McMenamins Fulton Pub & Brewery — Restaurant in Portland

I discovered the Fulton Pub on SW Nebraska Ave in late, late June 1989 as I was biking from Milwaukie to downtown Portland to check out Kell's. I like biking over the I-5 via SW Corbett. Climbing that hill makes downtown Portland so worth it. And all the craft brew awaiting one after a climb northwardly on Corbett, over the mighty and powerful I-5, and into lovely Portland, in 1989. (Not the same in 2014 anymore.)

Anyhoo, this is about the Fulton Pub at 618 SW Nebraska Avenue in John's Landing (so haute, now, huh?).

What happened to Captain Neon's Fermentation Chamber, where the beer (I say 'ale') is Alive?

The Fulton is my all-time fave pub, anywhere. I discovered this place and my father's then live in gal-pal knew of it. So, we'd go together, sometimes.

Nebraska Bitter is an ale unique to the Fulton after it was opened as a McMenamin Brothers brew pub. The interior artwork was all phantasmagoria and dreamy, with stars and moons and such over a dark cobalt blue ceiling and walls. In the 21 century-era, it appears gentrified. Sort of like how the McMenamin Brothers ales are now. We could say 'value engineered'.

The Hammerhead and Ruby Ales, both McMenamin Brother stalwart ale offerings are (were?) so good, yet way better in the past, before all the recipes changed (for the cheaper? - like what Sierra Nevada did to all their ales since like the late, late 1990s?) I'd have all three: the Nebraska Bitter, Hammerhead, and Ruby. Usually the Hammerhead or Nebraska Bitter with a menu offering.

If I recall correctly, the Captain Neon Burger (blue cheese?) and (Ken's) Communication Breakdown Burger (your cheese choice) were created by the then chef named Ken. I settled on Ken's Communication breakdown Burger each time. Tater tots. Why McMenamin Brothers rule. Tater Tots. How peaceful and kind and dear: tater tots.

They play music over the PA from Spotify or Pandora or the radio (KBOO when they play music?), I guess. There is telly that airs sports and stuff in the 21st-century era of the Fulton.

In the men's bathroom you can read the comics while standing up. Maybe the horoscope page, too?

The garden patio is a treat as it is well overgrown with lush fragrant flowering plants of all sorts. A respite from the big city Portland grind. (How much of a grind can Portland be with those land values and housing prices?)

The burgers, though, have changed. Not so big and juicy and flavorful as then.

Even the not so flavorful of the past seems more flavorful than the most flavorful now.

Includes the ales, I guess. Please forgive me. I'm a little too emotional to five a better review, here. This more my personal context and subtext comprising my Fulton Pub experience. I may come back and clean this up. Cheers. Your humble technical writer. Disallowed from living freely and privately in the Portland area. No mkultra stuffed up the cointelpro, civilian...

I genuinely appreciate the way McMenamins operates as a company. That being said, this was the worst experience I've had at one by a long shot. Stopped in to grab a bite & a beer for lunch one day. My girlfriend ordered a beer, and the bar tender didn't bring anything. After 10 minutes, she asked if it was on the way and he said "Oh, what did you order again?" Then he brought the beer. After a few more minutes, he came back and took our food orders. My girlfriend asked for a veggie burger.. he asked how she would like it cooked.. strange question for a veggie burger, but okay. Long story short, the guy brings our food out and quite literally drops it on the table and walks off, and he brought my girlfriend a completely different kind of sandwich than what she ordered. There were only 4 other people in the restaurant, so it's not like he was overwhelmed. Instead, he was just way too interested in flirting the girl at the bar. I overheard him telling her that he's the manager, but hopefully he was just saying that to impress her. If you want a good McMenamins experience, go to one of the other...

Fulton Pub is my go to place when I want to get away and enjoy a quiet Happy Hour. When I need to decompress from life for a few hours and go some place where I can count on good beer, good food and quiet I go to Fulton at 3pm. That's when Happy Hour starts! The people are super friendly and provide great service, but they also give you a bit of space. The space is very small too, so if you need something it is easy to get someone's attention. The parking is street parking, but at 3pm parking isn't hard to find. This is also the place I suggest to friends who live on the Westside, and want to meet up for Happy Hour. It is pretty easy to get into and out of, and a great place to catch up with that friend you haven't seen in a year. You'll be able to hear each other and since it's McMenamins you'll know the food and beer will be dependable. I have never been here for anything other than their happy hour specials, and I've always...