Brewpub Grub: Jucy Lucy Burger, Stormbreaker Brewing, Portland, OR

On always interesting lower Mississippi Avenue on Portland's East Side, there is a new brewpub that I'm happy to visit and tell you about: Stormbreaker Brewing. Just up the street from another new Mississippi Avenue brewpub Ecliptic Brewing, Stormbreaker offers the brewpub denizen good food and good brew.

Jucy Lucy Burger

Looking at the menu, I chose the thought-provoking Jucy Lucy burger. What you get is two beef patties topped with fontina cheese, bacon, a magnificent red onion jam, and a pleasant herb aioli garnish, served on a sesame bun. The Jucy Lucy also comes with the requisite lettuce, tomato and pickle slices, along with a side of chips. In the photo above, you can see the caramelized red onions covering the patties

As the name implies the Juicy Lucy burger is wonderfully juicy. The caramelized onions give the burger a sweet taste to go along with the virtuous beef and bacon. The two beef patties add heft and taste to the burger to make this a real solid sandwich. The aioli garnish lends a mild garlicky flavor to the eating experience.

The chips were a surprise; thick and crinkly cut. The chips were not the light-weight store bought offerings that some brewpubs try to pander because they are too lazy to make a true brewpub meal. Instead, Stormbreaker gives you a side of crispy, unique potato chips.

For my brew, I chose the Mississippi Red. An homage to bohemian Mississippi Street on Portland's East Side, the red arrives with a burnt copper color with a nice head. Sipping gives the palate a sharp crisp taste with a slight malt taste. The red is a pleasant brew to drink for sipping away a Portland summer day while watching Portland's always interesting street life.

Stormbreaker Brewing Is dog and kid friendly. Drop by with pooch or kid the next time you find yourself in Portland's East Side.

Sunday-Monday: 12pm-10pm