Let's start with a quick snowshoe trip up on Mt. Hood a couple weeks before Spring really sprung. It was soggy. The snow from the previous storm had begun to slush up with whispers of warmer weather on the way and a light rain was helping it all along. Puddles of water pocked the trail and pools of pine-needle tea formed at the bases of the trees. Small emerging creeks added to the wonder and beauty of our venture but I started to long for a cozy lodge and a warm bit of something delicious.
And so we headed into Government Camp and the Mt Hood Brewing Company. I've been watching this place on and off as they went through renovations and a transformation of their brewery and their dining room. They receive pretty inconsistant review on Yelp and fairly good ones with TripAdvisor and the Beer Advocate. Inconsistant reviews are fairly common and that's what makes life so interesting right? The three of us were pretty hungry and definitely thirsty but even without ordering an appetizer we rolled out happy and stuffed. Yes, the beers we ordered were filling. I ordered the sampler tray and our waitress brought out three, that's ok. We'll finish them. I mean who doesn't want to try 8 delicious craft brews?
And yes, they were delicious. I wouldn't say they were amazing. Or my new favorites. Or spend too many adjectives trying to describe them but the were delcious and refreshing. Especially the Highland Meadow Blond. It went down delightfully. Light, easy to drink. Just bubbly enough. Flavorful, something I don't usually identify Pales with. The Ice Axe IPA pleased K but he admitted he could name several other IPA's he enjoyed more. The Hogsback Oatmeal Stout was delicious and the best one on the tray in my opinion. The Smoked MultorPorter came in third behind the blond, and the Amber did not impress. I was also not fond of the overly sweet Barleywine that was a seasonal choice or the Saison. Too sticky sweet for me, at least on this day.
The food that followed was a little slow but so good. I ordered what was listed as an appetizer but struck me as something that would satisfy, Poutine. Holy Canadia, this was some order of Poutine. A ginormous order of pub-fries, drenched with a pepperyummy peppercorn demi-glace, Fontina and fresh herbs. I blushed when our server brought it to the table but left that shy-little-girl demeanor behind while I devoured the thing. K ordered what was my second choice and if I looked up too long from my french fry frenzy, I would have been more jealous. The Big Tube (it's a snowboarder thing?) Mac and Cheese was absolutely fabulous. It features three cheese mix that includes Tillamook Cheddar, fontina and a garlic cream sauce I want to swim in. Instead it is poured over penne pasta and perfectly cooked cauliflower (al dente and delightful) He was a gentlemen and let me have a couple of tastes but I knew I may have overstepped my boundaries when he had to whack away my fork with his as I reached for yet another bite. 
Our snowshoeing friend, Sue, ordered the Grilled Cheese w/ Applejack Onion jam. Served with the pub fries and dipping sauce it may not look like an impressive sandwich but the quality of the sourdough and the smoked provolone made this one tasty sammy. Thank goodness snowshoeing burns so many calories. If you're concerned about that sort of thing. 