BLOGTOWN

Blair Stenvick

I’ve crushed my fair share of fruit beers, ciders, and radlers during the hot Portland summer months, but I don’t think I’ve ever had a beer-adjacent drink as refreshing, tangy, or memorable as the tepache they serve at Barrio, the small beer-and-wine bar inside the Portland Mercado. A one-to-one mixture of fermented pineapple and Modelo with a spicy salt rim, the drink came highly recommended by bar manager Ben Citalán.

Originally from Guatemala, Citalán (along with owner Chris Shimamoto) has overseen Barrio’s drink selection for the last two years. Since opening on Southeast Foster in 2015, the Mercado has become a favored destination for those seeking a variety of authentic Latin American dishes served by food carts in a casual setting. The Barrio has gained its own reputation as a cozy neighborhood bar with local art on the walls, buzzy music in the speakers, and drink specials, like tepache, that you can’t find anywhere else in town.

For the Mercury’s craft beer issue, I recently sat down with Citalán to talk about tepache, the Latin American beer scene, and why Modelo will always have a spot on the Barrio’s taplist.

Meg Nanna

Meg Nanna

The space is their prettiest and most ambitious yet, with a stunning wood-carving of Mount Hood by the entry and antique beer cans lining the top of the bar. The bar itself runs along most of the main room, with a smaller intimate space toward the back, and beyond that, a separate room that currently holds a big-screen TV and will be available for private rental.

But when you head outside, Hi-Top reveals its greatest strength. The patio that runs alongside the building is expansive and pleasant, but keep going back and you'll find a covered deck, complete with a second, outdoor bar. Hi-Top is already in the running for Best Patio in Portland, and will be one of the finest places to have an al fresco drink this summer. The back area is covered and heated, too, so it'll be usable all year round.

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With the arrival of the Southeast Belmont location of Korean market H Mart, you’ve got all you need to add delicious bulgogi and galbi into your traditional summer barbecue routine. While you’re busy navigating the store and stocking up on kimchee and snacks, pay a visit to the beverage aisle and grab a six-pack of Hite or Cass—two of the most popular light lagers in Korea, and you’ll be halfway to concocting somaek—the perfect beverage to pair with your summertime festivities.

A portmanteau combining the words soju and maekju (beer), somaek is a popular Korean beer cocktail, pairing light lager with soju, the popular low-alcohol distilled liquor commonly made with sweet potatoes or tapioca. More refined than a bomb shot and packing less of a punch than a boilermaker, somaek is crisp, refreshing, and easy to sip in the sun.