Want to hit a few places in one night? We’ve grouped together some of the most convenient breweries in town. Some are by foot, but most are by car, so please be responsible when following these guides.
North Portland (1.3 Miles Total): "The Cat’s Cradle"
This tour starts at New Old Lompoc’s 5th Quadrant (A). Great food and a variety of beer styles are represented in their regular lineup. Usually at least one seasonal is available. We recommend C-Note Imperial Pale Ale and Lompoc Strong Draft for the big beer lovers out there. Stop number two is our favorite hidden spot: Amnesia Brewing Co. (B) Food is good but fairly limited, beers are exceptional, and staff is very friendly. Their Desolation IPA was our first Beer of the Month selection at portlandbeer.org, so don’t leave without trying one of these. Our last stop is Widmer Brother Brewing Co (C). This place is the biggest of the three, but also the place most likely to have a wait. If the wait is 20 minutes or less, stick around. As commercial as Widmer is becoming, they still have great beer. You can find their usuals like Hefewiezen and Drop Top Amber, but they consistently have at least two seasonals as well. Keep an eye out for the elusive Bourbon Barrel KGB Stout–one of the best beers in Portland.
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Downtown Portland (1.5 Miles Total): "Big Daddy Kane"
On the West side, you can hit the area known for its shopping. Got a spouse dragging you around by the ear to all of the shops? Sneak away and follow this foot tour of three great breweries in the Northwest quadrant of the city: The New Old Lompoc (A), and The Lucky Lab (B). Since you’re short on time and you’re on foot, feel free to hit these in any order. This trip is best suited for doing different takes on the same styles. So, pick two of your favorite styles and have one pint of each style at each place. After this we guarantee that you won’t mind meeting back up with your significant other and finishing out the shopping trip. Oh, and make sure that they have the car keys…
On the East side of 405, you can start off with Bridgeport Brewing Company (C). Their IPA is still a gold standard for IPAs. In the Winter, don’t leave without enjoying an Old Knucklehead. This place is the trendiest of the brewerys, so you may not want ot show up in your muddy overalls. The last stop is Deschutes Brewery (D) which just opened up in mid 2008. Great food and they have all of their standards available on tap–plus about 3-4 delicious seasonals. Though they’re one of the largest craft breweries in the nation, the brewers are still very experimental with their seasonals, so you can usually find something more typical of a smaller brewery pushing the boundaries of a given style.
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Southeast Portland (2.2 Miles Total): "The Rocking Chair"
First up is the Cascade Brewing Barrel House (A). While the Barrel House is new to Portland, Cascade Brewing has been doing blends and sours for a long time, a bit outside of town. With this new location dedicated to Northwest Sour Ales, it’s easy to find 8-10 sour varieties on tap at any time. Every Tuesday is Tap-It Tuesday and a new live barrel is hoisted through one of two holes in the bar wall and tapped. It’s easy to find something amazing here on each trip. The next stop is the Lucky Lab on Hawethrorne and a good example of life in Portland and the people that make up this crazy town. The Lucky Lab (B) is basically one huge room, giving a very good sense of community. When it’s full, you can’t help but interact with your neighbors. In the covered back area, you’ll probably see no fewer than 6 dogs roaming around the tables and playing with others of their kind. It’s kind of like a dog park, but without the park. And instead of grass, there is concrete and a bunch of picnic tables. And instead of tennis balls, there are pints and pitchers of beer. It’s kind of like that. The Lab usually has about 8 taps worth of their own concoctions, so you’re bound to find something you like. Keep an eye out for Superdog or Quality Rye. The last stop is Hopworks Urban Brewery (C). Opening in 2008, they are new to town, though the owner Christian Ettinger has been winning medals in the Portland Beer scene for years during his tenure as Brewmaster at Laurelwood. Christian brought his mastery of beer and love for sustainable business to his new creation, known simply as the HUB. There’s usually a wait at dinner time, but it’s worth it. Great beer selection, great food, and the bar is segregated from the kid friendly area on the other side of the restaurant. Over the past few months, they’ve consistently had about 5 standards and 2 seasonals pouring at all times.
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Northeast Portland (3.1 Miles Total): "Bumble Bee’s Revenge"
Breweries are a bit spread out in the Northeast, so this is the longest tour of all. You start out at the Broadway Bar and Grill (A). Grab a snack (you’ll want to save some room), and a pint. BB&G usually has a good number of taps pouring, so ask to sample a couple before committing to a pint. Now, that spot you saved in your stomach is about to be filled at your next stop: Laurelwood Brewing Co (B). Yes, it’s time for The Sampler. Eight 4oz samples (1 seasonal, and 7 of their standards), each more delicious than the last. This is truly some of the best beer in Portland! We recommend all of their beers, but if you need it narrowed down, don’t leave without trying Boss IPA, or their Organic Free Range Red. For the last stop, you will be heading to Alameda Brewing (C). Sit back, relax, and grab one of their many brews. Try their Irvington Juniper Porter for a unique take on the Porter style. Or, end the evening with a delicious ice cream float!
