my previous visits, the beer was good, but the menu was significantly lacking, and therefore this local brewpub was not a great destination for anything but a quick beer.  With the new menu and expanded kitchen, the food is very well prepared, and the selection is quite good.  They hold true to the “organic” feel that they have created for their beers, and the menu is organic as well, offering several choices for both the vegetarians and omnivores among us.  

I ordered both “Helmey’s Burger” (named after the head chef) and the Vegetarian Quesadilla.  The burger was a healthy sized patty on a chiabatta roll; the meat was juicy and flavorful, and the toppings were plentiful and gave good character to the burger.  The bun was soft, fresh, and lightly grilled to warm it up, and it came with a side of the perennial favorite “Tim’s Cascade” potato chips.  The Quesadilla was also very well prepared, and was healthily sized for an appetizer order.  The tortilla was crisp while not too greasy, and the filling was very flavorful with a good portion of melted cheese. 

Moving on to the beer, I am typically impressed with the quality of brew at Roots.  I was equally happy today, with one exception.  I had three distinct brews, the “Epic Ale,” the “Woody IPA,” and the “Flanders Red.”  The IPA is a staple at Roots, and is consistently excellent.  It is overly hoppy with a slightly bitter finish, and the flavor lingers long after you drink it.  This years’ Epic Ale was also quite delicious, with an almost sweet overtone lingering on the palate.  It is very reminiscent of a barley wine, but not with the typical tanginess associated with one.  I was somewhat disappointed with the “Flanders Red” although several of my friends enjoyed it.  It was aged in Pino Noir barrels, which made its’ flavor a cross between beer and light red wine.  I heard it described as a “sweet and sour” beer. 

Overall, I found Roots to be very improved in recent months over its previous state.  Most weekends they have live music (always free) and have a large screen TV to watch the day’s game.  Most game days they have specials, and they have several throughout the week as well.  Roots has excellent beer (in my opinion some of the best Portland has to offer), and finally has a menu to match.  While it may not be the largest selection in town, it gives Roots the feel of an evening destination, not just somewhere to grab a quick pint.

1520 SE 7th, Portland, Oregon