Brewed on site – it’s outta sight!
Crisp, refreshing Rusty Truck beers, paired with the All-American fare at Roadhouse 101
Story & photos by Niki Price • Oregon Coast TODAY
[Posted Dec. 28, 2011]
Roadhouse 101, in the Taft District of Lincoln City, is a vaulted, wood-paneled brewpub filled with road signs, gas station décor, hubcaps, stoplights and neon. There’s a gas-fired pizza oven, flickering away in one corner, and a tank full of live Dungeness crab, waiting for their tasty destiny. You can stay busy, looking around at the buckets of you-shell peanuts, the hundreds of dollars tacked to the ceiling or the giant American flag on the stage.
Still, if you haven’t visited the Roadhouse since April, you may notice something is missing. It’s the row of microbrew taps that advertised regional microbrews like Black Butte Porter and Drop Top Amber. Roadhouse 101 doesn’t serve those labels any more, because now they make their very own. From the Beach Blonde Ale to the Rauch N’ Roll Ale, and from the Low Rider Lager to the Moonlight Ride Blackberry Ale, all the craft beers are brewed on site, at the Rusty Truck Brewing Company.
Since his first batch rolled out last April, head brewer Ron Hulka has continued to impress his beer peers with interesting, clean ales that complement the straightforward, beach-friendly Roadhouse 101 cuisine. In addition to the four mentioned above, Hulka makes Fender Bender Amber Ale, Slant 6 Pale Ale, Road Wrecker IPA, Back Seat Wheat, Taft Draft Toffee Porter and Procrastinator Stout. His seasonal beer, on tap for a limited time, is the spicy, sweet Belsnickle.
The addition of the Rusty Truck brews has led to increased beer sales overall, in some months by more than 25 percent, said Roadhouse 101 and Rusty Truck Brewing Company owner Brian Whitehead.
“People are enjoying our beers, not only in our restaurant, but in ‘growlers’ that are intended for off-premises consumption. And in eight months, our distribution has grown to 40 other locations, bars and restaurants around Oregon,” Whitehead said. “So it seems like a lot of people love our beer, and that’s good.”
One of the biggest surprises, at least to Whitehead, has been the popularity of the Moonlight Ride Black Berry Ale. It was added as a seasonal late last summer, when the ubiquitous coastal blackberry was at its peak. It was an instant hit.
“When we first began the brewery, we expected our IPA to be number one, and it is. But we had no idea that our blackberry beer was going to be the second most popular. Everyone just loves it,” Whitehead said.
Another thing that the customers love, said restaurant manager Chris Bradley, is the Rusty Truck price. No pint goes for more than $3.75, anytime, and there are daily happy hour specials from 3 to 5 p.m. On Wednesdays, growler fills are $8. On Thursdays, draft beers are $2.
Crisp, refreshing Rusty Truck beers, paired with the All-American fare at Roadhouse 101
Story & photos by Niki Price • Oregon Coast TODAY
[Posted Dec. 28, 2011]
Roadhouse 101, in the Taft District of Lincoln City, is a vaulted, wood-paneled brewpub filled with road signs, gas station décor, hubcaps, stoplights and neon. There’s a gas-fired pizza oven, flickering away in one corner, and a tank full of live Dungeness crab, waiting for their tasty destiny. You can stay busy, looking around at the buckets of you-shell peanuts, the hundreds of dollars tacked to the ceiling or the giant American flag on the stage.
Still, if you haven’t visited the Roadhouse since April, you may notice something is missing. It’s the row of microbrew taps that advertised regional microbrews like Black Butte Porter and Drop Top Amber. Roadhouse 101 doesn’t serve those labels any more, because now they make their very own. From the Beach Blonde Ale to the Rauch N’ Roll Ale, and from the Low Rider Lager to the Moonlight Ride Blackberry Ale, all the craft beers are brewed on site, at the Rusty Truck Brewing Company.
Since his first batch rolled out last April, head brewer Ron Hulka has continued to impress his beer peers with interesting, clean ales that complement the straightforward, beach-friendly Roadhouse 101 cuisine. In addition to the four mentioned above, Hulka makes Fender Bender Amber Ale, Slant 6 Pale Ale, Road Wrecker IPA, Back Seat Wheat, Taft Draft Toffee Porter and Procrastinator Stout. His seasonal beer, on tap for a limited time, is the spicy, sweet Belsnickle.
The addition of the Rusty Truck brews has led to increased beer sales overall, in some months by more than 25 percent, said Roadhouse 101 and Rusty Truck Brewing Company owner Brian Whitehead.
“People are enjoying our beers, not only in our restaurant, but in ‘growlers’ that are intended for off-premises consumption. And in eight months, our distribution has grown to 40 other locations, bars and restaurants around Oregon,” Whitehead said. “So it seems like a lot of people love our beer, and that’s good.”
One of the biggest surprises, at least to Whitehead, has been the popularity of the Moonlight Ride Black Berry Ale. It was added as a seasonal late last summer, when the ubiquitous coastal blackberry was at its peak. It was an instant hit.
“When we first began the brewery, we expected our IPA to be number one, and it is. But we had no idea that our blackberry beer was going to be the second most popular. Everyone just loves it,” Whitehead said.
Another thing that the customers love, said restaurant manager Chris Bradley, is the Rusty Truck price. No pint goes for more than $3.75, anytime, and there are daily happy hour specials from 3 to 5 p.m. On Wednesdays, growler fills are $8. On Thursdays, draft beers are $2.
“Even though we’ve been brewing since April, there are a lot of people who still haven’t discovered that we have our own brewery here. We’re trying to keep our beers accessible, so that everyone can afford to come in and try a few. Some places, you have to pay $5 or $6 a pint,” Bradley said. “We think that if you’re used to paying $3 for a (mass market) draft beer, you’ll be comfortable trying one of ours for $3.75.”
“Some people still come in, asking for a Black Butte Porter. We just don’t serve those any more, and it’s great.”
Tasting, describing and serving Rusty Truck beers has been an education for the servers and staff of Roadhouse 101, as well as the customers. The restaurant hosted its first brewer’s dinner in late October, pairing kitchen manager Clayton Dunagan’s best dishes with Hulka’s best. The menu included a rich Steak Diane (with Procrastinator Stout), and several other courses. The biggest surprise, said Dunagan, was the Flourless Chocolate Cake with Milk Chocolate Ganache (which is on the regular menu) with a glass of Road Wrecker IPA.
“Everybody tried it, although several people said they didn’t care for beer with their dessert, and they didn’t like hoppy beers like our IPA. But even those people drank the whole glass, and liked the pairing,” Dunagan said. “I’m not sure why, but I think it’s because the chocolate cuts right through the hops, so that you just get the beer taste.”
Although it’s fun to try the pairings and the brewer’s dinners, Whitehead said, he’s not sure that beer should be treated like wine. He wants the Rusty Truck Brewing Company products to be tasty, simple and easily enjoyed, no matter what you’re eating.
The Roadhouse Cioppino is a good example. It’s a heavy bowl of prawns, mussels, clams and scallops, in a spicy tomato, garlic and white wine broth, served with two corners of Texas toast and sides of your choice. Dunagan recommends the Slant 6 Pale Ale or his favorite, the Procrastinator Stout (“That one is really nice. You don’t chew it, you can actually drink it,” he said).
Dunagan also recommends that you visit the Roadhouse after Jan. 1, when his new winter Locals Menu goes into effect. He’s reduced the prices of nearly everything on the menu. The cioppino, for instance, will go from $23.75 down to $16.50. The Crispy Fish Sandwich, now made with halibut for $11.75, will be offered in cod for $9. Dunagan will continue to offer his $10 steak night specials, three different choices offered on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights.
“From now until the tourist season starts, this lower-priced menu will be available for everyone. We just wanted to give all the locals a place where they could come, and get a great meal without paying a big price,” the cook said.
“These prices will make it a lot easier for people to come and have a good time,” Bradley said. “They can come in, try a couple of our new beers and really relax. With these new menu prices, we hope that people can actually dine, rather than just have dinner.”
Roadhouse 101 and the Rusty Truck Brewing Company are both located at 4649 SW Hwy. 101, in the Taft District of Lincoln City. It’s open starting at 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 11:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Until the end of football season, the brewpub will be open at 10 a.m. on Sunday mornings. The menu is available throughout the day, and they offer live music on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. To learn more, call 541-994-7729 or head to www.roadhouse101.com.
“Some people still come in, asking for a Black Butte Porter. We just don’t serve those any more, and it’s great.”
Tasting, describing and serving Rusty Truck beers has been an education for the servers and staff of Roadhouse 101, as well as the customers. The restaurant hosted its first brewer’s dinner in late October, pairing kitchen manager Clayton Dunagan’s best dishes with Hulka’s best. The menu included a rich Steak Diane (with Procrastinator Stout), and several other courses. The biggest surprise, said Dunagan, was the Flourless Chocolate Cake with Milk Chocolate Ganache (which is on the regular menu) with a glass of Road Wrecker IPA.
“Everybody tried it, although several people said they didn’t care for beer with their dessert, and they didn’t like hoppy beers like our IPA. But even those people drank the whole glass, and liked the pairing,” Dunagan said. “I’m not sure why, but I think it’s because the chocolate cuts right through the hops, so that you just get the beer taste.”
Although it’s fun to try the pairings and the brewer’s dinners, Whitehead said, he’s not sure that beer should be treated like wine. He wants the Rusty Truck Brewing Company products to be tasty, simple and easily enjoyed, no matter what you’re eating.
The Roadhouse Cioppino is a good example. It’s a heavy bowl of prawns, mussels, clams and scallops, in a spicy tomato, garlic and white wine broth, served with two corners of Texas toast and sides of your choice. Dunagan recommends the Slant 6 Pale Ale or his favorite, the Procrastinator Stout (“That one is really nice. You don’t chew it, you can actually drink it,” he said).
Dunagan also recommends that you visit the Roadhouse after Jan. 1, when his new winter Locals Menu goes into effect. He’s reduced the prices of nearly everything on the menu. The cioppino, for instance, will go from $23.75 down to $16.50. The Crispy Fish Sandwich, now made with halibut for $11.75, will be offered in cod for $9. Dunagan will continue to offer his $10 steak night specials, three different choices offered on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights.
“From now until the tourist season starts, this lower-priced menu will be available for everyone. We just wanted to give all the locals a place where they could come, and get a great meal without paying a big price,” the cook said.
“These prices will make it a lot easier for people to come and have a good time,” Bradley said. “They can come in, try a couple of our new beers and really relax. With these new menu prices, we hope that people can actually dine, rather than just have dinner.”
Roadhouse 101 and the Rusty Truck Brewing Company are both located at 4649 SW Hwy. 101, in the Taft District of Lincoln City. It’s open starting at 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 11:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Until the end of football season, the brewpub will be open at 10 a.m. on Sunday mornings. The menu is available throughout the day, and they offer live music on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. To learn more, call 541-994-7729 or head to www.roadhouse101.com.
Roadhouse 101 / Rusty Truck Brewing Co. • Lincoln City
Ron Hulka
By NIKI PRICE
Oregon Coast Today • Posted Spring 2011
This spring, there has been quite a bit of buzz around Roadhouse 101, in Lincoln City. You can feel it above the usual hum of the neon signs, which advertise beer logos and “Route 101 Used Cars,” and the real stoplights that hang from the ceiling. The buzz circulates around the black and red booths, bouncing off the hubcaps and license plates, coursing between the buckets of roasted peanuts.
All that energy is coming from a rusty truck – The Rusty Truck, to be exact. That’s the name of the brand new brewery, launched this spring by Roadhouse 101 owner Brian Whitehead. The Rusty Truck Brewing Company is housed in a gleaming 6,000-square foot building, right behind Roadhouse 101 at the SW 4600 block of Hwy. 101.
Head brewer Ron Hulka finished his first batch on April 22, 2011. Since then, Hulka has introduced six more. That makes seven on tap: Beach Blonde, Fender Bender Amber Ale, Slant 6 Pale Ale, Taft Draft Toffee Porter, Road Wrecker IPA, Procrastinator Stout and as-yet-unnamed wheat beer. The Low Rider, a south-of-the-border Pilsner-style lager, will be pouring soon. There may come a day when you’ll find Rusty Truck beers on tap around the Northwest, but right now there’s only one place to get them: at Roadhouse 101.
Hulka, who has been part of the Oregon artisan beer scene for nearly 20 years, designed the young brewery’s 10-barrel system to combine traditional methods with the latest technology.
“Our brewing process is not automated and requires a lot of personal attention from our brewer. Small batches and old-fashioned brewing methods allow for input from our brewer on quality, flavor and appearance, adding up to a great product,” said Whitehead. “But we also use new, state of the art, stainless steel brewing equipment (and a) glycol cooling system that constantly monitors and controls the temperature of our five fermentation vessels. This cooling system allows us to brew at temperatures down to 35 degrees, and gives us the versatility to brew pilsner-type beers, which many American beer drinkers prefer.”
Hulka’s uncomplicated, traditional brews go well with the all-American Roadhouse 101 menu. It’s packed with big burgers, fish and chips, pulled pork sandwiches and steak dinners, as well as fresh Dungeness crab and buckets of steamer clams. The slow-roasted pork ribs are made with Whitehead’s own Sugar Shack BBQ Sauce, and served with a pile of Roadhouse Fries, barbecued beans and house-made coleslaw. The brick oven sends out personal-size pizzas made to order, from its tasty place in the middle of the dining room.
Oregon Coast Today • Posted Spring 2011
This spring, there has been quite a bit of buzz around Roadhouse 101, in Lincoln City. You can feel it above the usual hum of the neon signs, which advertise beer logos and “Route 101 Used Cars,” and the real stoplights that hang from the ceiling. The buzz circulates around the black and red booths, bouncing off the hubcaps and license plates, coursing between the buckets of roasted peanuts.
All that energy is coming from a rusty truck – The Rusty Truck, to be exact. That’s the name of the brand new brewery, launched this spring by Roadhouse 101 owner Brian Whitehead. The Rusty Truck Brewing Company is housed in a gleaming 6,000-square foot building, right behind Roadhouse 101 at the SW 4600 block of Hwy. 101.
Head brewer Ron Hulka finished his first batch on April 22, 2011. Since then, Hulka has introduced six more. That makes seven on tap: Beach Blonde, Fender Bender Amber Ale, Slant 6 Pale Ale, Taft Draft Toffee Porter, Road Wrecker IPA, Procrastinator Stout and as-yet-unnamed wheat beer. The Low Rider, a south-of-the-border Pilsner-style lager, will be pouring soon. There may come a day when you’ll find Rusty Truck beers on tap around the Northwest, but right now there’s only one place to get them: at Roadhouse 101.
Hulka, who has been part of the Oregon artisan beer scene for nearly 20 years, designed the young brewery’s 10-barrel system to combine traditional methods with the latest technology.
“Our brewing process is not automated and requires a lot of personal attention from our brewer. Small batches and old-fashioned brewing methods allow for input from our brewer on quality, flavor and appearance, adding up to a great product,” said Whitehead. “But we also use new, state of the art, stainless steel brewing equipment (and a) glycol cooling system that constantly monitors and controls the temperature of our five fermentation vessels. This cooling system allows us to brew at temperatures down to 35 degrees, and gives us the versatility to brew pilsner-type beers, which many American beer drinkers prefer.”
Hulka’s uncomplicated, traditional brews go well with the all-American Roadhouse 101 menu. It’s packed with big burgers, fish and chips, pulled pork sandwiches and steak dinners, as well as fresh Dungeness crab and buckets of steamer clams. The slow-roasted pork ribs are made with Whitehead’s own Sugar Shack BBQ Sauce, and served with a pile of Roadhouse Fries, barbecued beans and house-made coleslaw. The brick oven sends out personal-size pizzas made to order, from its tasty place in the middle of the dining room.
It’s a versatile venue. There’s a happy hour menu, with favorites like chicken strips, pork sliders and clam chowder, offered from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. daily and from 10 p.m. to close on music nights. On Friday and Saturday nights at 9 p.m., the Roadhouse lives up to its name by hosting traveling blues and rock ’n roll bands. On Thursdays at the same time, locals gather for a high-caliber blues jam.
Children are welcome in the dining room late into the evening. Some of the tables in the main dining room have a view of the stage, so that families and younger folks can enjoy the Roadhouse 101 music scene, too.
The bar has 10 TV screens, for sports and other big events, as well as Oregon Lottery games and a pool table. There are buckets of roasted peanuts on every table in the joint, and customers are encouraged to throw the shells on the floor.
Sure, they serve wine and offer a full bar, but most people who drink here, drink beer.
“This is going to be beer made by beer drinkers for beer drinkers. If it isn’t great beer, I’m not going to drink it and we won’t sell it,” Hulka said. “We’ll start over and do it right. We have a wonderful facility here, which has everything necessary to make award-winning beer. It’s my job to make sure that happens.”
Whitehead has owned this 1972 lodge-style landmark since 2005. He knocked out the walls and added windows, suspended table lamps from the ceiling, redecorated with a brick red and black color scheme, and re-named it Roadhouse 101. It’s filled with car-related décor from Whitehead’s own collection: car parts, directional signs, leather gear bags, a Harley Davidson and the piece de resistance, a 1950s-era neon sign that he rescued from the wrecking ball on the streets of Salem.
As curious onlookers have noticed, the brewing equipment only takes up part of the new building. Right now, that extra space is hosting more of Whitehead’s automotive pets, but in the future it could become a tasting room, an office or an expanded brewery.
“Right now, it’s capable of brewing 5,200 kegs a year, but can easily be expanded to triple that capacity. We intend to market to bars and restaurants throughout Oregon, but first we’ll focus on developing a local following on the Oregon Coast, starting here.”
The Rusty Truck Brewing Company is named for Whitehead’s 1958 Chevy flatbed, which he has used in local parades and as a mobile stage for live music events. The truck’s presence in the Roadhouse 101 parking lot, in a space near Hwy. 101, has been a matter of dispute between Whitehead and the City of Lincoln City. Code enforcement officials said the truck could not be used as an advertisement, so Whitehead covered the logos. They said it might be an abandoned vehicle, and he produced the registration and proof of insurance. The truck survived two more code-violation challenges thanks to the determination of Whitehead, a trial lawyer who practices in Salem.
To him, the truck represents tenacity and hard work.
“That’s the real reason I fought so hard to keep it. That old truck has its original engine, and has been hauling heavy loads for the last 53 years. It is a little worse for wear but it hangs in there and gets the job done,” Whitehead said. “That truck reminds me of the hardy people who have grown up on the Oregon Coast. They are a little weathered by the salt air, a little rough around the edges, but they work hard, get the job done and keep going. We are going to make some great local beer for these people, using the same work ethic. What better inspiration for this task than the Rusty Truck?”
The grand opening for The Rusty Truck Brewing Company is set for Friday and Saturday, July 8 and 9. There will be ample beer tastings and an extra-large helping of live blues: Friday’s lineup will feature the Ted Vaughn Blues Band (5 p.m.) and John Nemeth (9 p.m.), while Saturday’s schedule has Tongue & Groove with Garry Meziere (2 p.m.), Face 4 Radio (5:30 p.m.) and The Strange Tones (9 p.m.). Learn more at roadhouse101.com.
Roadhouse 101, featuring live music and Rusty Truck Brewing Company beers, is open daily starting at 11:30 a.m. Generally, the doors stay open until 10 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday, until at least midnight on Thursday, and 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
It’s located at 4649 SW Hwy. 101, in the Historic Taft District of Lincoln City. No reservations are necessary, but if you’d like to call ahead, dial 541-994-7729. For details, a summer music schedule, and photos of the restaurant, head to roadhouse101.com.
Children are welcome in the dining room late into the evening. Some of the tables in the main dining room have a view of the stage, so that families and younger folks can enjoy the Roadhouse 101 music scene, too.
The bar has 10 TV screens, for sports and other big events, as well as Oregon Lottery games and a pool table. There are buckets of roasted peanuts on every table in the joint, and customers are encouraged to throw the shells on the floor.
Sure, they serve wine and offer a full bar, but most people who drink here, drink beer.
“This is going to be beer made by beer drinkers for beer drinkers. If it isn’t great beer, I’m not going to drink it and we won’t sell it,” Hulka said. “We’ll start over and do it right. We have a wonderful facility here, which has everything necessary to make award-winning beer. It’s my job to make sure that happens.”
Whitehead has owned this 1972 lodge-style landmark since 2005. He knocked out the walls and added windows, suspended table lamps from the ceiling, redecorated with a brick red and black color scheme, and re-named it Roadhouse 101. It’s filled with car-related décor from Whitehead’s own collection: car parts, directional signs, leather gear bags, a Harley Davidson and the piece de resistance, a 1950s-era neon sign that he rescued from the wrecking ball on the streets of Salem.
As curious onlookers have noticed, the brewing equipment only takes up part of the new building. Right now, that extra space is hosting more of Whitehead’s automotive pets, but in the future it could become a tasting room, an office or an expanded brewery.
“Right now, it’s capable of brewing 5,200 kegs a year, but can easily be expanded to triple that capacity. We intend to market to bars and restaurants throughout Oregon, but first we’ll focus on developing a local following on the Oregon Coast, starting here.”
The Rusty Truck Brewing Company is named for Whitehead’s 1958 Chevy flatbed, which he has used in local parades and as a mobile stage for live music events. The truck’s presence in the Roadhouse 101 parking lot, in a space near Hwy. 101, has been a matter of dispute between Whitehead and the City of Lincoln City. Code enforcement officials said the truck could not be used as an advertisement, so Whitehead covered the logos. They said it might be an abandoned vehicle, and he produced the registration and proof of insurance. The truck survived two more code-violation challenges thanks to the determination of Whitehead, a trial lawyer who practices in Salem.
To him, the truck represents tenacity and hard work.
“That’s the real reason I fought so hard to keep it. That old truck has its original engine, and has been hauling heavy loads for the last 53 years. It is a little worse for wear but it hangs in there and gets the job done,” Whitehead said. “That truck reminds me of the hardy people who have grown up on the Oregon Coast. They are a little weathered by the salt air, a little rough around the edges, but they work hard, get the job done and keep going. We are going to make some great local beer for these people, using the same work ethic. What better inspiration for this task than the Rusty Truck?”
The grand opening for The Rusty Truck Brewing Company is set for Friday and Saturday, July 8 and 9. There will be ample beer tastings and an extra-large helping of live blues: Friday’s lineup will feature the Ted Vaughn Blues Band (5 p.m.) and John Nemeth (9 p.m.), while Saturday’s schedule has Tongue & Groove with Garry Meziere (2 p.m.), Face 4 Radio (5:30 p.m.) and The Strange Tones (9 p.m.). Learn more at roadhouse101.com.
Roadhouse 101, featuring live music and Rusty Truck Brewing Company beers, is open daily starting at 11:30 a.m. Generally, the doors stay open until 10 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday, until at least midnight on Thursday, and 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
It’s located at 4649 SW Hwy. 101, in the Historic Taft District of Lincoln City. No reservations are necessary, but if you’d like to call ahead, dial 541-994-7729. For details, a summer music schedule, and photos of the restaurant, head to roadhouse101.com.
