Stickmen Brewing’s new wood-fired pizza and breakfast taproom now open in Happy Valley
Stickmen Brewing Company (founded in 2012 in Lake Oswego, OR) continues to expand in Portland’s peripheral suburbs with their third location, a new pizza-centric restaurant in Happy Valley, which opened one week ago. Located in a brand new collection of businesses on the corner of 172nd Ave. and Misty Dr., this latest iteration of the business is less a brewery and more of a fast-casual restaurant that happens to have an expansive taplist. The location - kind of an aesthetically pleasing strip mall - appears to be a smart move as the area has undergone rapid expansion in the last few years with new residential apartments and homes being built seemingly by the day. In this regard, Stickmen fills a niche for its hungry and thirsty neighbors with pizza that is drastically elevated above the Domino’s that sits a few doors down and a beer selection that strikes the balance between reliable and adventurous.
For now, Stickmen allows patrons to order at the bar though they may expand to table service at some point. The counter-service model may actually work better, as the spot is ideal for a quick weeknight bite and everything moves quickly. The dining room is spacious and captures plenty of natural light, and a collection of TVs line the sides with various sports channels playing (this is the ‘burbs after all). The marble-topped bar and the wood-fired pizza oven form the center of the space and that is where all the action can be found as the staff cranks out pies at a steady clip.
Those who have been to Stickmen’s Taulatin location will find a menu that is almost the same, with 12-inch pizzas, salads, and a small selection of sides. Menu highlights include the Pear Gorgonzola, Chicken Pesto, Varese, Affumicata, and the current seasonal special of shishito and sausage. There are also a handful of Italian-leaning desserts to finish off with.
With 24 beers on tap, Stickmen covers a whole spectrum of styles that begins with their year-round offerings and ends with an impressive collection of sours. Staples like Bee’s Knees honey ale, F-Bomb IPA, and Gajin Dream Japanese lager can be found alongside experimental batches that include a cold IPA, a wheat beer with tart cherries, and double IPAs. What makes Stickmen perhaps one of the more underrated breweries in the Portland area is the fact that they are unafraid to brew any style, regardless of popularity with the public. The Happy Valley taplist currently includes a Kristallweissbier, Irish Red Ale, and a classic witbier to name a few. The four sours featured include the sole barrel-aged offering, a blend of an apricot lambic and pineapple lambic that offers a nice balance of tart and fruit. There are also usually a respectable amount of lagers on tap, which will hopefully win over the local Bud Light drinkers. There are no plans to brew on-site, but they do have a to-go cooler for those looking to grab something with their takeout.
In addition to beer, you can also order a limited (for now) selection of mostly whiskey-based cocktails as well as wine. But what makes this Stickmen unique is that it also doubles as a coffee shop, serving up Illy Coffee (it would be prudent to take on a local roaster but the suburbanites may not care so much) and a selection of pastries starting around 6 a.m. most days.
All of this can be enjoyed inside or outside on the dog-friendly patio. Fans of Stickmen can continue to get excited as the brewery also has plans for what appears to be a nearly identical operation to Happy Valley opening in Cedar Mill late 2022/early 2023.
Stickmen Brewing Happy Valley
13100 SE 172nd Ave, Suite 106 Happy Valley, OR 97086
SUN-THUR | 11:00 am to 9:00 pm
FRI- SAT | 11:00 am to 10:00 pm
