Beer lovers not fooled by bars’ droopy decor

Bread & Brew • Migration, Apex and Fixin’ To offer serious outdoor drinkin’ fun

By Anne Marie DiStefano

The Portland Tribune, Jul 29, 2010, Updated Jul 31, 2010

The Landmark Saloon, a new bar on Southeast Division Street, has a large outdoor patio with smoking and non-smoking tables, beanbag horseshoes and ancient fruit trees in a huge side yard.

CHRISTOPHER ONSTOTT / TRIBUNE PHOTO

The mosquitoes have died off, and the evening air has that soft, affectionate feel that it gets when it’s the same temperature as your skin. It’s time to sit outside and drink.

A lot of bars have opened in this town since last summer, including a number that have dedicated serious space to outdoor seating – I’ve had time to visit four, so far.

Beer lovers will want to check out Migration Brewing Company (2828 N.E. Glisan St., www.migrationbrewing.com) and Apex (1216 S.E. Division St., www.apexbar.com).

Migration, which opened this spring, is serving its own brews – a pale ale, a cream ale and something called Honey Dew Ale – as well as guest taps from the likes of Oakshire, Upright Brewing and Double Mountain.

Salads and sandwiches form the bulk of the menu, and the outside seating is a wide-open lot full of picnic benches. It’s not heavy on the atmosphere, but it feels homegrown: renovated warehouse meets Northwest picnic ground meets German beer garden.

With a very similar setup, Apex offers lots of picnic table seating in the open air – and, sometimes, the glaring sun. On hot days, it’s more pleasant to grab one of the round tables on the shady threshold that is created by two open garage doors.

Apex has several draws. It’s extra bike-friendly, with lots of bike parking and, inside, wooden cubbies to hold your helmet. There’s a side room with pinball machines, and there’s also one of the largest selections of beer in the city: more than 40 rotating taps.

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