More Crowded than an Obama Rally

Yesterday I joined approximately 23,300 Oregonians for the opening day of Hopworks Urban Brewery. The reason for the standing-room-only crowd and the 45 minute wait for a table at 4:30pm? The intersection of three of Portland's passions: beer, bikes, and sustainability.

Christian Ettinger is a renowned brewer, winning award after award for his work at Laurelwood Brewery. He and his father recently decided to open their own brew pub, and Hopworks was born. Yes, for years I've been among those people who've dreamed of intersecting bikes and beer -- but the prize goes to the doers, not the dreamers. And they've pulled off a winner here.

John Foyston of The Oregonian had a good summary of the place, including its organic food and use of bike parts for decoration. Me, I had a Survival "Seven-Grain" Stout, and a wish for more bike parking.

Finally, direct from Hopworks' website, a list of ways they're trying to be green beyond their building:

• Organic Made from scratch Roma Tomato Sauce

• Use of Shepphards Grain "Food Alliance Certified" flour for our pizza dough & other bread items (pretzels, foccacia bread)

• Organic Milk

• Organic field greens, romaine & various seasonal vegetables

• Dressings made from scratch, less packaging

• 100 % post consumer waste

• 100% recycled dinner napkins

• Waste recycling programs that strive for zero waste

• Recycling food waste for animal feed & composting.

• Organic coffee from Stumptown "Holler Mtn"

• All to go material 100% post consumer 100% recycled material.

• Compostable plastic to go cups (corn based)

Thanks to Christian and the Hopworks crew for going beyond the basics to be good to the planet!

Side note: OLCV doesn't have a position on the Presidential primary candidates.