Smokehouse 21

May 16 2013

craft beer, portland bbq, portland comfort food, portland happy hour, smoked meat, smokehouse 21 news

Just like that other “Portland” beer (PBR), the brilliant brewers at Fort George up in Astoria are getting behind bands. Local bands. Like Radiation City, Typhoon and Y La Bamba.

And they’re doing so by collaborating with their Portland record label, Tender Loving Empire, which has provided the edge-of-the-Western-world artwork that wraps around the 16-ounce cans of FGB’s NorthWest Pale Ale.

Thing is, you gotta drink yours soon, because this nearly 6 percent ABV ale won’t be around for long—FGB even has a ticker on their website indicating just how long you have to drink one of these before the last one’s been drunk.

You also notice, if you follow THIS LINK, that Fort George’ll treat you to on-location videos by all three bands, courtesy of FGB, TLE and Into the Woods TV.

So ask for one the next time you’re in. After all, you’ll always be able to down a can of PBR. A can of NWPA? Not for long.

May 10 2013

barbecue, craft beer, portland bbq, portland comfort food, portland happy hour, smoked meat, smokehouse 21 news

OCCIDENTAL BREWING’S KÖLSCH

We’re smack dab in the middle of spring, but it already feels like summer, doesn’t it?

And nothing pairs better with summer than light, crisp dry beers (and, of course, barbecue).

So the next time you come in for a sando or a plate of smoked chicken, ask us for a light, crisp, dry Kölsch, brewed by an amateur brewer-turned defense lawyer-turned husband-turned father-turned owner and head brewer of Occidental Brewing Co., which you can find in the shadows of the St. Johns Bridge just across the river up in North Portland.

Not quite a lager—it’s less bitter, if you can believe it—Occidental’s Kölsch goes down nice and easy and, despite its 16-ounces, it goes down fast, too, making it a good beer to knock back for all you carry-outers while you wait for our kitchen to finish your order.

Toast your spring, your early summer and your carry-out with a Kölsch.

May 02 2013

barbecue, craft beer, portland comfort food, smoked meat, smokehouse 21 news

SMOKEHOUSE 21 MERCH

Remember when you were young and needed something to get you through the night? Something like a stuffed animal or a blankie?

Yes? Good.

Now remember last week when you tossed and turned because you apocalyptically dreamt that all things smoked meat had come to an end?

Yes? If so, we’ve got something to make your dreams a little sweeter—and smokier.

That’s right. Smokehouse 21 T-Shirts are back. The next time you’re in, ask us for one and we’ll send you home with one that fits.

Then the next next time you’re back, wear that shirt so it can soak up our restaurant’s smokey smell. Then, when you drift off to sleep later that night, cuddle with that shirt—it should keep those peak-’cue nightmares at bay.

Also, Koozies are back, too, which’ll keep cold not only the cans of beer your pair with our smoked meats and sides, but also the cans of beer you drink at your own backyard summer barbecues.

So whether you dine in, or dine at home, show your colors and join the Smokehouse 21 Nation.

Apr 24 2013

barbecue, craft beer, portland bbq, portland comfort food, portland happy hour, smoked meat

MAMA’S LITTLE YELLA PILS

What exactly was Mick singing about in Mother’s Little Helper? Pills. Little yellow ones. The kind that did in Marilyn Monroe a few years before.

So listen to Mick, kids. Unless you’re Keith, those things’ll kill ya.

But Oskar Blues’s Mama’s Little Yella Pils?

Doubtful, unless you drink, like, a case of ‘em before dinner.

It’s easy to see, with it’s one “L,” that this beer’s a pilsner, not a can of barbiturates.

And it goes down easy.

With an ABV of just over 5 percent, it’s a good session beer that we think pairs best with either our Pulled Pork, our Half Smoked Chickens, or, if you’re feeling like a Bavarian in need of a light lunch, our yummy Chopped Salad.

Apr 17 2013

Uncategorized

21st AMENDMENT’S BREW FREE OR DIE

George Washington was tough. And by tough, we mean tough.

(Seriously, just click on the word tough. The second one. With the italics.)

So why’s he look all sweaty and scared on the image gracing the 21st Amendment‘s Brew Free or Die IPA?

Well, rotate the can and you’ll see Honest Abe freeing himself, much to the delight of Teddy Roosevelt (Jefferson? Indifferent.), from the stone prison we Americans call Mt. Rushmore.

What’s all this Vampire-Hunting Bravado have to do with the IPA you’re swallowing? Not sure, really, but we’re guessing it means that you can’t keep a good man down, not even when he’s in his grave. Especially when that man—or woman—wants a bold beer, like the Brew Free or Die IPA, a 70-IBU, 7-ABV percenter.

Ask for one and you’ll know that you can indeed please all of the people all of the time.

Apr 10 2013

barbecue, craft beer, portland bbq, portland comfort food, portland happy hour, smoked meat

OSKAR BLUES’S OLD CHUB SCOTCH ALE

If a beer could be strong enough to make you sprout instant hair from your chest—and that includes you, too, ladies—then it would look, and drink, a lot like an Old Chub Scotch Ale.

And while it’s known as a Wee Heavy, don’t be fooled—that’s what Scots call a drink that’ll knock you on your ass.

And this one—with its smokey finish, its cola color, its malty sweetness and its formidable ABV of 8 percent—is a sucker puncher.

That’s why we suggest pairing it with something hearty—like our Macaroni-Cheese-and-Pulled Pork Special, or a Half-Rack of Spareribs.

But because of its mocha-like notes, we think it pairs best with a scoop of our Salt and Straw Coffee Bourbon Ice Cream.

Or even better, ask to float your scoop in a glass of Old Chub.

Apr 03 2013

barbecue, craft beer, portland bbq, portland comfort food

HUB’s Rise-Up Red Ale

Because we serve our beer in Koozies, you might not notice the small man on your Rise Up Red Ale parachuting from on high toward a snow-capped mountain.

But that parachutist is DB Cooper, the air pirate who in the 1970s boarded a plane in Portland, hijacked it to Seattle and then jumped—maybe to his death, but maybe not—from that same plane near Mount Saint Helens with fat stacks totaling $200,000.

Now what’s that have to do with the price of tea in China of smoked Pacific Northwest meat?

Nothing. But, as our mothers have always told us, it’s not what’s on the outside that counts—it’s what on the inside.

Like those 16 fluid ounces, 5.8 ABV and 60 IBUs of ambery red ale, made with Cascade and Centennial hops.

And because amber ales pair better with barbecue than any other beer, order one and take sips in between licking the sauce from your fingertips.

And get yours now, because this ale’s seasonal and won’t be around forever.

Mar 25 2013

barbecue, craft beer, portland bbq, portland comfort food, portland happy hour, portland vegetarian, smoked meat

SMOKEHOUSE 21′s UN-BEER: ANTHEM HARD CIDER

Long ago, an apple a day didn’t really keep the doctor away. But a Hard Apple Cider did.

Because the bacteria found in colonial waters had a penchant for killing us, we brewed hard ciders from the many, many apples harvested fro this young country’s many, many orchards.

Peasants drank them, as did presidents. We even reared our kids on the stuff.

But then our water got better. And so did our beer. And our wine. And before long, our love of ciders was on the outs.

Until now, that is. Because ciders are back, and they’re back strong.

Lately, some of you have been asking for it, especially those of you with gluten allergies. We listened. And despite our commitment to canned craft beer, we’re giving your what you want: bottles of Wandering Aengus Ciderworks‘ tart and dry Anthem Hard Apple Cider, fermented to an ABV of 6 percent with the apples harvested from the cidery’s Salem orchard.

So if you’re a cider lover, ask as to pop a cap on one (or two) and properly pair it (or them) with either our Pulled Pork or our Smoked Half Chicken plate. And if you really want the most out of your cider, pair either of those meats with our creamy, but not-too, Cole Slaw and our Fingerling Potato Salad, with all its mustard seeds and shallots and cornichons and smoked bacon.

Your mouth belly will thank you, but your mouth’ll thank you more.

Tagged american beer, craft beer, gluten-free beer, northwest portland restaurants, Oregon Craft Beer, oregon hard cider, portland bbq, portland comfort food, portland dinner, portland happy hour, portland lunch, Portland Vegetarian, portland vegetarian barbecue, smoked meats

Mar 21 2013

barbecue, craft beer, portland bbq, portland comfort food, portland happy hour, portland vegetarian, smoked meat

SMOKEHOUSE 21′s UN-BEER BEER: O-MISSION

We make meat that most of you want to eat. Those who don’t, we gave you Smoked Portobello Mushroom Sandwiches. And Wedge Salads. And, of course, beer because there’s no meat in beer. Although that does sound good.

And while some of you can eat meat till your seams burst, your allergy to gluten has prevented an increasing number of you from pairing all that pig with a cold one.

Until now.

You want gluten-free beer? You’ve got it, because now we’re pairing the meat you love with the suds you crave: introducing to our menu Widmer Brothers’ O-Mission Pale Ale.

Now, t’s impossible to cure a beer of all its gluten, kinda like it’s impossible to cure coffee of all its caffeine, but through a super secret trade practice, the Widmer Brothers have brewed a 6 percent ABV pale ale, and then sucked out of it nearly all the gluten.

That means your belly is in good hands. And will, soon, be full of both meat and beer.

Tagged american beer, barbecue, craft beer, gluten-free beer, northwest portland restaurants, Oregon Craft Beer, portland bbq, portland comfort food, portland dinner, portland happy hour, portland lunch, Portland Vegetarian, portland vegetarian barbecue, smoked meats, smokehouse 21

Mar 12 2013

barbecue, pork, portland bbq, portland comfort food, portland happy hour, portland vegetarian, smoked meat

SMOKEHOUSE 21′s CHOPPED SALAD

Well, the good news for salad-eaters is that our menu now features another salad!

Of course, the bad new for some of those salad-eaters is that our Chopped Salad is also made of meat. Two kinds, actually: chicken aaaaaaaaaaaand bacon. But you probably could’ve guessed that.

Still, it’s not a lot of meat. Rather, it’s mostly tossed with our sherry vinaigrette and swirled into a twisty mountain of baby arugula, radicchio and bleu cheese crumbles.

It’s fresh and, even with that bacon, it’s light. And it’s perfect size to either share with your date before the “main event” arrives, or to covet and hog all to yourself for a light lunch.

Of course, if chicken and pig ain’t your thing, we’ll chop you one up sans.

Tagged barbecue, northwest portland restaurants, pork, portland bbq, portland comfort food, portland dinner, portland happy hour, portland lunch, Portland Salad, Portland Vegetarian, portland vegetarian barbecue, smoked chicken, smoked meats, smokehouse 21