Sunday 31st of May 2009 11:36:57 AM

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OK if you've been paying attention, by now you know that reaching this brewery involves stairs. A lot of stairs, even if you drive-up to the front! A fun hike from downtown, though, especially if you want to pre-burn some calories that you can replenish with some of there great beer! Now, on to the beer...

All of their "standard" beers are just that - standard. No frills but all good. I do like the fact that they have a scottish as one of their regular beers, though. I feel this style is too often overlooked in the hop-heavy Northwest! However, the beer that I was most pleased with was their Helles Lager. A lager brewed with smoked malts, the Helles gives just a hint of smoke to offset it's well-balanced crisp lager flavor. I'm normally not a lager anything fan but this is what I took home in my growler!

Food is good. Nothing fantastic though except that I really dig the fries.

Service was good one time and slow another. Again, not out of the ordinary.

View is incredible!!! Definitely worth a visit if in Hood River! I'd skip Full Sail and spend your time and $$$ up here!

Friday 16th of January 2009 11:27:53 PM

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Big Horse was a great stop.

In town to visit Full Sail, brother and I climber the 1,000 stairs to Big Horse's pub. Well worth the effort. An enjoyable atmosphere and great waitstaff. We hung on to the bar, bantering with the waitress and sipping down the IPA. The pub wasn't all that busy, but the resturant was active and the business looked stable.

We walked out talking about coming back next time.

Thursday 23rd of October 2008 12:17:02 AM

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Ok, next time I’ll check to see if there is parking on the uphill side along Sherman Ave. We walked up the hill from the lot by Full Sail and then climbed the public and brewery stairways to reach the tasting room on the top floor. You can check out the brew room or the game room if you need to catch your breath on the stairs. By the time we got to the tap room, I was more than ready for a good brew. Anyway the location makes for some great views out across the town to the river. There is outside deck seating and window seating in the tap room (as well as a few seats in the gable loft, up the ladder). There were seven house brews on tap plus an import guest beer and I truly enjoyed the Pale Rider IPA and the MacStallion Scottish Ale. The menu was pretty typical pub fare but we were anxious to get on the road south to Bend and didn’t sample on this visit.

Friday 9th of May 2008 12:15:05 PM

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Right in the central section of Hood River on the hillside, from the outside Big Horse looks like it was once a 3 story house. Now it’s a small brewery on the ground floor, an middle floor with pool tables and an outside deck with tables, and upstairs the bar and a restaurant area (also with a few tables outside).

The prices are quite good (what you always hope for but don’t always get from a place that brews its own beer) and a good selection is available. When we visited, there were 9 beers on tap, including one made from a single hop variety.

We have only tried a few things to eat, so can’t say a lot about the food, but the choices on the menu look reasonably varied, and two things we tried were good - a pulled pork sandwich (traditional, but well made) and a creole oyster tostada (innovative and excellent).

Sunday 16th of March 2008 12:34:15 AM

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I have yet to sample the food fare from Big Horse, but I can say that all you need is their excellent beer and unparallelled view of the Columbia River to realize that Big Horse is a noteworthy Brewpub.

I've only been once, and filled some growlers to go and enjoy in the hot tub after a day of skiing on Mt. Hood Meadows, but man - what a view. I recall the service being quick, but who really cares while you're enjoying this view? Did I mention that the view is incredible?

Check out beer reviews on www.hopsandbarleyblog.com

Monday 13th of August 2007 08:43:42 PM

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I hesitate to even begin this review for fear that too much of a good thing might ruin this place but, for the benefit (of Mr. Kite) and the rest of us beer-geeks, here goes.
Nestled on a hill in the middle of downtown Hood River, the Big Horse Brewery (also known as Horse Feathers) is reached by first climbing 10-thousand steps (or so) to reach it's back door. Do that because once you come into the pub itself, the Columbia River spreads out before you from 3 glass walls.
This is a relatively small pub about the size of, oh let's say, Bill Gates' Master Bathroom, with intimate tables for 2 or, if you like, bar stool seating BUT not at the bar, rather overlooking the Columbia in all its glory. There is outdoor seating as well for larger groups.
The decor is old wood. The food is excellent with plenty of fish items (burgers, tacos, etc.) and then there are the fries. Sweet potato fries w/a Thai peanut sauce! A meal all its own. Their beers rotate, as is typical of most breweries, but one of their staples is a Scottish ale that is smooth enough to be called dangerous. Wife Persimmon & I discovered the Big Horse ("If it doesn't have a big head and a big tail, it ain't a Big HOrse") on a unseasonable warm April day. We sat in the back outdoor area overlooking a flower garden and after just a little more than a pint of the Scottish, she turned to me, flapped her fingertips to her mouth and announced, "I can't feel my lips."
What more can I say except, Full Sail Brewery is down the road. Don't bother. Spend your money & time at the Big Horse
You're welcome - now...because you will thank me later on.