Great Notion Brewing

By Matthew Korfhage

2204 NE Alberta St., No. 101, 548-4491, greatnotionpdx.com. 3-10 pm Monday-Thursday, noon-11 pm Friday-Saturday, noon-10 pm Sunday.

After taking over for the long-neglected Mash Tun brewpub last summer, Great Notion quickly became the best beer bar ever to hit Alberta, even before it kick-started its own brews in December. The small bar space is not an especially efficient version of every contemporary modern Portland brewpub: wood grain everywhere, Timbers scarves hung with care, and a patio looking out on food carts. But Great Notion's IPAs are perhaps the most ambitious take on fruity, low-IBU brews in the state. A 30 IBU, 5 percent ABV session IPA called Juice Jr. is wondrously refreshing even on its first batch out of the tanks, smooth and brightly tropical. The Ripe IPA is a kissing cousin, bolder and more alcoholic. The stout is dry and balanced, and a light saison imbued with kiwi and grape notes is a subtle and floral treat. A tart Berliner Weisse, amped up to a comparatively high 5 percent alcohol, is more full-bodied than most but still bright as floodlights.

Great Notion Maya Setton

Drink This: Juice Jr. will be the summer beer of Portland 2016. Just you wait.

Willamette Week

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Matthew Korfhage

Matthew Korfhage

Matthew Korfhage has lived in St. Louis, Chicago, Munich and Bordeaux, but comes from Portland, where he makes guides to the city and writes about food, booze and books. He likes the Oxford comma but can't use it in the newspaper.

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