Gordon?

Upon arriving in Tempe I had finally shed the effects of the pints quaffed back in Portland. I had already done a search on Google Earth ahead of time to see what sorts of breweries would be within walking distance, not too much to be had and I didn't really have a lot of time to search. Gordon Biersch brewery had come across my blog reading some time ago and while I knew they were fairly big and only made lagers, to me it seemed I should at least give them a chance. First let me tell you I live in Oregon, I'm spoiled when it comes to beer and drinking establishments, I hate Red Robbin, and I love long romantic walks on the ..... OK so where am I going? I wasn't impressed with Gordon Biersch, don't get me wrong lagers can be really freeking good and I wouldn't even say that this chain brewery does a bad job, again they just don't do anything special. I tried their seasonal a Maibock, lots of maltyness and sweet finish, not very much of a hop aroma or taste, very true to the style but you know, not exciting. It also felt like Red Robbin in there, I didn't like the atmosphere at all, kind of sport barsyish and very preppy feeling. I met a guy that I later ended up drinking with at the conference I went to and we both said that it had that very upscale fake sorostitute feel. I didn't get to the other brewery that I wanted to go to but I did have their Kilt Lifter at a sushi place the night after the Gordon experience, it reminded me more of what I'm used to at home, a very nice hoppy Scottish style. Oh I had a Guinness too that night, not really for any particular reason than for the fact that I was enjoying the company I was with, it also gave me a chance to see how close my Guinness clone is to the real thing. Verdict my clone has more flavor, I don't really think that's a bad thing.