A Visit to Brewers Union Local 180

I had some unexpected free time today, so I decided to take a trip to Oakridge and spend some time at Ted Sobel's lovely public house. The website, though a bit old, has as clear a statement of purpose as I've seen in the industry, and the Local delivers on it.

There are plenty of places in Eugene that call themselves pubs. Oakshire even calls its pour house a 'public house'. But Brewers Union is operating on an entirely different level. I think the secret to their success is that the emphasis is on the atmosphere and providing a comfortable, casual pub experience.  The place feels a lot more like a big house than a bar. Lots of little things contribute to this feeling - the varied seating (plenty of comfy chairs and endtables in addition to stools and standard tables), lots of books and newspapers on hand, a guitar and piano open to patrons, free billiards, and most of all, the unhurried and kind service.

Some of this arises from being based in Oakridge, a sleepy little mountain town frequented mostly by cyclists, hikers, and general outdoors enthusiasts. But I think the true source is the contrarian nature of the brewery and the beer.

That's because Brewers Union's major claim to fame is being one of the few breweries in the States that makes CAMRA-style real ale, served from gravity-fed casks at proper temperature using old-style beer engines. The beer tastes fresh, mild, and lively, and it pairs very well with the mostly-traditional English pub fare on offer (also quite good). I had two pints - a fresh-hopped pale ale, and an oak-aged strong ale.

After my visit, I was left wondering - could a place like Brewers Union work well in Eugene? Why don't we have something like it already? I'd like to think so - and if there was, I'd be there all the time. The closest parallel we have at the moment is probably Falling Sky, but they're going for a very different atmosphere and brand, and they're not up to the quality mark Brewers Union ably sets.