January 2, 2010
Stayed in the hotel in an old converted classroom. It was a stormy night. The steam heat popped and wheezed. The windows rattled in the wind. The bars were all packed and the service was good. The beers were excellent. I thought it was a great experience.

November 2, 2009
This is a unique must-see experience if you ever find yourself in the Portland area. We didn’t stay in the "hotel" but we did visit the main restaurant and "hung out" in the halls of the old school. The restaurant was great, comfortable, cozy, and unmistakably and unapologetically McMenamin’s. We had a fantastic steak sandwich and above-average cheeseburger with tater tots...but what really made the evening, what really made me almost howl to the moon was the bread pudding with bourbon-vanilla cream sauce...oh man. The Oregon McMenamin’s also serve liquor from their Edgefield distillery, being able to have a double of Hogshead bourbon with my bread pudding was the highlight of the meal. I’d like to stay there overnight but I’m afraid that it’d get too noisy.

August 12, 2008
Slept in the hotel, very nice experience. Sleeping in an old classroom. Small pubs on every corner in the detention rooms. Nice food and nice selection of brews. Too bad I couldn’t visit the brewery.

May 26, 2008
Truly amazing! This place has to be seen! Nice sampler platter of their regular 5 brews plus a kolsch seasonal. Since I think there’s a hotel as part of this former grade school, some dude was taking a shower in the men’s room, which was kind of odd. The beer’s a little sweet, which I like.

May 8, 2008 [ Updated September 16, 2008 ]
This is one of the best McMenamins to visit. If you ever are going to visit Portland and only can see one McMenamins this has to be the one. Check it all out this place sums all the rest up. An old elementary school made in to a Brewery - Bed and Breakfast. What a great idea. Little bars for “good kids” (No Smoking) and “bad kids” (Smoking) filled with cigars, scotch and great beers. Go see a movie take a dip in the pool. Have a great time eat in the lunch room with some great pub food. Filled with great art, fun and great beers. I will admit the place rocks but the service once again still the same old lame ducks who just are clueless.

March 30, 2008
It took four trips to PDX to finally get to stop in here. They got everything to keep you entertained. I like the menu that has wide appeal and is thoughtfully put together. I tried several of their beers, whiskey and gin. They cover all the libations it seems.

March 10, 2008
OK, so I love the place. It’s the best McMenamins location IMO. But truly the beer sucks-at least by Portland craft beer standards. It often seems under attenuated (too sweet) and slightly stale. Every McMenamins venue I go to I now just try to avoid the beer and hope for a guest tap. Sad but true...too many mediocre to bad brews for me.

December 14, 2007 [ Updated December 15, 2007 ]
Really amazing old elementary school, apparently was quite the educational landmark in its day. McMenamins rescued it from destruction and turned it into a brewpub/hotel/movie theater/architectural and cultural historical landmark. Average to good selection of typical menu items, average to good selection of beers brewed on the premises. We wandered the halls for what seems like forever after satiating ourselves - - one can really get lost in those long, dimly lit corridors. Artwork both new and old adorns the walls, and gives a very surreal feeling. You’ve never been to a place like this.

January 13, 2007
Much better food than the average McMenamins. More specialty ales, more special dishes. It’s also lekker to drink beer and pear brandy in a former school. It reminds me of my school days and sneaking mampoer to drink between classes.

September 25, 2005
If you want to go to McMenamins, the Kennedy school is the one to go to. The have different lounges that have different things in each lounge. You can also enjoy a movie while there! The beer is certainly note worthy and I highly recommend stopping by. I was in the smoking lounge where the selection is smaller, but a walk across the hall to the other dining room will let you sample all the beers available. The stout was my favorite. The service was friendly and outgoing. I really enjoyed my visit to them, and would go again.