Few things define Portland, Oregon, better than it’s robust, local beer scene. According to the Oregon Brewer’s Guild, Oregon has “230 brewing companies operating 261 brewing facilities in 73 cities” across the state. It’s been an impressive, evolving Oregon craft since 1852. Needless to say, after a great day recreating, hiking, fishing or enjoying some of Portland’s countless activities, there are numerous spots to grab several tasty brews. Here are five of Portland’s top breweries to check out.
Rogue Eastside Pub & Pilot Brewery
928 SE 9th Ave, Portland, OR 97214
(503) 517-0660
Rogue makes some of Oregon’s most nationally recognized brews, with quite a dedicated cult following. With numerous locations to tour and sample the brews dotted throughout the state, Portland’s Eastside Pub & Pilot Brewery is Rogue’s special treat. Located on 9th and Yamhill in Portland’s inner eastside, Rogue Eastside is one of the newest additions the roster. The brewery features “36 legendary and limited-release Rogue beers” with an additional 19 taps featuring independent brewers. The pub features a handcrafted cocktail list along with family friendly dining, special beer-infused food items, patio seating and weekly “Green Dragon Brew Crew” releases. What makes this Rogue location truly special is their focus on brewing experimental Rogue beers not typically found at Rogue’s main headquarters in Newport, Oregon.
BridgePort Brewing Company
1313 NW Marshall St, Portland, OR 97209
(503) 241-7179
Know as Portland beer brewing pioneers, BridgePort was founded in 1984 by Richard and Nancy Ponzi, local winemakers applying their talents to the Oregon craft beer trade. Located in a century-old brick and timber building in Portland’s Northwest district, the brewery boasts fresh ales, free brewery tours, a cocktail lounge, outdoor seating and a hopping mezzanine bar that tends to be a main attraction. Portland’s rivers and waterways lay the bedrock for its reputation as “Bridge City,” a city of bridges. With reasonable prices, down to earth service and one of the best tasting flights in town, head on over to BridgePort for some of the best beer Portland has to offer–created by one of the oldest craft breweries in town.
McMenamins
McMenamins is a Portland institution. Actually it’s nearly 54 distinct institutions; a series of family-owned brewpubs, breweries, music venues, historic hotels and theater pubs scattered throughout the Pacific Northwest, 18 of which are on the National Register of Historic Places. The McMenamin family has a knack for restoring and preserving cultural landmarks urging them into thriving social scenes and a quick google search will yield a Portland McMenamins brewery location nearest you. If you’re willing to forgo onsite brewing, check out McMenamins Barley Mill Pub in southeast Portland, it’s a laid-back bar reminiscent of a surf shack or tiki hut. Yet, it’s decorated in stained glass, adorned in Grateful Dead posters and boasts a heady soundtrack of both familiar and obscure Dead over the PA. McMenamins Bagdad Theatre, just a few miles east, is the perfect place to sample beer and see a movie in a historic 1920s theater. But, it’s the Baghdad’s Backstage Bar that truly takes the cake. Backstage Bar features McMenamins brews, frequent free pool and shuffleboard, a juke box, large projector screens playing televised attractions and one of the coolest spaces to toast a few of McMenamins signature hoppy, malty or fruit infused pints.
Cascade Brewing Barrel House
939 SE Belmont St, Portland, OR 97214
(503) 265-8603
No place demonstrates the profound complexity of sour beers like Portland’s Cascade Brewing and Cascade’s Barrel House located on Belmont Street in southeast Portland. It’s a literal living museum of the Pacific Northwest style sour beer movement. Unbound by stylistic guidelines, the beers you’ll taste here are limited only by the imaginations of Cascade’s wizard-like brew teams. The food is fun, too, but get ready to pucker up, Oregon is a hops and berry fruit harvesting wonderland and Cascade’s cask conditioned, blended and tap suds are some of the most intense and dazzling around. Especially if you’re new to sour beer, Cascade Brewing Barrel House is a must. While you’re there, beckon some delicious food; their sour beer pairings are designed perfectly to help it soak it all in.
Kells Brew Pub
210 NW 21st Ave, Portland, OR 97209
(503) 719-7175
Kells Brew Pub wins on so many levels. The distinguished hop house demands an encyclopedia of rousing descriptors and glowing superlatives. The distinctively Irish brew pub features house brewed beers along with the traditional favorites…all of them delicious. The distinctively Irish food menu pairs perfectly with the distinctively Irish beer…along with a distinctively Irish decor and welcoming vibe. There’s certainly something distinctive about this place…and it’s Ireland. From the large roasty, toasty fireplace, to the warm convivial service, Portland beer lovers call this home. Kells is the mothership. Go for their Irish beer festival in mid-March highlighting dozens of local breweries, and stay forever. Kells’ spot-on perfect Irish Red and Irish Stouts are the things of dreams, as is their wall of whiskeys.
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