If you’re visiting Portland, you should know that this is a city that’s home to some of the best breweries in the entire country. With a population of only 652,000, Portland still takes the prize from some of the biggest cities in terms of microbreweries and local watering holes.
Among the many fun things to do during your stay in Portland, a guide to the best Portland breweries is necessary. There are so many breweries to visit, it might just require you to extend your trip (or at least rely on your Lyft/Uber app to get you around).
In no particular order, here are some of the best breweries to visit in Portland.
Ex Novo
Ex Novo makes the list after opening in 2014 because of what it stands for. Not only do their beers rotate often and flow liberally, but they also give back to local charities. In fact, 100% of the profits made from their tasty libations get poured into (pun intended) local charities.
Their motto is ‘Drink Beer. Do Good’. What can get better than that? Sounds like a worthwhile activity to complete whilst in Portland, if you ask us.
Deschutes
Deschutes beer has been around for over thirty years, making it one of the oldest and most popular breweries in Portland. With the recent emergence of microbreweries across the USA, you’d think that might make it hard for an older brewery to keep up–but it’s been the exact opposite.
Deschutes likes to experiment, which keeps them hip and their flavors new. Their Portland location has twenty taps and regular tastings of new creations that are (or could be) coming out soon. Of the breweries in Portland, Deschutes is probably the most well known and also one of the best places to visit.
We really like their unique take on pub grub, as they focus primarily on food made from scratch and local produce.
Occidental Brewing Company
In terms of the best breweries in Portland, Occidental Brewing offers another specific type of drinking experience that you wouldn’t expect to find in the Pacific Northwest. Instead of your typical IPA’s, you’ll feel liked you’ve stepped into a Gaststube (pub) in Germany, home of their many German-style ales and lagers, and even an array of bratwursts. From German style Kolsch to Hefeweizen, Dunkel, Pilsner and more.
Occidental has a fantastic patio that makes drinking and eating during the summertime even more fun with friends.
Ground Breaker (Gluten Free)
For the gluten intolerant crowd, and there are more and more of us now, you might think breweries are out of reach or that your brewery map is small or nonexistent.
Well, think again, because Ground Breaker offers an array of drinks that are 100% gluten-free. When you come to Portland, you’ll be welcomed to a place that has won many awards for making beer that tastes just like (or better than) traditional beers. No need to just drink ciders anymore! #ohhappyday
In fact, the owner has won many awards for creating such tasty beer, that they started their commercial brewery and now serve gluten-free pub food as well. It’s a gluten free party! #glutenisbad 🙂
Portland Breweries: Wrap-Up
Portland breweries are a dream come true for most beer drinkers. IPA’s flow like the Columbia River in this riverfront town. When you get here, there are plenty of places you can sit down and have a drink. Whether you’re gluten-free, looking to visit a German beer hall, or want to help local charities, you can achieve nearly any drinking goal in Portland.
Join us for more updates on things to do around Portland. Enjoy your trip!
