Reminiscing Portland : Its Haunting Past via Haunted Pub Crawl by Beerquest PDX in Portland, Oregon
For a city that is of many things—one whose name was chosen through a simple means of toss coin, a notorious port city known for its organized crime and racketeering before the 21st century until its dissipation sometime later around World War II. Portland,  Oregon is not necessarily one with a great start as a dwelling for commerce and people despite the relative popularity and successes it enjoys today that made it one of the ideal cities many people to want to live in.
Of Spirits and Living
But at one point in its history when it was deemed to be the ‘most dangerous port city,’ Portland has its fair share of horrors back in the past that still haunts a part of its lands to this day—like hidden secrets that want themselves to be discovered, there are stories whose nature transcends that of the spirit and the living within the Old Town that are worth telling and people knowing.
Appearances of ghosts and haunting is as real in the historic district of Old Town as how they are portrayed in folklore and films, whether you believe in ghosts or not.
With Oregon’s second largest city now in prosper and many of its inhabitants overlook its rather dark history, it does not come as a surprise that there are certain ghost stories within the district alone that did not make it to people’s ears, even with some who are local to the city—it is for this same reason that a tour program focused on the scary past of Portland with its true-to-life stories such as Beerquest PDX make it such a hit to those who are thrill-seekers or are curious enough to actually know what the hype is about.
Less is Also Merry
I decided to join the tour myself —sometime around May.  There were only 5 of us when we went for the tour that the overall experience felt intimate even with people whom I barely knew but share similar interests with, at least on the thrill-seeking part. I feel that its a good way to learn about history,  craft beer ( which Portland is known for ) and also meeting new people. What’s there to lose?  Plus the price is reasonable for what you get.
With Kirsten as our guide—who also happens to be into theatre—our trip around the haunted areas of the Old Town District has been both a fun and interesting experience, partly influenced by her ability to get so interactive.
Part of the rather short-lived journey involves some sample beers with the pub i.e. Beer Pub Crawl, I personally did not just learn of the horror and, consequently, the ghosts and their stories that roam Portland still to the present, I also got to learn a thing or two about beers.
Yet like many other good things, my tour with Beerquest PDX, too, had come to an end—it all happened near the Voo Doo doughnuts, jelly beans in hands, and a joy to my heart. Truly, the tour was indeed a memorable experience.
I had no idea that it was once deemed the most dangerous port city! This looks like such a cool experience!
Combining the supernatural with alcohol? Sounds like a winner to me!
What a fun experience! I am not much of a person who would go for ghost hunting but I think visiting this place and learning a bit of it’s history will be fun.
I have always loved ghost tours. How cool that this one also has craft beers.
I would totally do a pub crawl but I don’t want to know about any ghosts or haunting. I love hearing the history of buildings and towns but that’s it!
What a cool tour! Learning some history and trying out some new beers sounds fun. This sounded like a unique experience.
Although I’d love to visit Portland, this tour looks a little scary for my blood.
This tour sounds like a great idea for date night with my hubby. We both love “haunted tours” and he has an affinity for craft beer, you can’t go wrong here!
This looks like so much fun! I would love to take a tour and learn about the history of the buildings.
This sounds like so much fun! I would love to do a tour like this! Would be great for Halloween!
Wow, what a very exciting tour. I want to see it myself, this is going to be so fun.
I’ve never been on a pub tour before. It sounds so exciting especially since it’s the type of tour that will get your blood pumping with the booze and the haunting stories.
I wouldn’t have made the water cut, either! That’s incredibly high! I love ghost tours!
Oh my gosh, this combines two of my favorite things!!! Beer and ghosts?! I have to make a trip to Portland!
I am a huge fan of ghost tours and paranormal in general. I would love to visit my friends in Portland and go on this ghost pub tour.
we took a ghost tour once. Everyone did a lot of laughing because it was outside. It was fun. 🙂
That was creepy! I have always wanted to take a ghost tour, but I have always been too chicken. Maybe I will get up the nerve one day.
This would be a great tour to go on. I love to hear stories about haunted places.
I’m not a big drinker, but that tour looks fun! I’d probably be spooked though!
That looks like a great thing to do with friends or for a date night. Fun drinks and learning a little along the way.
That’s so cool! I did a ghost tour in London that was Jack the Ripper themed. Definitely scary. Love to see who’s haunting Portland.
This is a neat concept! I’ve always been interested in the supernatural not in like a ghost manner but just the folklore behind it.
That is my kind of place!! Creepy staff and alcohol in the same place, great!
Sounds like a fun event. My husband would love sampling the beers.
This sounds like so much fun. Especially around Halloween.
I had no idea! Next trip to Portland I am going to do this. For sure! Looks like a blast!
This is my kind of fun!! I love haunted places and a pub tour of haunted pubs sounds amazing to me.
Oh my god, look at the old shanghai tunnel, right at the back near the boxes on the left hand side of the wall. It looks like a ghost with a backpack and his back is turned to the camera. weird.
Looks like a good restaurant! I love the ambiance.
This would be such a fun tour to take!! I love hearing about the history of cities and pubs as well!
Spooky place haha but it looks cool, I would still like to go!
This looks like so much fun! I would love to do this when it gets closer to Halloween 🙂
Wow, I can’t believe that there is a place like this. It would be so fun but scary!
I love haunted tours! We have done a few in different cities and they are always interesting.
What a great adventure is waiting. I want to have a tour there especially at night!
Looks like you enjoyed your stay. I will add this to my travel list. Thanks for sharing.
A tour like this looks like it was so much fun. Thanks for sharing.
I have always wanted to go on a tour like this and to learn the history of buildings.
I would so do this! I went on a haunted New Orleans tour and it was AWESOME!
Haunted pub tour sounds completely alluring! Definitely my kind of place. Love your pic of the Old Shanghai tunnel.
I did not know that Portland had a hunted past! I would love to go here and experience the same tour!
Portland’s haunted pub surely looks scary to me! The Shanghai Tunnels definitely looks haunted.
This Haunted Pub Tour sounds like it would be something we would love to do. We are going to have to do this some day because we are some what of a thrill seeker but the beer part sounds good too. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Omg how fun!!! I would love to go on a tour like
This!
That’s great you were able to have such a small group–it’s always nice to have a more private experience like that. And a guide with theater experience would be fantastic too! Sounds like a great tour–beer, history and ghosts–you can’t go wrong!
What?! I wish I would have checked this out when I was there!
That part of the Shanghai Tunnel looks spoky and scary indeed. But discovering these places is very much welcome.
I love to check out spooky places. This looks like it would be fun.