There is so much talk about eating seasonally. Why not take that same approach to…
The Perfect Destination for Beer Lovers
Portland, Oregon: The Perfect Destination for Beer Lovers.
Known as the Beer Capital of the World, Portland, Oregon is a beer lover’s utopia, with tons of quality breweries offering an incredibly diverse range of beer. Remarkably walkable, bike-friendly and with excellent public transportation, this is a city built for experiencing beer.
Love beer? You’ll love Portland!
Known as the Beer Capital of the World, Portland, Oregon is a beer lover’s utopia, with tons of quality breweries offering an incredibly diverse range of beer. Remarkably walkable, bike-friendly and with excellent public transportation, this is a city built for experiencing beer.
Where to Drink
Bailey’s Taproom
Centrally located near some of West Portland’s other great spots (Powell’s Books & Bluestar Doughnuts), Bailey’s Taproom has a great selection of hard to find beers. Most unique here is their big TV showing all 25 of their rotating selections. Each beer is listed not only with its name, style and location information, but also pour size and even how much of the keg is left! To get you to stick around they even tell you what brews are on “tap” next!
Loyal Legion
Loyal Legion calls itself an “Oregon Beer Hall,” so you get Portland’s best as well as the rest of the state. In this beautiful space on Portland’s trendy east side, you can choose from their huge selection of 99 taps. I ordered the sampler of eight “tasters,” my favorite (after a lot of tasting) was Pfriem’s Saison. Two days later while stopping in Hood River to stretch my legs, I saw the Pfriem brewery right on the bank of the Columbia River. Their “Oregon only” story checks out!
Ecliptic
Regardless of when you’re visiting Portland, a trip to this brewery is a must. Master brewers have become the new stars in the food and beverage world, and this one is run by the craft brewing icon John Harris. Formerly of McMenamins’ breweries, Deschutes and Full Sail, you’ve probably unknowingly enjoyed a few of his creations. These days, he’s focused pushing the limits of creativity in the brewhouse, brewing everything from imerial stout, pilsners and IPAs to barleywines and raspberry ales. Of course you can’t indulge in craft beer without a little sustenance, and Ecliptic offers an excellent selection of eats– with a side of Harris’s other passion: astronomy. The food menu changes every six weeks, following the solstices and equinoxes. Who doesn’t think their passion was written in the stars?
Brewvana
We all love tasting beer, but it’s getting from Pint A to Pint B that can be a bit of a buzzkill. Literally and figuratively.
Brewvana Craft Beer Tours offers VIP access to breweries, opportunities to meet the brewers, and of course, drink beer (included in your ticket price!). Better yet, they provide you with safe and sober transportation, which makes everything way less stressful and more fun.
Not convinced? Check out the below video. Why would you even hesitate to do this!?
Where to Stay
The Kennedy School
Now it’s okay to fall asleep in class! This hotel– owned by the McMenamin family (who opened the very first pub in Portland post-Prohibition)– is housed in a former elementary school. It’s teeming with personality and character. Some rooms even have chalkboards! The Kennedy School also happens to have three bars.
If you love brewskis, why not opt for their handcrafted beer package, which includes:
- Lodging for two
- Two brewery taster trays, each with samples of six McMenamins ales
- A growler filled with your choice of McMenamins ales. You keep the growler!
What are you favorite spots in Portland? Share in the comments!
photos courtesy Jamies Francis & Travel Portland
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Caveat, you will get a DUI for cycling drunk and the public transportation shuts down early so don’t expect to close a bar down and get on a bus.
Great post! I love craft beer and hope to get to Portland someday. When I do, it’d be great to lodge at the Kennedy beer school! 🙂
Typo: “I saw the Pfriem brewery right on the bank of the Columbia Rive. Their “Oregon only” story checks out!”
Edit to:Columbia River
Try Colorado Springs area of CO. A founder in the craft brew market and now leading with distilleries and Cider breweries. Plus, we are Olympic City USA and at the base of Purple Mountain’s Majesty, Pikes Peak.
Beer is a good reason to travel. That’s why you need to take a trip up I-95 to the other Portland…Maine, that is. Craft brews, brew pubs, like Gritty McDuff’s; and the Great Lost Bear, with 70 taps and beer from all over America.
Ohhh Samanthaaaa,
I know you’ve been here before….time to come back to try the brewski’s.
Her sistah city…the other Portland….the Best Portland!
Love ya,
Tammy
I was going to say the same thing, there are an amazing amount of new breweries that have opened in just the past few years.
Milwaukee
I’m happy to see you have made it to one of the McMenamins properties on your travels. I suggested the Grand Lodge a few months ago not realizing you knew about McMenamins legacy here in Oregon/Washington. Happy Travels, would love to cross paths and say hi and share smiles with you one day. 🙂
Sorry, Portland isn’t even close. The craft beer capitol of the world is of course; San Diego California. We win hands down, quality, quantity, variety, San Diego has more and better micro-breweries than any other city anywhere. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer_in_San_Diego_County,_California
The only way Portland can compete with San Diego is to include every brewery in the state of Oregon.
Portland has been on my travel list for a while, and not just for the beer. There are some other areas I’d like to travel just for beer though.
Heck with beer. Did Samantha say Blue Star Donuts?! My favorite donuts in the world! And the place is beautiful beyond words!
I usually travel with a carry on if I can manage. Longer trips and better airlines with baggage allowances mean I might carry a checked bag, but lots of layers, comfortable shoes and neutrals are my go-tos when I travel at weekends on on holidays.
Made it to Portland from NYC for the first time this summer – beer is OK but Powell’s Bookstore was awesome!
Love all that you do. Thank you!
Cathy