Portland Oregon

A BRIEF HISTORY OF OREGON AND OF CRAFT BEER IN OREGON

Portland started as a spot known as "the clearing," which was on the banks of the Willamette about halfway between Oregon City and Fort Vancouver. In 1843, William Overtonsaw great commercial potential for this land but lacked the funds required to file a land claim. He struck a bargain with his partner,Asa Lovejoy of Boston, Massachusetts: for 25¢, Overton would share his claim to the 640 acre (2.6 km²) site. Overton later sold his half of the claim to Francis W. Pettygrove of Portland, Maine. Pettygrove and Lovejoy each wished to name the new city after his respective home town. On 23 January 1851, this controversy was settled with a coin toss, which Pettygrove won in a series of two out of three tosses. The coin used for this decision, now known as the Portland Penny, is on display in the headquarters of the Oregon Historical Society.

At the time of its incorporation on February 8, 1851 Portland had over 800 inhabitants, a steam sawmill, a log cabin hotel, and a newspaper, the Weekly Oregonian. By 1879, the population had grown to 17,500.The city merged with Albina and East Portland in 1891, and annexed the cities of Linnton and St. Johns in 1915.

Portland's location, with access both to the Pacific Ocean via the Willamette and the Columbia rivers and to the agricultural Tualatin Valleyvia the "Great Plank Road" through a canyon in the West Hills (the route of current-day U.S. Route 26), gave it an advantage over nearby ports, and it grew very quickly. It remained the major port in the Pacific Northwest for much of the 19th century, until the 1890s, when Seattle's deepwater harbour was connected to the rest of the mainland by rail, affording an inland route without the treacherous navigation of the Columbia River.

The most common nickname for Portland is The City of Roses, and this became the city's official nickname in 2003. Other nicknames include Stumptown, Bridgetown, Beervana or Beertown

In the 1840s significant numbers of immigrants began to move to the Oregon Territory. It wasn’t long before they had a thirst for beer, so when German brewer Henry Saxer arrived in 1852, tasted the clear, soft water from the nearby mountains and recognized the prime hop and grain growing potential, he started brewing.

Fellow immigrant Henry Weinhard opened his brewery in 1856. For the next 50 years the new residents of the young state enjoyed the fresh, traditional German lagers brewed by Weinhard and others.In 1888 Henry offered to send beer through Portland fire hoses to the dedication of the Skidmore Fountain a dozen blocks away near the waterfront. But the City’s valuable fire hoses would have run close to Portland’s seedy Skid Road, and civic leaders feared that the rough district’s thirsty residents would puncture the hoses for a free drink.

Things changed when Oregonians voted to ban alcohol in 1914, five years before the 14thAmendment established a national prohibition. Weinhard’s City Brewery switched to non-alcoholic beer, soft drinks and fruit syrups and managed to survive the nineteen dry years until Congress repealed prohibition in 1933. Along the way City Brewery merged with Portland Brewing Company, owned by Arnold I. Blitz. The resulting Blitz-Weinhard Brewery produced Oregon’s best-known beer until 1999.

During the economic boom following WWII, beer suffered from the same move toward national production and distribution that put more processed foods on American dinner tables. By 1980, the number of breweries in the entire country had shrunk to just 80, “and the prediction was that there would only be 10 left by 1990,” said beer brewer and writer Fred Eckhardt.But American palates were in revolt.

The social upheaval of the counter culture included the rejection of bland, processed, industrial food, and the college students of the 1960s were starting families and looking for alternatives.

In Portland, a group of college friends started Genoa, an Italian restaurant that didn’t even serve spaghetti. Young wine makers were planting Pinot Noir on the red clay hills fifty minutes south of Portland, and two brothers named McMenamin were satisfying a growing demand for beer with flavour with a dizzying array of imports at a little café called Produce Row.

Cartwright’s, Oregon’s first craft brewery, opened in 1980. Aptly called a microbrewery since the production was miniscule compared to the industrial producers, its beer didn’t attract a following and the brewery closed within a few years. But the response demonstrated that Oregon was ready for a different kind of beer, and when the state legislature made brewpubs legal in 1983, the brewers were ready.

Established winemakers Nancy and Dick Ponzi opened what would become Bridgeport Brewing in an old rope factory located in the industrial district in NW Portland. A few blocks away former home brewers Kurt and Rob Widmer were pouring their first batch of Altbier. Mike and Brian McMenamin opened Oregon’s first brewpub in the Hillsdale neighbourhood in 1985.

The beer-friendly Oregon laws, a growing awareness of the high quality local ingredients, and a seemingly voracious thirst for well-made beer triggered a micro-boom in microbreweries. Full Sail opened in Hood River and became the first craft brewery in the Northwest to bottle its beers. What started as a small brewpub in Bend in 1988 evolved into Deschutes Brewery.

The first Oregon Brewers Festival in 1988 drew 15,000 people to sample 16 beers from 13 breweries under a big top tent in Portland’s Tom McCall Waterfront Park. By 1990, with more craft breweries and brewpubs per capita than any other city in the United States, Portland is proclaimed “America’s Microbrew Capital.” Unofficially, it’s Beervana.

Over the past few years, a new generation of brewers has emerged. Trained in the region’s larger craft breweries, they’re opening small, independent brew pubs and making unique, individualistic beers. Oregon’s now home to 87 breweries. There are over 140 places you can go to and drink an Oregon Brewed beer owned by an Oregon Brewery. You can pick up a six-pack of local craft beer at almost any grocery store, and you can try special, seasonal brews right where they are made. Come have a cold one.

Portland straddles the Willamette River near its confluence with the Columbia River. The denser and earlier-developed west side is mostly hemmed in by the nearby West Hills (Tualatin Mountains), though it extends over them to the border with Washington County. The flatter east side fans out for about 180 blocks, until it meets the suburb of Gresham. Rural Multnomah County lies farther east.

The "Five Quadrants" of Portland

In 1891 the cities of Portland, Albina, and East Portland were consolidated, and duplicate street names were given new names. The "great renumbering" on September 2, 1931 standardized street naming patterns, and changed house numbers from 20 per block to 100 per block. It divided Portland into five sections: Southwest, Southeast, Northwest, North, and Northeast. Burnside St. divides north and south, and the Willamette River divides east and west. The river curves west five blocks north of Burnside and in place of it, Williams Ave. is used as a divider. The North section lies between Williams Ave. and the Willamette River to the west.

On the west side, the RiverPlace, John's Landing and South Waterfront Districts lie in a "sixth quadrant" where addresses go higher from west to east toward the river. This "sixth quadrant" is roughly bounded by Naito Parkway and Barbur Boulevard to the west, Montgomery Street to the north and Nevada Street to the south. East-West addresses in this area are denoted with a leading zero. This means 0246 SW California St. is not the same as 246 SW California St. Most mapping programs cannot distinguish between these two different addresses. A great guide book to buy is ZINESTER'S GUIDE TO PORTLAND

GETTING AROUND

In Portland, you’ll find an award-winning airport, efficient light rail system, pedestrian-friendly city blocks and miles and miles of bike paths — all of which make getting around town a real pleasure.

No matter how you get around Portland, it helps to know the lay of the land. The city is divided by the Willamette River, which runs south-north, and Burnside Street, which runs east-west, into quadrants: southwest, northwest, southeast and northeast. A fifth region, North Portland, is bounded roughly by the Willamette and Columbia rivers and Williams Avenue.

You’ll also hear the terms “east side” and “west side” in reference to the halves of the city on either side of the Willamette River. The phrase “Central City” is often used to describe downtown, Old Town/Chinatown, the Pearl District, the central east side and the area around the Convention Centre — basically, the neighbourhoods surrounding the intersection of Burnside and the Willamette River, on both sides of the river. Locals also refer to locales near the river, especially on the east side, as “close-in.”

In the central city and most of the east side, streets are laid out in an easy-to-navigate grid. In general, the streets running north-south (parallel to the river) are numbered, and the streets that run east-west (parallel to Burnside) have names. Street addresses go up as you travel away from the dividing lines of Burnside and the river

The words “public transit” may strike fear in the hearts of visitors to some cities — but, in this regard, like so many others, Portland is different. Here, the trains, streetcars and buses are clean, safe and simple to use, making it easy to traverse the city without a car.

MAX Light Rail – This efficient system’s 52 miles of track connect the city, airport and region.

Portland Streetcar – Get around downtown — and beyond — on the sleek, modern streetcar.

Free Rail Zone – There’s no charge to ride the train in this 330-block area in the central city.

Transit Mall - Buses, trains, cars and bikes all share the road on downtown’s Transit Mall.

TriMet Buses –  Find tips on riding the bus and popular routes for visitors.

As of July 2022 Portland OR has approximately 100! breweries/brew-pubs

Rogue Pearl Public House, 1339 NW Flanders St.

You either love this place or hate it. I am on the love it side of the line. (formally Rogue Ales Distillery & Public House) This is a quirky place, with weird decorations everywhere, its poorly laid out and cramped inside. Who cares! Have you seen their labels? This is like being a kid and secretly shown into your best friends brothers room which used to be the garage. All sorts of crap and beer stuck in every available space. But its comfortable with no pretension. The staff are all very friendly and we were given a free sample within 30 seconds of sitting down. We have tried quite a lot of Rogue beers in the UK and previously in the US and we were not disappointed at source. They had over 30 of there own beers on tap and in bottles to take out. They don't have everything on tap but considering how extensive their beer list is I'm not surprised. We started with a couple of pints I had the best seller, the Brutal IPA and M had the Dry Hop St.Rogue Ale both very quaffable. By now the early morning start and the jet lag were taking there toll? So we decided to have a taster try of 4 beers each.  This was the way forward as 6 of our choices were over 7% abv again! We both enjoyed the dark beers here not lest the Chatoe Dirtior a black larger at 6% and the Double Mocha Porter coming in at 8.4% abv.

Rogue also have two other locations;

Rogue Eastside Pub & Pilot Brewery, 928 SE 9th Ave, Portland, Ore. 97214

The Eastside Pub and Pilot Brewery pours 36 legendary and limited-release Rogue brews in addition to 19 taps, (the original 19 that our predecessor the Green Dragon Bistro & Pub opened with) reserved for our fellow independent breweries from Oregon and beyond. One of Rogue's Innovation Brewers, crafts experimental beers in the Pilot Brewery near the back of the pub, some of which are on tap only at our Eastside location. This brewery is host to three foeders used to barrel-age sour beers. You can order food, brews, at the bar, and lounge or play games (cornhole!) on their large outdoor dog-friendly patio. Through the floor to ceiling barrel door you’ll find a private community event space, free to book for any party or organization.

Rogue Hall, 1717 Southwest Park Ave

Rogue Hall opened in 2011 on the Portland State University campus, just a half block off Portland’s South Park Blocks. They have 20 taps of legendary Rogue brews and unique beers that you'll only find at this pub, a full bar including Rogue Spirits cocktails, a delicious menu, a dog-friendly patio, and free wifi. Whether you’re here for a study session, study break, or happy hour, Rogue Hall is the perfect cozy getaway.

Great Notion Brewing and Barrel House, 2204 NE Alberta #101

A very pleasant, welcoming pub, with a sort of hipster logging-themed interior design. Named after the Ken Kesey novel. They have 10 taps, plus 4 guest taps. Variable pricing according to the beer. Taster sets of five 5oz. snifters (around $15) served in wooden racks with the beer names written in chalk. Their sours and stouts are exceptional. This is a great place, and well worth a visit when in town.

Great Notion Brewing NW, 2444 NW 28th Ave

Their second location and yet another worthy addition to this crazy city’s craft beer scene. Smaller, but similar feel to the NE location, with plenty of bar seating. 24 beers on tap, with flights of 5 for $15. The beer selection differs a bit from the other location, with maybe half the taps in common. Super friendly service and world-class beers. They have a barrel ageing cellar. It’s a bit out of the way, but if you’re driving, this is worth a stop.

Modern Times Beer (The Belmont Fermentorium), 630 SE Belmont St

A nice space full of interesting art, quirky and bursting with creativity, just like their original San Diego location. They sure did a good job converting it from The Commons, the biggest changes are the addition of aircon, and Monsters Park. They've settled into Portland quickly and well. A good selection of beer's rounded out by some bottled collabs with locals. Recommended a must stop in PDX.

Deschutes Brewery and Public House, 210 NW 11th Ave;

Quite a striking building from the outside, dominated by large multi-paned gallery windows in a white brick facade.  Inside fells like a converted barn, high wood lattice ceiling, and beams carved with mountains, rivers and wild life.  On entering you see the conditioning tanks and behind the bar the bright copper kettles are very visible.  Brewing was in progress during our visit.A well arranged seating plan, with tables and chairs, bench seating for larger groups and tables for two, with bar type stools.  We opted for the sampler tray again; with 17 beers to go at this was the best way to try them.  It’s rare to find a beer under 5% and very often most are over 6%. We also order food, typical American Pub fare, but they did have a gluten free menu as well as vegetarian options. 

Wayfinder Beer, 304 SE 2ND AVE, 97214

Down amongst some warehouses, although it seems like the area is starting to turn over, not far from Cascade, Modern Times etc. They are ager-focused and host an annual Zwickelmania. The building has a freshly scrubbed industrial vibe, large open spaces with a great outdoor area. There is a small tap list, focusing on a few styles. Very good food, upscale pub grub basically. The place is huge and must have cost millions. The staff are numerous and very helpful. This has to be one of the poshest breweries in the U.S.

Double Mountain Taproom, 4336 SE Woodstock Blvd

A comfy offshoot of a popular Hood River Brewery serving craft beer, pizza, salads & sandwiches. About 12 beers of their own on tap. Inside it’s very cosy with plenty of tables and a couple couches in the back, with lots of busy hipsters enjoying a good brew. Recommended place to check out.

The McMenamin Brothers established their first brew pub in 1974 and they are something of a Wetherspoons type of business, or so we thought, but on a much grander scale.  They have around 27 brewpubs/breweries and sundry other pubs. 

The Ringlers Pub, 1332 W. Burnside

Beneath the floating-floored Crystal Ballroom and Lola's Room (which are live music and theatre venues). In downtown Portland, Ringlers Pub is housed in what was once an automotive service garage. How much more convivial it is now! The pub itself spreads across the lower floor of the building and has a real wow factor.   We entered via a dining area, wood panelled, with plenty of seating for dining or just drinking.  Pass through the stain glass panelled room divided into a room that doubles as the main bar and a pool hall with 5 tables.  (Free to play between 1130 a.m. and 6 p.m..) The bar itself is central to the decor of the place, stretching right down the centre of the room and accessible for service from both sides.  Heavy wooden pillars and mosaic art work dominate.  The walls are adorned with breweriana pictures, music memorabilia and there are even two old Tetley pub lanterns, the large ones that used to hang outside the front door of many pubs at one time. We sat at the bar and did a sampler of six of the beers all brewed on the premises.  No brew kit was visible, however, overheard the bar man say that it was on an upper floor. It was a quiet afternoon session and the place was deserted, however, it is easy to imagine the joint jumping of an evening.  It's a classic and we will be back.

Ringler's Annex, 1223 S.W. Stark.

Just on the next block. We entered down some cast iron steps into a subterranean concrete cellar bar, dominated by a copper topped bar, with church pew seats lining the walls along with tables with cast iron legs and chairs in the carver style. Same range of beers, we opted for our favourites from the last pub,  Ruby Ale and Irish Stout. It was happy hour so we ordered a slice of cheese pizza each at $1.25 each.  Beers were $3.25.  The barman in the Ringlers Pub had already advised us that it was happy hour, as we were going to have halves after the sampler which would have cost us more. We left the Annexe by a back staircase which took you to a smaller bar area, there is also a further seating area on the next floor up.  These two were certainly pubs with character and style and we returned there a number of times. Note the Happy Hour slices are the best in town and only a couple of bucks.

13 Virtues Brewing Company, 6410 SE Milwaukie Ave.

This is a hidden gem in Portland, located a bit further away than most other beer establishments, this place has a sort of diner-like / fast food type of feel. It’s a cross between a brewpub and a sandwich place. Tons of house beers on tap, many of which were rather excellent. You can sample any beer in a 3 oz. pour for $1, which is a fantastic deal and attractive to tickers. Service is solid. Recommended place to visit.

Ex Novo Brewing Company, 2326 N Flint Ave.

A eeally nice modern place in a residential area just north of Upright. Expansive interior right next to the brewing facility. 12 beers on tap normally, of varying beer caliber. Staff are super friendly and generous with samples. You can do flights of 4 for $6, which is a great deal. Not the best quality out there, but it’s worth a visit. Enjoyable place for a drink or three.

Lucky Labrador, 915 SE Hawthorne Blvd;

A brew-pub set in another old warehouse this was a vast sprawling place, and was self service! Even including clearing the table yourself! Still it helps to keep the cost down I suppose? It’s not fancy, hell it’s not even close. But the Lab does have a great Portland vibe. Big open ceiling, minimal decorations, long bar (but not stools) and brewery in the back. Outside seating is nice, especially if you like dogs. There were 12 house brews available which we sampled the lot. Plus 4 guest beers. Their beers range from ok to damn good. The Super Dog is fantastic, amazing hops, juicy mouth feel...The Super Pup on the other hand is ok. They serve great sandwiches vegetarian items and snacks. We had soup and butties ($7) that were really good value. Perfect for soaking up a few pints of brew. Worth the trip.

Occidental Brewing Co. 6635 N Baltimore Ave.

Bare bones tap room next to Cathedral Park, under St. Johns Bridge. Not many beer places out there. Eight taps, including their five regulars and three seasonal's. Occidental is one of the few Oregon breweries that focuses on traditional German styles. Definitely worth a visit if you like German style bier, Prost!

Culmination Brewing Company, 2117 NE Oregon Ave.

The newest place in PDX  (they opened in January 2015). A large, airy space, long bar, several high tables scattered about. Brewing area is visible in the back. Eight taps, no food, but apparently a food truck will be serving outside the tap room.

Hair of the Dog brewery, 61 SE Yamhill St.

A tasting room in another industrial setting it appears to be a converted warehouse it is pretty spacious, and Not a whole lot to it otherwise.... walls are painted green and blue, with a good size wrap around bar in the middle holding around 20 patrons. There are also a few tables and chairs strewn around, with the dining area probably holding close to 70 or 80 patrons. We sat at the bar and sampled the 7 beers that were on offer the best being Adam a 10% dark chocolaty beer. Also the 2010 Christmas ale coming in at 11.5% called Doggie Claws was something special. Definitely the one of the best breweries IMO in Portland. So now we had a little "buzz" going. (so glad that free pints of iced water is always brought to you when you sit down) Good idea UK pubs take note. So we decided to do one more bar and then head back to base.

Portland U-Brew & Pub, 6237 SE Milwaukie Ave.

Pub and brewery the atmosphere is very casual and it's like going over a good friend's house. Great place to buy brewing supplies. They love what they do and are open and friendly about giving you any advise you ask for. A great place to hang and sup some flavorsome beers.

Montavilla Brew Works, 7805 SE Stark Street.

A block from Threshold, and now open for 4 hours. A humble tap room, next to the brewing equipment or be out in the beer garden, rugged, this is how breweries start out. Very friendly service. About 14 of their own beers. covering a good range, plus a couple guest ciders and a guest beer. Their own beers above average, with flights of 6 for $10, they are mid range with a couple sessions. A good thing is they openly encourage folks to bring food from nearby, very neighbourly.

LABrewatory , 670 N Russell St.

A smart, modern, affluent hipster (almost cocktail bar) feel about this place. Located near Ecliptic and Widmer. A big selection of house beers, with many eccentric beers and few conventional styles that are so popular in PDX. The names basically the beer style (2-hop, 3-hop, cloudy ipa, Vienna lager), nothing adventurous, bit pricey. Not as good feel to this place, compared to other bars / brewpubs in the area, but hey make a visit and decide yourself.

Cascade Brewing Barrel House, 939 SE Belmont St.

This is just around the corner from the Green Dragon! (I cannot believe we missed it last time we were down there. WOOOW. If sours are what you worship then this place is your Mecca. Over 15 taps of beautiful sours. All of their rarities can be found here, and they even sell bottles to go. The staff are extremely friendly and do not mind the many questions people have. We even had a tour of the barrel rooms wow over 100 barrels all with some mega sour ale aging away. This place is amazing they even serve 2 of the beers straight from the wooded barrel! The first 2 barrels behind the bar are actually on a still-age in the cellar the others are just barrel fronts for the taps.. After all we were in the "house of sour" we sampled 8 beers and then had a couple of really great sour ales (again the US have taken a style Belgian lambics and improved on it and made it their own) A must go for any beer geek visiting Portland

St. Johns Theater & Pub, 8203 N Ivanhoe St.

The domed building is from the early 1900’s and was originally an exhibit hall. Now there is a small bar and seating area, and a plushly decorated screening room. The bar has an eclectic array of hanging lights and signage. The theater has different types of seating and is in the domed room which is a nice look. I don’t think the building has A/C though so it can get hot.
As with most McMenamins locations, the beer selection consists of a few flagship brews along with a couple unique to the location among the 6 taps. This is a great atmospheric place to have a beer.

Fire on the Mountain - Fremont, 3443 NE 57th Ave.

Beer and Wings! A cool place. Atmosphere like a diner. Good service. The wings are good,and they had a lot of other food. They had 11 or so of their own beers and a few guest beers. Fair prices. The beers were all OK, some good. Worth visiting for sure. Close to many other places.

Old Town Brewing, 226 NW Davis St. 97209 & 5201 NE MLK Blvd. 97211

Rustic style but modern brewpub specializing in pizza. Beers are pretty average but competent. A flight of all 8 is only $8 - quite a bargain. Service was extremely helpful, friendly and quick. Near Breakside, so if you want a new place stop and a bunch of ticks, it’s worthwhile.

Sasquatch Brewing, 6440 SW Capitol Hwy.

A comfortable brewpub to stop in for a beer and a bite. Music is old time bluegrass, great atmosphere with a good tap list. The food is good pub food. This is a great place in the middle of the beer world. Close to a Bus stop.

Bethany Public House, 4840 NW Bethany Blvd

A cool new place. Had 5 of their own taps (contract brewed at Feckin for now) and about 10 others plus some bottles. Clean, nice open bar. Lots of seating and TVs. Really nice place. The beer was mostly good. Looks like awesome food. Worth a look to see whats happening?

Coalition Brewing, 2705 SE Ankeny Street Suite C.

A cool little pub, in an ex-garage (seems lots of brewpub in Portland are built in garages), with garage door opening, a modern wooded area, simple but nice. (beers on tap at 1$ per sampler. Limited menu (good chili, chips and dips) and there is a cool food truck next door specializing in grilled cheese (Mr Grilled Cheese) for carry in. A friendly, down-to-earth crowd, this is where you would go to meet friends on a sunny afternoon.

Migration Brewing Company, 2828 NE Glisan St.

A small industrial unit, with the brewery is in the rear, and you can only peak into it. Up front is a bar counter, just a few stools, with a bunch of tables inside and out. The staff are friendly and efficient, food is tasty pub grub and pizza. Beers are OK. Worth a stop by for a few scoops. 

Portland Brewing Taproom, 2730 NW 31st Avenue.

Unfortunately, Portland is no longer around. It was bought out by Pryamid brewing. Located in the industrial side of town, Portland Brewing is a pretty nice facility that’s homogenized. They have some pretty good deals on growlers on Fridays, and the beer is always decent if never spectacular, a nice outside space. A medium sized bar. Looks like a German style restaurant. Good food, decent prices.

Stormbreaker Brewing, 832 N. Beech St.

Located in the old Amnesia place. It has 10 beers on tap. Prices are normal for the Portland area, though perhaps on the higher end. They’ve done a good job giving the brewpub it’s own feel. There are murals on the wall, and the inside dining area feels far more spacious. (The outside patio remains intact. Worth a visit, especially if you’re already in the area for Ecliptic.

Pix Patisserie,3901 D N. Williams

Time for a little bit of chocolate indulgence. The chocolate and dessert selection here is mindboggling, it’s so varied and outstanding (and believe me, it's fantastic). Margaret had the Shazam! Rich and creamy caramel mousse, salted almonds, dense chocolate almond cake, and more caramel…Shazam!  I opted for the Aphrodite, a Cherry mousse, chocolate mousse, a single drunken cherry and moscato-soaked chocolate flourless biscuit all hidden inside a crisp chocolate shell. Both with pints of Rogue Chocolate Stout a match made in heaven, mmmmmmmmm.  It also boasts a chocolate laboratory! Were you can peek in on their mad scientists in the kitchen through little windows.  All grown up and chic, Pix’s North Portland location has an upbeat fancy demeanour that’s dotted with monkeys and flocked red wall paper. The best part about this place is their Belgian beer bottle selection along with a huge variety of other bottles. Not something you would expect. They also carry proper glassware for all that Belgian beer so enjoy! A little bit expensive but everyone deserves a treat once in a while!!

Hopworks BikeBar, 3947 N Williams Blvd.

Just a short walk away. Sitting on a main bike commuter route in the ecoFLATS building, visitors to the pub are reminded of Hopworks’ and Portland’s passion for cycling. Features include 40 bike frames displayed over the bar that are the work of local custom frame builders and for many, this is one of the few locations where they can display their work. Additional bike-centric touches include a water bottle filling station, 99 bottles of beer on the wall in bike cages and two Plug-Out stationary bicycles that actually generate electricity back into the building’s grid when pedaled. The pub serves pizza, salads, sandwiches and a happy hour menu, all made with locally sourced ingredients. And of course, 10 different HUB organic beers on draft and one on cask.

Double Mountain Taproom, 4336 SE Woodstock

A great spot on the corner with a large dining room and bar area, wooden interior gives it a warm, open atmosphere that is cosy, comfortable and eclectic, definitely feels like the Northwest with high ceilings and plenty of windows. Quite a few of their brews on tap (~15) of decent variety. The menu is short but everything is quite good, the Buffy pizza is perfect. The service is excellent, all the bartenders are very courteous and attentive.

Laurelwood Public House & Brewery,5115 NE Sandy Blvd;

What a place this was "Hop Head Heaven" 12 beers on offer including 4 dark and dangerous beers one at 9% and 5 variations on an IPA the 10th anniversary one coming in at 9.9% and it was so easy supping; the Organic Tree Hugger Porter was smoky and chocolatey; the Space Stout was chocolate and roasted burnt goodness. 

A long "L" shaped bar seating 15 sits off in the side room, with a pair of towers of 12 taps each sporting a few empty handles here and there at different points along the way. The bar back has a centre window looking over the brew room, and shelves of booze over mirrored backing to both sides of centre. Tap selections listed on a board above, mounted flat screens in the corners, drop oblong cylinder lighting over the bar and spots on the booze. A half dozen short booths and raised round tables adjacent to the bar and along the front windows, a half dozen more tables in an area down past the bar to the rear, and a doorway there leading to a 4 table outside off parking lot seating pen. A single bench sits in a small shoebox room up front looking lengthwise down the brew room. Brushed cement floors in splotch shades of brown, copper, orange and gold, the walls dark brick and beige over wood slat lower pieces. Open wood rafters show plank ceilings, and exposed ductwork borders the rooms. GABF and North American Beer awards to the rear, World Beer Cup awards up front over the windows. An adjacent seating area lies just past the front entrance counter; massive dessert cakes and a wall of brewery swag hats and shirts. 8 booths along the walls, 4 tables down the centre of the room, and a kiddie nook in the corner (Shhh, you play quiet now, daddy's drinking grown up juice). A side dining room holds a dozen plus tables & booths and a larger kiddie play area. This place was hard to leave but time was getting on and we had one more place to visit in this area.

Von Ebert Brewing (Pearl), 131 NW 13th Ave

A Micro-brewery and bar that serves beers made in German, Belgian & Czech styles, plus sandwiches and pretzels. Von Ebert is owned and operated by Tom Cook, Dennis January, Eric Simko and Tom S. Cook. Tom S Cook, “Von Ebert Brewing was named after his Great Grandmother Ebert. She was the guiding force to an immigrant family when they came over from Germany to the United States in the early 1900’s. The family name Von Ebert translates to “of the house of Ebert. As Ebert roughly translates to boar in German the theme was born.” A decent open space with a nice wood roof. They have about 20 taps, including some guest taps. Custom flights available for $12. House beers range from boring to good, with most made competently.

Von Ebert Brewing East (Glendoveer), 14021 NE Glisan St.

A very nice looking establishment and next to a golf course/club. Though the feel inside is as follows: restaurant, a spot for golfers and brewery last. So isn't the exact atmosphere you expect? The server's are nice and attentive. Inside is a standard brewpub type place and they have two patio's. Worth popping in if you are in the area.

Columbia River Brew pub, 1728 NE 40th Ave;

Were we glad we found this place? (only opened in December 2010 and we only found on the net the previous night). We were greeted warmly by two of the employees (who turned out to be the brew dudes wife and daughter) upon entering, despite the fact that the place was almost empty. They had 9 beers on tap all unpasteurized and unfiltered, we got talking to the landlady/owner of the bar who introduced us to her husband the brew dude/owner, whose first beer brewed was an ESB @5.7% as a home brewer over 30 years ago! So having retired!!! They found themselves at a loose end and opened this awesome brew pub. We were then given the VIP tour of the brewery and even got a pre release sampler of their latest Belgian Style beer, at 8% with was not found wanting and in 4 more weeks when it has conditioned more and is released on ""cask" it will be a winner.  The pub is a well lit place with large windows looking into the street, several tables, a nice bar, and the brewery on display in the back of the room. The beer was outstanding. There are two different American style IPAs, both of which are great. It was impressive to have two beers in the same style with wildly different flavours brewed by the same brewer. We tried all of their beers, our favourites were the Paddler's Porter (an 8.4% Baltic Porter) and Hop Heaven IPA (a 7.5%, 78 IBU tasty IPA). The food menu was extensive. The service was great and we were given an excellent description of the beers we were interested in.

One of the best pubs in Portland and #7 of the 125 places to have a drink in the world before you die’ ~ All About Beer Magazine

The Horse Brass Pub, 4534 SE Belmont St.

This place is located in a mixed residential/commercial neighborhood. The building itself is pretty nondescript form the outside...judging from the architecture and small amount of signage you would never know there was a pub inside unless you already knew about it. Entering was like stepping into another world. an American attempt at a "British" pub, and not a bad one at that (it has a sister pub in London) Oak beamed, low ceilinged, lots of brass, beer memorabilia and photo's of the Royal Family and various politicians - Winston Churchill etc. Very dim lighting, lots of well worn woodwork, and loads of English pennants and other "bits and bobs" hanging around. Real dartboard’s in the corner, and no TVs in sight. Great atmosphere!  The pub is well known in Portland and has over 25 taps with beers from local, national and international brewers. Specialises in British cuisine. After partaking of a few beers, including the rare "Russian River - Pliny the Younger" at 10% and only brewed once a year, we set off in search of;

Hopworks Urban Brewery 2944 SE Powell Blvd.

The "HUB" is an environmentally friendly brew pub in an industrial unit that used to be a tractor sales show room.  The place is "bike" friendly having parking for over 50 cyclists (includes free puncture repair kit and also has a mobile brewery on a bike).  The place has 4 main areas, which include a family area, a banquet suite upstairs, the main "bike" bar and a beer garden. We opted for the sampler, as they had 10 beers to try, then we had pints of our favourite.  They cover just about every style, have some barrel and oak aged brews, and some great seasonal brews. All these beers more than hold their own in one of the greatest beer cities. All of their beers are brewed with organic ingredients! The food is also very good and made with organic ingredients and sustainable. Pizza,( which were yummy) natural beef burgers, sandwiches, soups, salads. The atmosphere is great. The place is very modern, well designed, bright, and clean. There's a large bar with bike frames suspended from the tall ceilings over the entire length. Just a really cool vibe there you are made to feel welcome and at home. 

Zoiglhaus Brewing Company, 5716 SE 92nd Ave

A warehouse-style space for pairing hearty pub eats with house-brewed beers, plus TVs & trivia nights. Inside there's not much decoration, blonde wood, kinda sterile in an "Ikea" way?  The menu reflects the German roots in both the food and the beer. The food is pretty authentic, the beers are traditional style and some with a modern twist. Flight of 10 beers are available. A plus is the bar football table. Definitely worth it stop if you're in this part of town.

Ruse Brewing, 4784 SE 17th Ave

What a weird location, this pocket notch where 17th crosses McLoughlin while nearby 12th overpasses it. An old industrial building nicely repurposed. Ruse has a high ceilinged space with a clear view into the brewing area. The building provides a good atmosphere and a nice industrial vibe. There are periodic food carts. Friendly and knowledgeable staff patiently explained the differences between the beers. One of the best breweries in Portland. They run the spectrum with great farmhouse, sour, lagers, and IPAs from a dozen or so taps, with 4 oz pours available. Perfect for relaxing craft beer experience...

Ancestry Brewery, 8268 SE 13th Ave

What a lovely new place that opened in 2016 in the Sellwood neighbourhood. These guys are definitely killing it. Compact, modern tasting room with limited but seemingly sufficient seating, plus an outdoor seating when the weather cooperates. Nearly 20 of their own beers on tap, available for flights of 6 beers. Friendly and knowlagable service. They do burgers, including a veggie burger. One of the top breweries in town I’d say, which is saying something. Definitely recommended.

The White Eagle Saloon, 836 N. Russell St.

Another classic bar in the set in North Portland's industrial neighbourhood, underneath the mighty span of the Fremont Bridge, the legendary White Eagle Cafe and Rock 'n' Roll Hotel echoes with tall tales of resident spirits, poker games and Shanghai tunnels, as it has since its opening in 1905.

Originally a hub for Portland's Polish immigrants, today the place is known for its vintage charm and nightly rock 'n' roll shows. The Holy Modal Rounder’s and blues man Robert Cray helped launch the bar's live music tradition. Others like the Isley Brothers, ZZ Top and Big Walter Horton were followed in the '80s by Northwest music icons Paul de Lay, Curtis Salgado, Norman Sylvester, Steve Bradley and more!!

Upstairs, the Eagle's 11 original guestrooms offer simple charm. Named for a variety of Holy Modal Rounder tunes, historic photos of the band's performances line the walls and painted lyric adorn the walls of each room. With its nightly live music tradition, the hotel is not for the light sleeper! IMO.

An outdoor beer garden is popular during warmer months and inside the Saloon, a massive oak back-bar serves up McMenamins' handcrafted ales, wines and spirits along with a menu of pub fare. The original ceramic-tiled floor, corner stage and artwork all contribute to the strong sense of places that envelopes visitors to this Portland legend. They had 4 different stouts on offer and we sampled pints of them all after all we were in the happy 3 hours, also there were to guys playing old time swamp rock on acoustic guitars and harmonica "awesome".

Otto’s Sausage and Delicatessen, 4056 SE Woodstock, 97202

Think of Otto’s as an encased meat emporium, a sausage super bowl, and a links lover’s paradise! This place is awsome depending on your love of great sausage, but given also that this is Portland...they have some great beers on tap and for sale and you can drink them outside where the world famous hot dogs are grilled. An amazing 80 year old German deli with grilled food and craftbeer available on site to eat inside or out and really amazing service and smiles. 🤪

Kells Brew Pub, 210 NW 21st Avenue

A casual, convivial Irish brewpub serving traditional bar fare. Top notch beer, friendly service, and killer decor.

Natian Tasting Room, 1306 E Burnside St

A cool spot right on Burnside. They have 20+ of their own on tap covering a wide variety of styles. Very friendly service including the brewery dog, Porter. The newly typical setting of first floor in a new 4 story condo apartment thing (a handful of those buildings all around here,) lots of windows, strange mishmash of tv screens all showing different programs. They make some excellent beers, like full pour IIPA and Lumberjane (great name) stout, that just aren't available elsewhere. Oh and they have two terrariums with lizards which is really cute.

Level Beer, 5211 NE 148th Ave

Well, this newish place (2017) is way way out of town. In fact, on the way there you skirt the end of a PDX runway. Founded by three veterans of the Portland craft beer scene, including the owner of Bailey’s Taproom and two brewers of Deschutes, Ex-Novo, and Laurelwood pedigrees. Large covered outdoor area which is also heated. They have 16 of their own beers on tap, along with five guest taps (including ciders, fizzy wines, and kombucha). Most of the beers are named after some aspect of video game playing. No in-house food available, but there are generally one or two food trucks parked right outside. Also they have a wonderful selection of all different "Level Beer" merchandise. You can get t-shirts, sweatshirts, glasses both large and small, stickers and key chains.

The Oregon Public House, 700 NE Dekum Street

A nonprofit pub with open layout in a century-old building that sends profits to designated charities. "Cheers to Beers 🍻" A great laid back vibe and cosy. A nice selection of taps, and the food menu is mouthwatering. They provide the community with great food and great beer in a warm, inviting environment. Well worth seeking out just to give back to the community.

Assembly Brewing, 6112 SE Foster Rd

A Chicago-style pizza house and brewpub in a chill environment with patio seats. A little off the beaten path, but only 15 mins drive from the centre of town. Inside it's spacious and modern with plenty of bar seating and some cool retro pinball machines. They have about 8 beers on tap, with flights of 4 for $5, a steal! 🤪 The beers aren’t anything special, but they’re dialed in and clean. Extremely friendly service. Not a top-spot and difficult to recommend in PDX, but if you’re stuck on this side of town, it’s a fun spot.

Vagabond Brewing Portland, 2715 SE 8th Ave, Ste 175

Opened in Feb 2019. Craft beer & burgers served in a cool space with garage doors. In the upstairs space a Cessna airplane hangs from the rafters near one end of the building There is lots of seating: 20 or so at the bar, 30 perhaps at first floor tables, and around 40 upstairs. They have 13 taps available. The staff and service is outstanding! An excellent addition to the PDX brewing scene. With the beers being solid, would like to see a continued expansion on available beers, having some consistent beers is great and it would improve to have more seasonal or special releases

Upright Brewery and tasting rooms, 240 N Broadway St, Suite 002.

Opens Thu 5 - 9 pm, Fri 4:30 - 9 pm, Sat 1 - 8 pm, Sun 1 - 6 pm

Is set in the basement of an office building, it is quite hard to find as there is a little sign outside on the side walk and then a sign in the building that is closed at weekend saying take the lift to the basement, once down there you will be so surprised it is awesome. You walk into the brewery and there is a little tasting area in one corner that sits about 20 people and a couple of barrel tables to stand at as well, background music from an old record player sets the scene old blues and jazz. It is a casual place where you can:  Enjoy sample trays or twelve ounce glasses of their beer; Enjoy photographs, drawings and paintings from local artists; Play Upright’s official game with your friends, Rack-O!  Walk around and tour the brewery and hear live 20′s and 30′s style blues performed by Steve Cheseborough most Sundays. We were also lucky to meet the brewer and have him explain about the beers he  specializes in farmhouse inspired beers rooted in France and Belgium but made with local ingredients and a Pacific Northwest twist. The name is a reference to Charles Mingus and his primary instrument. Mingus was a musician whose compositions defy categorization. At Upright they use special saison yeast and open fermenters to produce beers that are a true hybrid style, sharing Mingus’ spirit of exercising creativity and craft. The year-round beers are named after their starting gravity in Belgian brewing degrees. This method is a nod to the days when breweries solely distributed to their respective neighborhoods with nothing but a number on the cap to distinguish the beers – a time before the overly branded, packaged and global products of today.  We thought this was the second best place of our trip to Portland.

Reverend Nat’s Cidery & Taproom, 1813 NE 2nd Ave

A warm, wood-clad, unique interesting, tasting room with an eclectic range of on-tap hard ciders using local apples. Quite near Upright Brewing. They have 12 interesting ciders on tap, very well-priced. Service is extremely friendly and passionate about the cider. Comfortable place. Definitely worth a stop if you’re into ciders.

Second Profession Brewing, 5846 NE Sandy Blvd

A spacious and relaxing place, with a big neighbourhood vibe going on. Interesting storefront location, in the heart of Rose City Park, but very accessible, picnic tables at the front. Accessible via the TriMet. Second Profession Brewing is two different things. I’d say their first profession is the restaurant business, this is not a “brewery” that all you beer heads are looking for? But a decent selection of beers, with a lean towards saisons. Overall, a very pleasant experience. Would definitely recommend.

Away Days Brewing Co, 1516 SE 10th Ave

A gorgeous European inspired brewery with amazing design and delicious beer. Away Days (located in the old Scout Brewery location) is doing something outside the Portland norm, and it’s so refreshing. Their bright, colourful space makes you want to stay awhile. Their beer is solid and the food (weekends only) is worth your time!

West Coast Grocery, 1403 SE Stark Street

A beautiful space, with bar seating, tables, and some cushiony areas, and graffiti stay art on the walls. Over a dozen on tap, with custom flights of 6 for $12. They make fairly straight-forward beers, with no real highlights. Exceptionally friendly service. It's a fun spot to hang.

Threshold Brewing & Blending, 403 SE 79th Ave

A great atmosphere., the team working at the brewery are fun, kind, and knowledgeable. It is so refreshing to have servers who are passionate about beer and care. The place is immaculately clean. Great selection of their beer and guest taps. Also have gluten free selections.

Breakside Brewery NW Slabtown, 1570 NW 22nd Ave

An industrial-chic taproom with a rooftop patio serving craft beers and elevated American bites. High ceiling, fairly new, concrete space, tables fairly close together. They have two floors inside and a large, dog-friendly patio outside. There is an additional bar on the second floor that has a few leather armchairs for hanging out. These folks make great beers, with a good variety on tap, and bottles to go (including some barrel- aged and other things not on tap.) Very timely, smiling service. Prices as one would expect.

Grixsen Brewing Company, 1001 SE Division Street, #1, 97202

Very conveniently located just a couple of short blocks from The Beer Mongers / Apex. A funky little taproom, tucked in corner of their brewery, tastefully done, good wood tones, with a big industrial space out back were bands perform. About 10 beers on tap and super friendly staff. A few limited food options, mainly beer snacks.

Ross Island Brewing, 730 Southeast Powell Blvd

A few minutes walk from Apex / The Beer Mongers, this is a cozy little taproom. The first thing you notice when walking in is the bizarre musty smell that pervades the place, hinting at some infections in the brewing? Beers here are good, but don’t really stand out amongst the backdrop of the greater Portland beer scene. Friendly service and decent prices. No reason to come here unless you’re desperate for ticks, but given the 60+ breweries in PDX, how could that be the case?

Clinton Street Theater, 2522 SE Clinton St

The Clinton Street Theatre is a theatre located in southeast Portland, Oregon. It is believed to be the second oldest operating movie house in the city and one of the oldest continually operating cinemas in the United States. A small bar attached to a movie theatre. Had one house brew and a few guest taps. Like a lot of places in Portland, a laid back open feel. It looks like they are brewing on a very small system from all the corny kegs sitting around. The food menu is really small and space is very limited. They only take cash!

Migration Brewing, 18188 NE Wilkes Rd.

Located in the Gresham area, with lots of parking. A large open plan space, with a mountain mural on the far wall, pine tables the bar is in the far corner and you can see the brewery from a glass screen, and some of the wooden barrels that they age beers ion. A delicious beer range. Note they have an happy hour. A nice atmosphere for a smaller get together with the option to rent part or all of the facility if needed! The staff are great and super friendly.

Max’s Fanno Creak Brew House, 12562 SW Main St,

(about 5 or 6 blocks down from the Transit Centre.The 45 bus stops at the door)

Now "Cooper Mountain Ale Works" at Max's Fanno Creek Brew Pub! The brew house is a large open plan space with pillars decorated with murals of mountains, barley and hops, very bright and cheerful, also lots of bright murals around the mustard/yellow walls.  It was early and very quiet, although it did pick up there wasn’t really any striking atmosphere.  I can imagine it being quite lively of an evening or weekend when full of locals, but not exactly your cosy pub, quite utilitarian in feel.  

Thirsty Monk Brewery {Portland}, 1522 SE 32nd Ave

An airy, kid-friendly taproom and soccer bar with patio seating, serving Belgian-style beers and pub fare. Established in 2018. If Monks lived in Portland, this would be their watering hole! Located in the heart of Hawthorne, tucked away just off of SE 32nd Avenue, Thirsty Monk Portland offers a full service taproom of its Belgian Rooted Modern Ales, plus a premium liquor selection. While sipping on your craft beer or cocktail, enjoy the outstanding food menu from Tight Tacos.The support the Timbers and Thorns, and showcases their games and other events on a 114″ HDTV with surround sound.

Belmont Station, 4500 SE Stark St

One of the best bottle/tap rooms in PDX. A great cosy inside space with expanded seating outdoor area. The beer is well cared for, selection is probably the best in town for bottles, draft line up is solid as are the prices. Excellent service as well for the most part. Highly recommended.

APEX, 1216 SE Division St

A lively cash-only taproom and beer garden offering hundreds of brews in bottles and on tap. A cool place with a bit of a rowdy vibe. Loud music, pinball tables, a bit all over the place. Long taplist on a TV screen. Takes a bit of the edge away.

Moonshrimp Brewing, 8428 SW 22nd Avenue

Moonshrimp's beers are wonderful, highly recommend! The brewery is open sporadically, but it's worth swinging by during their open hours Beer Window Exclusives: Tuesdays Noon-7pm, Fridays 2-7pm, and by appointment. to meet the lead Brewer if you can! You can also find their beer @ World Foods or John's Marketplace. They are only licenced for "off" sales. But hey its worth the trip.

Raccoon Lodge and Brewpub / Cascade Brewing, 7424 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Hwy.

This is a 2 floor building the brewery and the oak barrels for again in on the lower ground floor with a sports type bar. The upper ground floor (built on a hill) is more of the main dining area with hunting trophies on the walls and animal pelts. The seating is table and chairs and booths the booths covered with native America tapestries.

The regular core beers here were great I thought, with the spiced stout and Rain de Brugge the clear standouts. The bartender was happy to arrange a look around the brewery for us of the awesome barrel room at Cascade. The beers we were able to sample were nothing short of mind blowng, with a bourbon barrel aged triple, the "red," and the raspberry the most memorable of an incredible afternoon of tasting.We sampled 10 different beers, The folks here were incredibly friendly and knowledgeable.

What the brewers here are doing with their wild ales (infected with lactic acid I believe; they do not use brett infections) is nothing short of amazing. The beers here are incredible and worth a special effort to find. Also, while they typically have around 10 beers on tap, on this day they also had bottles of the cuvee, kriek and apricot (and one other - I forget what it was now) for take out or on premise consumption. 
The beers here, at least the barrel aged sours, are nothing short of amazing and deserving of all the accolades this outstanding brewery has received of late. It's a bit out of the way from downtown Portland (probably 55 minute on public transport), but is well worth the effort to visit

There are two pubs a 5 min walk back down the hill from the Racoon Lodge;

The Dublin Pub, 6821 SW Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy.

The amazing selection of microbrews on tap, with a current selection of 59 taps, they offer a wide-ranging selection of porters, stouts, lagers and ale as well as import drafts. And I was totally impressed to see Lindemans Framboise on draft as well. Pints of microbrews were only $4.50, and they offered a 4 Beer sampler for $6.50 which was a good idea with their selection. But there is not too much exceptional about the exterior of this sports bar, however what is memorable about the interior environment, is the inviting glow of the actively burning stone fireplace and the authentic appeal of the low wooden beams throughout making a large place cosy.

Base Camp Brewing, 930 SE Oak St.

A large tasting room with a huge patio. Large and very pleasant with the rock climbing theme and outdoors represented well. Service is great, they know their stuff and are very helpful. You can get a bit paddle of 10 for pretty cheap, but the beer is pretty average. A decent place, but lost in a sea of great places. Go only if you have time.

Mt. Tabor Brewing, 124 SE 11th Avenue

A definite garage feel here, with a number of tables scattered around the brewery equipment, and there is a TV over the bar for the sports games. Its got a cool atmosphere, and an awesome soundtrack. Service is pretty good and there are plenty of taps for tickers, along with some cider pours. There is something for everyone here, with a few IPAs, a refreshing lager, a Mexican dark lager, a couple dark brews, and maybe even a sour or two. There is no food at this location, but you can bring in outside food. Combine a visit with Base Camp (^^above^^).

Ecliptic Brewing, 825 N Cook St.

A really nice modern place in an industrial park, with a nice patio (that is also the parking lot) in the front. Beer quality is average though with no standouts in my mind. Extremely reasonably priced and very good service. A very enjoyable hangout, with some clean beers and it’s worthy of a visit. 

10 Barrel Brewing Portland, 1411 N.W. Flanders St.

Really nice modern bar, the bar in front is a long sterile metal, but it gives the impression of cleanliness instead of ’hipsterism’. Great chalkboard on the back wall; easy to read and see and it always lends a personal touch. Loads of house beers on tap, mostly all of good quality. You can do a flight of 10 pre-determined beers, but have to order full glasses of the remaining ones, which is a tad annoying. Prices are very low and service was pretty decent. Definitely worth a stop when doing a downtown pub crawl, or just a great place to hang out over some beers.

Back Pedal Brewing, 1425 NW Flanders

A fantastic low key tasting room that opened up in June 2015 . Most folks mostly hit up 10 Barrel but this spot is right around the corner and usually you don't have a wait. Huge garage doors keeps is casual and cool. It’s a bit unfinished and rustic and I hope this aspect doesn’t actually change. They have games! Super friendly service. A variety of their beers on tap plus a couple of guest taps. Also inside they had two bike bars. They must do the bike bar tours aswell. Definitely worth a visit as it's a fun place.

Baerlic Brewing, 2235 SE 11th Avenue.

Located in a modern building, Baerlic is between APEX/Beer Mongers and the Commons, so easily walkable and en route if you join these venues together on a crawl. Modern facility, probably seats 50 or so folks. The ten house beers encompass a range of styles. Solid enough beers. Invincible IPA being the pick of the bunch. Service is prompt and friendly. All beers available in a tasting tray of 10. Highly recommended stop.

Gigantic Brewing Company, 5224 SE 26th Ave.

An industrial unit, fairly compact with room for 30 or so inside. Usually 8 beers on tap, tasters are offered, decent enough quality. The place gets buzzing and has good vibes and happy drinkers. Service is prompt and friendly. There are a number of bottles to go. Good stop.

Harvester/Ground Breaker Brewing Gastropub, 2030 SE 7th St.

A good place to visit to see how far alternative brewing has come, as ingredients like lentils, chestnuts, sorghum, buckwheat, and fruits are being used to their full potential. Atmosphere is far more of a cafe/restaurant than a bar. The menu is also gluten-free. Well-made, and creatively constructed array of beers made from alternative grains and alternative fermentation to achieve true gluten-free status.

Broadway Grill and Brewery, 1700 NE Broadway.

This is an outpost of The Old Market Pub and Brewery. The ambiance reminds of a transport cafe. Service is slow but friendly.

Clinton Street Theater, 2522 SE Clinton St.

Small bar attached to a movie theater. They have one house brew and a few guest taps. Like a lot of places in Portland, a laid back open feel. They have a computer with free Internet. Not a destination sort of place but if you are walking right past it.......

Splash Brewing Company, 904 NW Couch St

Splash Ultra Lounge is an energetic beach-themed bar offering sports and games by day and dance parties by night. A bit of a younger and drunker crowd than your usual brewpub. Apparently they have dancers and beer pong. Look, it isn’t fancy but it could be fun.

Untapped, 4320 N Interstate Ave.

A multi-tap bar that opened in September 2014, a friendly neighborhood spot for craft beer and cider lovers to get together over a pint, watch the game, or take a growler to go. Untapped offers happy hour specials every day 3-6pm.  The currently don't have food offerings beyond chips, nuts and jerky, but you are more than welcome to bring food in with you.  They are conveniently located near Happy House Chinese, Fire on the Mountain, Pause, Alibi and Pinky's.

Pints Brewing Urban Taproom, 412 NW 5th Ave

PINTS Brewing Company opened in 2012 in downtown Portland in Old Town/Chinatown – making it the first brewery in the neighborhood to open since Henry Saxer’s original Liberty Brewing Co. opened in 1852!
They pay homage to their historic location through traditional craft beer brewing techniques in their core beers and to the modern Portland craft beer scene through thoughtful and experimental batches of rotating beers. In the morning you’ll find thems brewing up craft small-batch roasted coffee as Pints Everyday Coffee, a true local coffee shop experience complete with fresh fruits, pastries, and delicious breakfast sandwiches made in house. Afternoons and evenings see the transformation into the local pub with fresh beer and elevated pub grub. Beer brewed in small 3.5 barrel batches, their beers are designed to be complex, yet focused, and ultimately beg another pint.

Ascendant Beer Company, 412 NW 5th Ave ^^^^^^^^^^^^

THE ABOVE COULD BE NOW UNDER NEW MANAGMENT WITH A NAME CHANGE? (BOTH WEBSITES ARE LIVE?) (all updated information welcome, please email me the details ottosrambles@googlemail.com).

So that's the low down on Portland hope you will find this good "gen" if you are thinking of going there, any comments please feel free to let me know.

One last note Portland is famous for its Food Carts. These are small vans; carts or stalls that appear around car parking lots, or in there own lot with a central dining area they are all independently owned and you get a small plate of food for the $5 - $8 mark they are really good value and range of food is phenomenal. 

Here is a useful web site relating to them; http://www.foodcartsportland.com/ 

R.I.P.

Green Dragon Bistro & Brewpub, 928 SE 9th Ave. (named as one of America's top beer bars by Esquire magazine),  I love the atmosphere here. It's in a real industrial part of town, and it doesn't look out of place. The decor is simple, but comfortable and relaxed plus they have shuffelboard. The outside space is huge too - and bike and dog friendly. They have 50 beers on tap “the front 30 and the back 20” and we hit happy hour?  We had a bar snack in the form of Belgian Style fries and Potato Fritters with dip, mmmm just hit the spot. (Owned by Rogue Brewery as of November 2008)

Rock Bottom Cafe, 206 SW Morrison St. is located in an older corner building. There are two main areas. There is dining to your left and the bar and more dining straight ahead. I like the very high ceilings with the exposed old wood rafters. They use half walls to add a sense of space. They use lots of copper, wood and plants for decoration. I like the rustic lighting in the bar room.  Even though part of a big group of bars/restaurants they still have their own identity along with the 6 core beers each brewer then has free range.  Which is good, we had the Fire Chiefs Red (charity beer) and a few others that were specific to this bar. We also had our main meal here (bit of a mistake!) I had battered cod and fries and "M" had enchiladas both of which were very good;{But at $15 a bit over priced as we later found out we could have had the same for under $10 a plate!} So we live and learn, Rock Bottom equals Drink Beer BUT don’t eat!  CLOSED Oct 2019

New Old Lompoc. 1616 NW 23rd Ave  Nob Hill, (or as i would say the shack that Jack built!) Top bar (I EVEN OVER TIPPED!!!!) main bar area with seating in small booths to one side and a main room with booths and big group/party tables in the centre, along with a large patio in the back, furnished primarily with picnic tables.  another "shack" this is one atmospheric bar. Also you can see the brew kit from the patio and they have a wall full of photos of "bald brewers" LOL. They have Happy Hour all day Sat/Sun!..and 3-6pm weekdays $3.25 a pint [£2] The Lompoc is located in an upscale neighbourhood packed with trendy restaurants and chi-chi boutiques. The brewpub's atmosphere doesn't resemble its neighbours at all. It's a pleasant, casual place.

Side Bar 3901A N Williams Blvd. we will start with the side bar first. This is where they host special events, parties, and serves as a barrel aging facility where they'll pour their specialties, one-offs, and new releases. Featured a 6ish seat bar and table room for 30-40. Very dark inside, barrels on racks around perimeter of the room. The barman was very insightful, willing to offer up tastes of whatever was on tap. Lompoc's bottles were also available for sale, including products not seen in  stores. This is most certainly worth a stop, when they are open. 

Fifth Quadrant, 3901 N Williams Ave, On the corner of N. Williams and 39th, the place has sort of a modern, minimalistic vibe to it, with a wall of windows facing 39th. There are a number of booths and tables if you walk in from the side street (39th), along with a moderate size bar on the right (looking to hold around 10 people). Beer quality here was pretty good, they had 10 beers on tap, including 2 seasonal. Service was fine, with the staff friendly and familiar with the local crowd.

M*A*S*H + T*U*N. 2204 NE Alberta St  What a great place, the brew dude was in full flow when we arrived and the place smelt terrific. They had 5 of their own brews on offer including the statutory West Coast IPA (mmmm hop head dream) and a stout that was very different in quite a good way. Also 5 guest beer which included 2 from Ninkasi Brewery (Awesome brewery IMO) Mash Tun occupies a storefront just off of popular NE Alberta St. on NE 22nd. Its front facade is like wood that has been aged to a warm coppery, caramel-brown colour. Large windows display the copper and stainless brewing equipment. Inside is like a refurbished industrial garage, with high exposed ceilings with several skylights and bare concrete floors. Sheetrock finishes have been added in front of otherwise concrete walls and have been painted a warm tan colour; the artwork (quirky paintings of cats) is for sale. There are about 10 wooden tables (seating around 30-35) and 10 stools at the bar. Behind the bar is the brewing room, with gigantic windows that give the whole space a very open feel. Adjacent to the bar is a large garage door, which opens onto a quiet covered patio. Corrugated metal separates one side of the patio from the neighbouring home and another wall is festooned with a colourful landscape showing several mash tuns in front of Mt. Hood. There's one TV (above the bar), a pool table (which appeared to be free), a jukebox (by the pool table) and a dart board (adjacent to the restrooms). 

Almededa Brewhouse, 765 NE Fremont St. This is set in the "burbs" and is quite an up market place all the staff are in black and the seating is all pine and high tech with steel topped tables, but the beer was not found wanting 10 on offer including 1 cask ale and 2 others on "nitro" of the main offerings  the IPA and the stout,  so quite good we hit it at happy hour (3-6pm) So we had a taster try of all the beers 5 over 8% abv and 5 pints (shame not to at $3 a go :-) also we took advantage of the discounted food and had nacho's loaded with olives, onion, tomatoes, Jalapeño peppers, cream cheese and melted cheese $5 (£3.50) mmm great beer food (even though it made our eyes water).

BTU Brasserie, 5846 NE Sandy Blvd.

Philadelphia’s Steaks and Hoagies Brewpub, 6410 SE Milwaukie Ave

Yamhill Brewing Company,  938 SE Yamhill

 Widmar Brothers TAP ROOM, 929 N Russell St - The largest brewery in the area. So we were a little apprehensive. But we were not disappointed. We started with a sampler tray of 6 x 5oz glasses and it was the taster tray from hell! With most of them over 8% abv! beers such as W,11 KGB an Imperial Russian Stout @9.3% abv and a Belgian Trubbel @ 8.5% brewed in collaboration with local home-brewers. They may only be small but that’s were the trouble starts quick to drink and then 2 pints have been quaffed without thinking about it! So a couple of other beers "M" had the signature beer the Hefeweizen (the first wizen brewed in the USA?) which  would give the best German one's a run for their money.  BREWERY STILL OPEN FOR TOURS

Full Sail TAP ROOM at Riverplace / The Pilsner Room, 0307 SW Montgomery St - this is a cooperative owned by the employees. It's now more of a general seafood place with a riverfront view that happens to have a few Full Sail beers on tap. Most people were there for the seafood. The brew kit is located to the rear and was quite an impressive kit, but the beers were a little disappointing, they had a malt extract type of taste? Either way, that aspect was very, very disappointing. It is also linked to a restaurant McCormick & Schmick's, that is quite up-market. Seems like the brewery is just an additional pull to get people in they have 10+ guest beer taps as well. So visit it and make your own mind up. BREWERY STILL OPEN FOR TOURS 

Amnesia Brewing, 832 N Beech St, and it is as unpretentious as they come: a converted warehouse with a covered beer garden where patrons quaff craft ales while watching the "Historical Mississippi District" pass by. Inside, you find a large area with a few picnic tables and a small bar off to the left. The brew kit and conditioning tanks are to the rear there is a corner bar serving up 8 of their beers mostly IPA's, pale ales, ESB's. All were sampled and not found wanting so we stayed and had a couple more pints. They do a limited range of food burgers and sausages that are cooked on the BBQ outside! Seating is of the picnic bench style. Overall a good beer experience.

The Commons Brewery, 630 SE Belmont St. & 1810 SE 10th Ave, Unit E

BOTH VENUES CLOSED   A Huge place. It's really nice, if an industrialized space with quite a few nooks and crannies. The service is the same great quality as when they were near Ladd’s addition, as one would expect, and the prices are still quite good. Very cool vibe, still sort of spartan like and the brew kit is on show. Great place overall.

Fat Head’s Portland, 131 NW 13th Ave.

A new place right by Deschutes that is one massive sports bar, so be warned if that’s not your thing. It’s not my thing either. An extensive beer list (50 on tap, including ~15 house beers), and extremely efficient service. Beer quality is very good and the prices are reasonable ($8 for a flight of 5). Worth a stop in downtown Portland, though I wouldn’t put it amongst the city’s best beer destinations?

Laurelwood NW Public House, 2327 NW Kearney St.

Laurelwood Pizza Company, 1728 NE 40th

Lompoc Hedge House, 3412 SE Division. Located in an craftsman built house, there’s not a lot of room inside, but the extensive patio picks up the slack. Often very crowded at night! Being an Old Lompoc tied House, the standard and seasonal Old Lompoc beers are on tap. Beers range from good to excellent. Food is always good and specials are inviting. They serve everything from vegetarian to Smoked pulled Pork Sandwiches. Nice place to hang out on a rainy day or summer day. Staff friendly and helpful. CLOSED NOV 2017

BridgePort Brewing Co. 1313 NW Marshall St.  Bridgeport Brewing the oldest brew pub in Portland.  We were not disappointed, situated in an old warehouse upon entering we were immediately taken aback by the size. Bridgeport is large enough to house four large brewpubs. There are catwalks and multiple areas on two floors. I noticed a lot of families seated to the left and couples dining to the right. The upstairs area seemed to be designated for yuppies drinking after work? Before ordering we took in the artwork  modern, expensive looking, and everywhere. Nowhere could one find a brick wall that did not hold at least one painting. Several of them were so interesting that I felt compelled to break out the camera to snap a few photos. What a structure!  this is a multi roomed bar with the brewery in the upstairs and also another bar upstairs.  There were 8 beers on offer 4 of them over 7% abv my favourite of them was the Blue Heron Pale ale, and Margaret's was the Haymaker Extra Pale.  They only had one dark beer on offer and it was a sublime coffee porter Cafe Nero.  So after a taster tray and a couple of Imperial Pints! We had some nosh in the form of moules and fries and Corn dog and fries. CLOSED MARCH 2019!

Tugboat Brewery, 711 SW Ankeny St.  As we knew this was on the way back as we had found it by accident in the morning. What a place this is! more of a nano brewery the kit looks like a one barrel plant and is well used they have 5 of their own beers on offer and 13 for other micros. Tugboat brewing doesn't really fit the brew-pub mold. In fact, the best way I can think to describe it would be "brew-dive", a cross between a brew-pub and a dive-bar. But at the same time, that's what gives it much of its charm. It's a hole in the wall with no big flashy sign and no glass-walled brew room; it's a dark and cosy library with a small bar that smells like beer and a bit like cigarettes. I love the walls of books and the "stuff" everywhere and I especially like the sparse lighting there are some small booths and all the people were friendly. No taster try in here so we opted for 5 half's of their own beers the Chernobyl Stout being 14% abv this well and truly did us both in. CLOSED JULY 2017

Burnside Brew Co, 701 E Burnside St only a tram ride and a 15 min walk away - what a place, poseurs abounded! Burnside has a modern somewhat upscale atmosphere to it. There is a nice large bar that looks on to the open kitchen. It can seat around 86 people We had a sampler tray of the 6 beers on offer that were medico at best (but still better than most UK offerings!) the best was the stout followed by a sour Belgian table beer. Pints were imperial but at $5 a shot they were the most expensive bar we have been in so far. CLOSED FEB 2019

Roots Organic Brewing, 1520 Se 7th Ave

Rogue Ales at the Portland Airport (PDX), Portland International Airport, Concourse D

Tuck’s Brewpub, 6698 Sw Capitol Hwy