We all know that finding good beer in Portland is like finding sand on a beach. You can now walk into almost any bar or restaurant in your area and find at least one quality local beer on tap. It's so common in fact, that I find myself surprised when I walk into a place and don't find Ninkasi's Total Domination, or Deschutes' Mirror Pond on tap—that's blasphemy in Portland! However, if you're looking for both an impressive beer selection and some darn good food, there are a few places you must go. Here are my personal favorites:

  1. Bazi Bierbrasserie: Tucked away just off Hawthorne on 32nd, you'll find Portland's only beer bar serving mostly Belgian style beers. From Bazi's website: "As a Euro-theme bar we embrace bringing community together through sports." Bazi offers 17 rotating beers and they play every local sports game on their 114" TV.  The food menu, though small, has some delicious finds. I'd highly recommend the  Stoemp – Yukon mashed potatoes and seasonal veggie.

  2. The Victory Bar: For a place that only has 6 taps, you'll find the tap selections so full of great beer it will seem like too many choices. I appreciate that Victory is often pouring at least one sour, and they carry a wide variety of bottles. "Our bottle list is heavy on non-local beer, you'll find impressive IPA's, big Belgian beers and ones you can't pronounce." Victory Bar is known for their Baked Spaetzle with Gruyere cheese and crispy shallots, and were also voted one of Portland's Best 30 Burgers by Portland Monthly.

  3. Roscoe's: Tapping a constantly rotating 16 beers—two of which are always nitro—you can count on finding a beer you (and even the pickiest drinker) will like. About once every month Roscoe's chooses a theme and throws a beer summit. They swap out about 12 of their taps with beers of that theme, and invite people over for a tasting event. Summit themes in the last few months have been: stouts, fresh hop beers, German beers, and collaboration beers. While you're there you can enjoy great southern food, or order sushi to be delivered from the sushi bar next door. Roscoe's is one of the only beer bars in Portland I have come across that serves sushi—and until 10 PM!

Hungry yet? Pick a bar, find out when their next event is and bring friends. Or just go now!