Warm caramel malt. Smooth mouthfeel. Balanced very well with a hit of piney/grapefruity bitterness. Like. 3.75/5 stars.
This was my first visit to Murrayhill Taphouse in Beaverton, OR. My wife and I were looking for a nice spot to have a lunch date, and we had been meaning to try this place since we first saw it. On our way to a nearby location of a well-known regional brewpub chain, we spotted the restaurant and both had the same reaction. “Oh yeah, we should stop here instead!” With our infant daughter in tow, we had a few important considerations for our date: no crowds, good food, sit-down (not fast/fast-casual), and efficient service. It’s difficult to know when a sleeping baby will wake, so we ideally didn’t want to wait for 15+ minutes to see our server or 60+ minutes for food to be prepared.
The Taphouse delivered, and then some. Unsurprisingly for 2PM on a Monday, the place was quiet. We were given our choice of seating, and the server arrived promptly. As the name would suggest, they had a good selection of local microbrews on draft and even a couple (relatively new) non-alcoholic cans. Our server gave us a few more minutes to familiarize ourselves with the menu (so many interesting items!) and had the drinks on the table by the time we had chosen entrees.
My wife was particularly impressed by the bruschetta options on the appetizer list. There was a classic mozz/tomato/basil/balsamic of course, but also several other charcuterie board-type choices, with an allowance for three selections. We chose the classic, a brie/apple/fig jam, and a prosciutto/asparagus/pinot onions/swiss combo. The bread was well-toasted and neatly sliced into four servings for each flavor. I would venture that a single person could make a good meal from this appetizer alone, but the presentation makes it perfect to share too. The only downside was that toppings on the end pieces weren’t quite as well-distributed as the middle pieces (could cause disputes if sharing with multiple people). That is a small critique for what otherwise was a delicious hors d’oeuvre.
For the mains, I selected a Southwest salad topped with shrimp and my wife chose a french dip sandwich. Both were generously proportioned and plated appetizingly without looking out-of-place in a taphouse. My salad had many bits and bobs to please the palate, from the crunch of fresh greens and tortilla strips to the smoosh of black beans and pop of cherry tomatoes. And, surprisingly, it was spicy! The southwest dressing caught up with me about halfway through the plate, building to an inferno that demanded I take a break from inhaling the delectable rainbow of vegetables. I took a swig of my ice water. No relief! I switched to the amber ale. Mistake! The fire burned fiercely. I eyed my wife. “It’s a little spicy,” I remarked. She rolled her eyes at me and continued with her own meal. Nothing to do but take a timeout.
While I waited for the embers to cool, I took a moment to enjoy the scenery. The restaurant is situated on a pond, and all of the seating is arranged on one of two tiers that provide everyone with a view. A fountain adds visual excitement and hides the busy road on the opposite side of the water. During most of the year (but not that day), local waterfowl glide across the tranquil vista. It’s a lovely picture, sure to entertain all ages.
Finally satisfied, we did the American thing and packed up half of our meal to take home. But first, dessert! Having finished the delicious amber, but still craving something sweet, I “helped” my wife finish a house made s’more. Mouthwatering graham crackers (soft, more like a cookie really) provided the base for a rich wafer of semi-dark chocolate (darker would pair better, but maybe that’s just my preference) and a massive, perfectly torched marshmallow (a couple peaks of black topping mounds of dark brown crust over a gooey snow-white pillow). If you need a clearer understanding of this delight, let me tell you one more thing. It’s served with a spoon.
Our daughter obliged us by staying asleep the entire meal, so I would put this down as a great date. It was a delightful visit, and one that we intend to repeat.
The Amber by Hammer & Stitch Brewing Co.
A Beer a Day 