Review: Gigantic Brew Works

Give us an overview of the space. Far from fancy, the interior of Gigantic Brewing does little to disguise the fact that it's basically a warehouse. The super-casual vibe fits with the blue collar brewing approach.

How’s the crowd? There's definitely a collection of college kids from nearby Reed College, though it's far from a college bar. Residents of the nearby neighborhood and beer geeks of all (legal) ages (though it skews young) also populate the bar.

How are the drinks? Gigantic doesn't specialize in a particular style or set trends for new ones, instead, the brewers reliably produce excellent Northwestern beers. There's the obligatory but stellar IPAs (including hazy ones, of course), some serious stouts, kolsch, and whatever brewers feel like playing with that season. While they're delicious on draught, the bottles are worth it for the commissioned artwork. Guests visiting the pub who aren't in the mood for beer can find a nicely cultivated selection of Champagne, instead.

What do they have for food? Some bar snacks like nuts, but otherwise it's best to bring food in, especially if there's a food cart in the vicinity at the time.

Did the staff do you right? The staff helming the taps work closely with the brewers, ensuring they always know what's what with the beers, and can generally make suggestions. It can get busy, though, so they don't always have time to chat too long.

Wrap it up: what are we coming here for? Gigantic is a quintessential Portland brewery in that it makes both classic and newer styles with aplomb. The brewers are willing to be fun and experimental, but rarely get too crazy, opting for more traditional styles and themes that fit the Portland brewery scene well.