Oregon is famous for its microbrews, but none has bubbled to success so quickly as Eugene’s Ninkasi Brewery. Starting in 2006 with its trademark Total Domination IPA, Ninkasi started on a street corner in the Whiteaker District, and the expansion has seemingly never ended. Now it’s not-so micro brewery has moved into this new macro facility, and a posh new corporate headquarters is just down the street. So on a recent warm Saturday night when son Ed and his GF were in town, we walked down to the Whit for dinner and a tour of Ninkasi-land. And a few nice Curbside Classics were on hand to make it more scenic.
Let’s start with the ’63 Falcon, a long time hipster favorite. This one has been the beneficiary of wheel upgrades, never a bad idea considering the tiny little 13″ donuts that it came with.
I like the look, but don’t recognize the wheels. That’s because they’re probably new aftermarket steelies, in a pretty big size; 16 inchers (or more), if I had to guess. (Update: they’re 17×7″ Charger wheels. And this car has had a lot of other work done too. The whole build-up is documented at this thread here).
Given the single exhaust and the fact that a hip Falcon has to be a six, I’m going to say this one still has its original 170 incher under the hood; maybe a 200 from a slightly more recent one. And the three-on-the-tree has been converted to a floor shift. My dream Falcon would have a warmed-over 200, with an aftermarket alloy high-flow head, backed by a five speed T-10. These little sixes can be made to rev and go, but they deserve more than three speeds. (Update: it is a 200 six with a T-5)
This Falcon is talking to me, very sweetly at that.
One last shot. In case you’re wondering about those onion domes in the background, that’s St. John the Wonderworker Serbian Orthodox Church. It was once the infamous Icky’s Tea House, an anarchist hangout, but was re-purposed some years ago by some folks we know who converted to Orthodoxy and built this up. It adds a bit of color to the already colorful Whiteaker District.
Across the street, under the Ninkasi sign sits a handsome ’67 Pontiac Catalina coupe. Let’s go check it out.
This one has received a bit of customizing too, with a rather unusual black over burgundy two-tone paint job. The Catalina does show off the sweeping ’67 B-Body fastback roof to best advantage.
The interior is mostly stock, except the original Morrokide (vinyl) has been redone in some suede-ish material.
The setting sun’s light made the long fastback come to life.
There’s no bad angle on this car.
Having finally broken free of the spell of the Catalina’s fastback and walked a few steps further, I see a colorful three-some. We looked at that starry Quest just a little while back. Across the street is an odd pairing.
A study in contrasts, if there ever was one.
Having paid our respects to Ninkasi, the Sumerian goddess of beer, we turned around and headed to Tacovore, the hot new taco shop, and ordered some Ninkasi beer to wash them down.
Oh man, do I love that Pontiac! The ’67-8 B-body fastback two-door is my favorite car of all time, and Pontiac sure does it justice.
Agree.
Yes, nice cars.
I prefer Belgian beers. You know, the doubles and the triples, 7 to 11%.
Lesser-gods horse piss pilseners are for parties etc. When you pour the stuff in your throat as if it were soda pops. In the old days. Of course, of course…too old now.
Cheers !
This reminds me of a friend of mine recently asking: “Why is everything an IPA?”
While the history teacher in me could recite the history of how India Pale Ale came to be I couldn’t tell her why everyone things they have to brew one. Personally give me a nice Hefeweizen.
IMO Catholic monks are the best beer brewers. Abbey beers, like Grimbergen above.
Never heard of IPA, so I had to look it up. I see what you mean. Then again, the English shouldn’t be allowed to brew beer anyway.
Dan, try Erdinger.
“Why is everything an IPA?”
Because IPAs are delicious! Here in the Northwest, we love it hoppy. But more and more breweries are branching out too. Ninkasi has a whole sub series (Prismatic) that focuses on lagers and pilsners. I actually took a growler of the latest lager out of there today since its just so good and easy drinking.
Many of the American craft made lager and pils styles seem to be a half baked attempt to appease the Bud Lite crowd, but Ninkasi is one that’s doing a hell of a job of replicating German pilsners. They had a helles style lager (helles belles) this summer that was nearly as good as Warsteiner.
You could always stop at Al’s in Olalla, and have a Stella Artois on the beach….
Curbside classics are not totally unheard of there.
Talking of Westvleteren ? I whish them friars sold it elsewhere.
We travel at least once a year there to drink some and pick up what’s allowed – with the excuse of business.
I agree the Catalina’s lines are entangling.
Westvleteren is indeed very special and rare. Not available in cafés and stores, although there have been some “special actions” in the past. A while ago I read about them in a newspaper article.
But the choice of other, more “earthly”, abbey beers in stores is more than satisfactory, they always come in cardboard six packs.
Isnt one of Westvleteren’s brews rated as the best beer in the world? Id like to give that a go. Abbey ales are pretty damn good.
Yes, more than once, Westvleteren XII (10.2%).
What, no Gueuzes?
For shame!
Also, Quads are very nice. I recently tried a Quad from Trappistes Rochefort, the #10. That’s one hell of a beer.
This is so great, I just discovered there actually is Horse Piss Beer ! Brewed by the Bluegrass Brewing Company. It’s an “American Adjunct Lager”. I’ve no idea what that means or how it tastes, but they deserve to win a first prize for the name alone. (Photo: CaryCannette)
I find that Belgians made here in the states never taste good, but if theyre made in Belgium theyre usually pretty good. Chimay is delish, and I like Leffe too.
It makes sense, since the wild yeasts in the air here are different than in Belgium. That, and we just re-learned how to make GOOD beers again in the mid 80s in the States…the Europeans have been making it for like 700 years or more.
I’m too young to drink, so I prefer “craft sodas” to drink. I prefer to pay my respects to the pop gods Faygo, Jones, Pop Shoppe, and Virgil’s. Faygo is the holiest (and cheapest, and is best used to wash down coneys, barbecue, or pizza. Jones is best had by itself, and the same goes for Virgil’s. Pop Shoppe is the Canadian version of Faygo (cheap, cheap, cheap).
That’s very wise, young man. Better also wait watching some good ol’ W.C. Fields movies.
Only in Eugene, where an anarchist hangout becomes an Orthodox Church.
An excellent point! 🙂
The question is whether any of the anarchists were converted? 🙂
I know a guy in Portland who’s an Orthodox priest and collects Bulgarian license plates. He once had a VW pickup that he imported through Canada; the low-line model with the cardboard door cards and headliner, and a Yugoslav license plate with a red star on the front.
If they make a decent Pilsener I’ll take the Catalina and a 12-pack to go.
Was not sure if I was looking at a Mirage or an actual Mitshibishi Mirage, but since Paul saw it too it has to be real. From what I have heard and read about these hatchbacks I am surprised anyone bought one. Also did not realize Mirages came in that color whatever you call it.
Nice to see someone enjoying their Camaro.
I thought the Falcon being a hipster car was just a California thing since I hardly ever see a Falcon in Portland. Converting the Falcon’s transmission from a three on the tree to a floor mounted seems like cheating a bit, but at least the car is still on the road and it is not like I know how to drive a Three on the Tree. The only Ford in my family was a early 1960s Falcon that had rusted floors by the time Hurricane Agnes came roaring through and my mother had to carry extra clothes to work since she got decently soaked.
Those first generation Falcons had terrible steering column mounted manual shifters; loose, sloppy, vague shifter response, easy to get hung up esp, on the first to second upshift.
I recall more than a few with the “floor shift conversion kit” as shown on this Wimbledon White car.
It wasn’t just Falcons. The ’66 Econoline I occasionally drove at an early job of mine would jam itself in 2 gears. Of course in this case judicious use of a pry bar through the grille would pop the sloppy shift levers back into neutral.
I would definitely drive that Falcon.
The wheels on the Falcon look like temporary spares, all gussied up with trim rings and center caps
The Falcon is rather appropriate; Ford called the color “champagne”. A little chaser, perhaps?
Amazing how Pontiac and Chevy could both share the same body shell but be SO different inside and out….and drive so differently.
You got a lot extra w/ the Pontiac for not much more than the Chevy – bigger V8 and better transmission. The wheelbase was also longer.
Pretty sure the wheels on the Falcon are 17 inch P71 steel wheels with trim rings.
They do rather But that would require changing the front hubs and rear axle, since the Falcon had four hole wheels.
I stand corrected: they’re 17×7 Charger wheels.
Also, here’s a build thread for this car. I thought it looked familiar!
http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/build-projects-and-project-cars/1963-ford-falcon-futura/57034/page1/
Thanks. Interesting thread. I know the Sports Car Shop well.
And it’s very close to what I said I would have done: warmed-over 200 and a T-5.
Reading that thread makes me realize just how much work (and money) goes into something like this.
Give me a pint of draft Guinness Stout with that creamy foam on top. Clear beers don’t do much for me.
Agreed. Or, there’s always this:
Had to get a pack when I saw that last year! Good beer, great packaging. 🙂
I’ve always admired and liked that color (on the “hipster” Falcon), Wimbledon White, that Ford used for so long on their cars and trucks.
Such a delicate pastel color! Not white, not beige, not crème, but an amalgamation of all.
I’ve used this color as a re-spray shade on several cars; not just Fords.
This is “Champagne”. Wimbledon White was…white.
Yes, I can see the difference.
Such is the variations of computer monitors and cell phone screens.
In my I-phone the champagne color appears to be the Wimbledon white color I like.
A delicate pastel color it is. Put it up against the refrigerator white color used by GM and Mopar and you can see the difference in hues.
http://paintref.com/cgi-bin/colorcodedisplay.cgi?type=sample&ditzler=8378,8734&syear=1964&smanuf=Ford&smodel=Ford Truck&sname=Wimbledon White&name=fordtruck196483788734&scomm=F-100
It’s amazing how many first-generation Falcons and Rancheros are still on the road as daily drivers here in the Southwest. Some of them definitely show their age, but they still run!
My dad really, really disliked Fords in general, and he hated Falcons with a passion. It amuses me a bit to see that quite a few of these have survived!
Nice pair of finds. Those falcons do call to me as well.
I like craft beer. Moab Brewery was the best this year.
The other day I saw a hipsterish guy in an early Falcon. Not that common of a sight here in Rustopia. It looked pretty sad and used up with a broken left rear leaf spring.
I really hope that Falcon has has a suspension upgrade all that extra unsprung weight will tear it apart, best thing is to put XF arms springs and shocks under it then drop in a 4.1 motor and 5 speed and appropriate axle ratio or go full 90s with OHC 4.1 and 4 wheel discs it all fits. Me i like Cider and that Catalina.
A past girlfriend had an XL with the 144/auto. It was a pleasant enough cruiser and someone in the past had already beefed up the front end. Come to think of it, two ex-girlfriends had XL sedans.
Ninkasi is certainly the biggest brewer in the district but it’s not even in my top five. Oakshire FTW!
Im a lover of both ninkasi and Oakshire. Watershed IPA has a very unique dry, woody taste that I cant get enough of. And Overcast is arguably one of the best coffee stouts you can buy.
My band Goshwood played a party at Cornucopia on 17th a few months back. Free beer and food for the band (and everyone). They had Overcast on tap not far from my drumkit. We’re not a particularly loud band but by the end of our sets I had broken both my sticks, which I rarely ever do.
Beer + caffeine= WIN!
“We’re not a particularly loud band but by the end of our sets I had broken both my sticks, which I rarely ever do. ”
THATS badass!
Like the Falcon, but you can’t beat GM (especially Pontiac) in its peak years! Yes, you really can buy a fuschia Mirage! My 5-year-old granddaughter would love the color.
CC effect! I was down in Eugene today with a couple buddys. All of us are huge Ninkasi fans. Jarvis loves Hop Valley, and Im a fan of Oakshire as well. AND, I saw that same ’67 Catalina down the street, as well as a ’64/65 robins egg blue Dart sedan. And a bunch of other cool CC’s…but as blustery and rainy as it was, I couldn’t get off any good shots of anything…
Paul, you called it on Ninkasi’s success. They opened not long after I moved here in ’06 and that brewery has literally exploded. They deserve every inch of it too, as it seems that damn near every beer they make is gold. I was a little disappointed that I had to settle for a ‘regular’ Sleigh’r instead of the fabled oak barrel aged version. But since that beer just dropped for this year, it was about as fresh as you can get. Any beer that uses the font and reference of a thrash metal band AND tastes a bit like chocolate chip cookies smell is full of win.
The goddess of beer is a bitch goddess who nearly killed me, so you won’t find me worshiping at her altar. But you feel free to, I’ll drive you home. Alas, my ride isn’t nearly as nice as that Catalina, but you still don’t get to puke in it.
Cider or Blue Moon draft for me. Seen alot of Falcon Rancheros get scrapped around here when steel got to a crazy price. Shame
Beautiful Falcon – its got quite an interesting history reading through the linked thread.
I’ve noticed, even here in Winnipeg, a trend of hipsters to drive early ’60s compacts, particularly 4-door sedans (with a couple of El Caminos and Rancheros thrown in). Just down the street from us is a ’66 Valiant 4 door, and I’ve seen a ’61 Falcon and a ‘ 64 Studebaker cruiser all driven by the archetype hipsters. All of them used as daily drivers.
Whatever the reason for the love of those cars, I’m happy to see them being used!
I like the Falcon a lot, but the Catalina is out of this world.
Agree 100%. The Falcon is very well executed and I do like that it’s still an I6. But that Catalina…man oh man oh man. That is a *gorgeous* car. One of GM’s best styling efforts of the 60’s, and that’s saying a lot!
I don’t believe I’ve ever seen Ninkasi out here on the East Coast, but I’ll have to keep my eyes open in case I get the chance to sample some of their wares. Here in RVA we’ve got a burgeoning craft scene of our own, with the most interesting (if not the biggest) being Hardywood Park craft brewery. Strictly regional distribution right now but their Gingerbread Stout has acquired a national reputation in just a few years of production. The bourbon barrel-aged version is probably the single best beer I’ve ever tasted. The West Coast can keep us in IPAs, which is what they’re good at (Racer 5 is one of my favorites), and we’ll concentrate on stouts, saisons, and the like. Deal?