Astoria on Oregon coast - Senior backpacker at the wheel (3)

 From Paradise Inn, I headed for Astoria on the northern edge of Oregon coast, where the Columbia River flows into the Pacific ocean. In 1811, the first settlement was established here for fur trade, which marked the oldest record west of the Rockies. The town especially flourished in the wild salmon fishery, which lined the town streets with banks, wood-steepled churches and Victorian mansions. 
 I arrived at Norblad hotel and hostel before 2 pm, which was too early for me to check-in. So I went to the nearby waterfront and took a late lunch there with beef jerky and snacks enjoying a nice view of an anchoring cargo ship, seagulls and Astoria bridge over the mouth of the river.  

     

One of the pleasures for a traveler from Japan is to dine and taste local beer at a restaurant with microbrewery. Here as well as in Portland, I looked for such a restaurant or pub. Luckily there stood the Fort George Brewery & Public House just in front of tonight's accommodation. The pub's name with its ALE beer reminded me that Astoria was under control of the British authorities from 1813 to 1818 and it was known as Fort George. 

     
   
  Sitting on the bar counter, I was wondering which one I should start to pick up from their varieties of microbrewery beers on the board. Their 14 different crafts original beers bear all strange names like "Divinity", "Working Girl Porter", "Wasabi Ginger Ale", "3-way U.P.A." and etc. In Japan the four major beer companies dominate the market, and I feel sometimes their beers taste almost the same and rather boring. But here any beer looked like boasting of its uniqueness with fresh locally obtainable ingredients, which quenched my thirst tenderly.

    

  I liked Astoria, a quite and small town, which made me feel some nostalgia with its flavor of history. On the next morning before departure, I walked around looking for a cafe shop near the Norblad together with a young hosteler. She was also coming to Astoria alone from Portland for sightseeing.  

(to be continued; next to Depoi Bay on Oregon Coast)