Beer Guide 2015: Ex Novo

By Rebecca Jacobson

Ex Novo

2326 N Flint Ave., 894-8251, exnovobrew.com. 3-10 pm Monday-Thursday, 3-11 pm Friday, noon-11 pm Saturday, noon-10 pm Sunday.

[ALTRUISTIC ALES] Like so many bushy-tailed do-gooders, Ex Novo had a tough go at the beginning. The 10-barrel brewery is a nonprofit, donating its proceeds to supporting Syrian refugees, providing housing services and mentoring poor kids. Unfortunately, the beer was in rough shape when it opened last July. Ex Novo picked itself up, hiring new brewmaster Jason Barbee just six months into its existence. The improvement has been dramatic. A recent Coup de Foudre Saison balanced fruitiness with a spicy rye kick, while the Cardinal Sim IPA—brewed exclusively with Simcoe hops—was fantastically juicy. With its reclaimed wood tables, high ceilings and designer light bulbs, the tasting room has a rustic chalet vibe that's as welcoming to 30-somethings on a first date as Blazers fans glued to the TV above the bar. Also, knitting circles. How wholesome.

DRINK THIS: Ex Novo pays homage to a Portland native and former Trail Blazers star Damon Stoudamire with a stout that's chocolaty, drinkable and smoother than its namesake.

WWeek 2015

Rebecca Jacobson

Rebecca Jacobson

Rebecca Jacobson is a writer from Portland (OK, she was born in Seattle but has been in Oregon since the day after she turned 10) who's also lived in Berlin, Malawi and Rhode Island. While on staff at Willamette Week, she covered theater, film, bikes, drug dealers-turned-barbers and little-known scraps of local history.

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

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