Portland’s Zoiglhaus Brews a Near-Perfect German Style Pilsner

But prepare to have a couple of beers while you wait for your food, as the kitchen doesn’t always move with German efficiency.

(Emily Joan Greene/WW)
By Shannon Armour

5716 SE 92nd Ave., 971-339-2374, zoiglhaus.com. 11 am-10 pm daily.

In Bavaria, the traditional Zoiglhaus was a communal brewhouse where members could make wort and take it back to their respective homes to finish fermenting. You can't just show up at this massive 200-seat, family friendly Lents pub and brew your own beer, but that shouldn't be a problem—head brewer Alan Taylor does a good job on his own. Taylor's extensive knowledge of Northern German brewing styles shines through in the clean, sessionable and stylistically perfect Pilsners, lagers and the often hard-to-nail Kölsch. The crisp and refreshing Northern German-style Zoigl-Pils is a beautiful example of exactly what a well-made Pilsner should taste like. Pair that golden beauty with the beer cheese spätzle with sausage or the daily schnitzel for the full German experience. Prepare to have a couple of beers while you wait for your food, as the kitchen doesn't always move with German efficiency.

Nearby: Twenty blocks northwest on Foster, stop in at the eight rainbowed food carts of the Portland Mercado (7238 SE Foster Road, 503-477-9945, portlandmercado.org) to get excellent tlayuda Mexican pizzas (Tierra del Sol), mole negro (Mixteca) and Haitian fare (Jouk li Jou).

Willamette Week’s reporting has concrete impacts that change laws, force action from civic leaders, and drive compromised politicians from public office. Support WW's journalism today.