Fall is officially upon us. Which, for the HBTG boys, means sports, sports, SPORTS!

Once upon a time, the venerable Claudia’s on SE Hawthorne would’ve been atop the list of beloved old local places to grab a cold one and watch the game, but with its October closure after 75 years of service, it was time to evaluate one of its worthy successors.

This is how we found ourselves parachuting into NE Portland‘s North Tabor neighborhood on a Monday Night Football night to experience the underrated and historic A & L Sports Pub — the latest of a series of watering holes in this century old building going back to 1945.

The epitome of a local sports bar with nightly regulars, knowledgeable and affable staff, and enough space to fit the entire 1979 Pittsburgh Steelers team, the A & L has been bringing folks together to slosh pitchers of beer, catcall opposing fans, and do all that good communal sports bar stuff we know and love so well since the dawn of the ‘90s. Buckle up your chinstrap and get in the game!

Bar visit and recording: Monday, Oct. 2, 2023

HBTG theme song: “Frozen Egg” by Lame Drivers

Interlude music: “Right Track” by Lame Drivers