{"id":14115,"date":"2017-11-22T18:24:43","date_gmt":"2017-11-22T23:24:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.portlandmonthly.com\/portmag\/?p=14115"},"modified":"2018-01-31T15:54:39","modified_gmt":"2018-01-31T20:54:39","slug":"around-the-world-in-eight-drinks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.portlandmonthly.com\/portmag\/around-the-world-in-eight-drinks\/","title":{"rendered":"Around the World In Eight Drinks"},"content":{"rendered":"

December 2017 | view this story as a .pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

Raise a glass and taste the flavors of the world<\/strong>\u2013all from the radius of downtown Portland.<\/span><\/h3>\n

By Madison Andrews<\/span><\/p>\n

\"After-Dark-WG17\"Whether it\u2019s the excess of holiday cheer, everlasting visits from relatives, or the short winter days, we all need a little escape from the marathon of December. If you find yourself dreaming of tropical getaways or romantic excursions to Europe, test the international waters of downtown Portland before booking the next flight out. With its diverse collection of globally inspired bars, you just may find the vacation you\u2019ve been yearning for.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Heart is Not a Lonely Hunter at J\u00e4ger<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Though I\u2019ve missed Oktoberfest by several months, I set out with a friend in search of a hoppy Bavarian <\/strong>brew on a recent Thursday night. J\u00e4ger<\/strong> on 41 Wharf Street presents a welcome relief from the rowdy late-night crowd. Leaving the cobblestone alley and entering the rathskeller through the Antike<\/em> brick arch, we travel 3,750 miles (the distance from Portland to Munich) as we take a seat at the bar and peruse the menu. \u201cOur drafts change all the time,\u201d says Nick, the bartender. \u201cBut we always have Spaten M\u00fcnchner Hell, a premium lager. It\u2019s our most popular German beer on tap.\u201d In the spirit of my mission, and all the more venturesome with the discovery that we\u2019re sitting beside the \u201cold Falmouth sea wall which was once the Portland waterfront,\u201d we let him show the way ($4). The lager introduces a hoppy bitter flavor, but finishes with a honey-like sweetness. Through a Black Forest of rich, enticing smells of wiener schnitzel and sausage floating in from the kitchen, it\u2019s hard not to dream of pairings. After all, J\u00e4ger means \u201cHunter.\u201d We track down a bratwurst ($7), and Nick successfully tempts us with a soft pretzel ($3). While we wait, we notice discreet nods to Deutschland in the shape of a German flag and collections of unique steins tucked into shelves. With its relaxed yet intimate atmosphere and ample offering of beer, J\u00e4ger is Portland\u2019s hidden German gem. Prost!<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Scandimania<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Our next stop moves us across the map to unchartered territory. Portland Hunt + Alpine Club<\/strong> boasts an excellent menu rooted in Scandinavian <\/strong>influences. \u201cScandinavian food is good drinking food,\u201d says owner Andrew Volk, whose wife and partner, Briana Volk, is half-Finnish. \u201cSince Briana and I wanted to focus on cocktails, we feature flavors that pair well with spirits.\u201d We elect to sit at the steel-gray bar, where we get to spy on the skillful bartenders, and are quickly presented with leather-bound cocktail menus and a folded, wrinkled map listing food specials. The menu options dare to tweak: \u201cLate Night at OOB #3\u201d lists \u201cshame\u201d as its third ingredient. It\u2019s hard to choose just one drink. I gamble on \u201cThe Norseman,\u201d a combination of brown butter-washed aquavit (a Scandinavian spirit), and bitters ($11). It\u2019s caramel-colored, served in a short, frosted glass, with three Granny Smith apple wedges and a large square ice cube melting in the middle. As we\u2019re halfway through our drinks, someone dims the lights. Though the space is loud and full, it never feels crowded. Now a fan of aquavit, I\u2019ll return to this Scandinavian sanctuary. Considering the hanging lights, saloon doors, and mounted wire animal heads, I would\u2019ve come back for the unusual decor alone. <\/span><\/p>\n

Trip to the Tropics<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Though \u201cTiki culture\u201d may be an American invention, Rhum\u2019s<\/strong> take on the Polynesian<\/strong>-inspired theme makes for an amusing getaway. Established by the Fifth Food Group and situated on Cross Street, Rhum is a playful blend of sultry lounge and upbeat bar, occasionally accompanied by a live band. The space is dominated by a giant bar in the center of the room, adorned with palm thatch and multi-colored string lights. Octopus tentacles as door handles and Tiki torches as light fixtures add to the tropical ambiance. Feeling a bit out of my wheelhouse, I order the house daiquiri ($8), which arrives in a black, fish-shaped glass. It\u2019s strong but sweet. I watch as a group of women congregates around a giant \u201cfishbowl\u201d cocktail, which has just been set aflame. I get the sense that crowds assemble here mainly for the fun, somewhat flashy, environment\u2013us, too. \u201cTiki is really about escapism,\u201d Trevin Hutchins, the bar manager, tells us. \u201cMaine has such long and cold winters that we want to offer an escape from that.\u201d After one drink, we\u2019re on our way.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sip the Emerald Isle<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Still craving a diversion from our usual scene, we ponder where Portland can take us next. We decide the antidote to our Polynesian detour is Ireland<\/strong>. Ordering a pint of Guinness at an Irish bar\u2013clich\u00e9? Perhaps. But cheerfully indulgent? Always, and especially at R\u00ed R\u00e1<\/strong>. The pub, located on Commercial Street, offers an expert pour of your favorite Irish beer or whiskey. We settle into a little alcove next to a window. The flickering candle atop our table lights up the red-and-gold wallpaper. I order a Guinness ($6.50) and observe a lively mix of young and old conversing animatedly. The dark wood of the tables and bar, the leather-cushioned seats, and the collection of black-and-white prints of Ireland pull together to deliver the homey pub atmosphere found overseas. True authenticity is delivered by the patinated bar and snug, which were shipped to Maine from an pub in Annagassan, Ireland. Though at times Portland may feel small, drop into the right places, and you\u2019ll feel halfway across the world.<\/span><\/p>\n

Bottle Popping, Globe Trotting<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Of the several Mexican<\/strong> joints in downtown Portland, Taco Escobarr<\/strong> stands out as a welcoming excursion to a warmer climate. Basking under the rainbow ceiling of colorful jalape\u00f1o string lights, amp up your classic margarita with one of the bar\u2019s house-made infused tequilas, like pineapple poblano or cucumber ($9). Better yet, stop by during Happy Hour for a cocktail with free chips and salsa and enjoy your $5 trip south of the border.<\/span><\/p>\n

Batavia Bound<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Though it\u2019s tucked inside Tempo Dulu, with its sui generis craft cocktail menu and Asian-inspired small plates, Opium<\/strong> holds its own. \u201cThe owners are Dutch, and as Indonesia was once a Dutch colony, there are ties between the two cultures,\u201d bar manager Alexa Doyer says. \u201cThe idea for Opium is to feel transported out of Portland.\u201d For an Indonesian<\/strong>-inspired cocktail, try the award-winning Jakarta, an expert blend of Chinese five-spice, coastal root bitters, and absinthe ($15). \u201cIt\u2019s essentially a smoked Manhattan, and it won Star Chef\u2019s Best New Cocktail in 2015.\u201d Pair with an order of pork belly dumplings ($12) and snag a seat in the relaxed, purple-hued lounge to round out your sojourn to Southeast Asia.<\/span><\/p>\n

Great British Getaway<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

With Maine\u2019s winter chill seeping in, consider seeking shelter underground. Quicker than a trip across the Pond, descend the short staircase underground into Maps<\/strong>. Take advantage of their can special ($7) and spring for the English grilled cheese ($8). Owner Vikki Walker is a globetrotting Brit who landed in Portland to fulfill her dream of opening a bar. Her influence is clear in the cartography-inspired d\u00e9cor (maps line the walls and ceiling) and British<\/strong> charm (an out-of-order jukebox sports a sign that reads \u201cPiss Off! We\u2019re Closed\u201d). Like Vikki, you\u2019ll find Maps the ideal home-away-from-home.<\/span><\/p>\n

La Bella Figura<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Warm oak floors, exposed brickwork, and a polished copper bar\u2013stepping into Solo Italiano<\/strong> feels like a charming detour in itself. Top that off with artfully-plated dishes of true Genovese <\/strong>cuisine, and you\u2019ve got your trip to Italy arranged. Simply slip into a seat at the bar and order a crisp Aperol Spritz ($8). Just like the real place, you\u2019ll never want to leave.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

December 2017
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