subject: An Oregon Brewery Adventure That Is Part Of The Culture [print this page] Nothing is more relaxing than enjoying an excellent beer on an afternoon after a day of hiking, biking, skiing, snowboarding or doing any one of the countless Oregon outdoor activities.
It is a fact that Oregon beer is in the top five for the following beer related categories in the United States.
Craft Beer Production
Craft Beer Consumption
Number of Breweries
Breweries per capita
Draft Beer Consumed
Indeed, in every section of Oregon there are award winning microbreweries that use Oregon's own hops in their beer production.
Most of the Oregon Microbreweries also serve regional homemade food. Following is our selection of the best of the lot in each section of the state. But, remember, Oregon is loaded with other great places like these and asking locals to recommend their favorites will treat you to Oregonian hospitality that may help you find a gem not on our list.
Central Oregon
With a great view of the Deschutes River at Mirror Pond, The Bend Brewing Company of Bend, Oregon is an outstanding choice for food and drink. The Bend Brewing Company has won several awards including the Brewers Association World Beer Cup 2008.
Champion Brewery Small Brew Pub Category Winner Tonya Cornett & Bend Brewing Company
GABF Bronze medal winner for Hop-Head Imperial IPA
GABF Silver medal winner for Cherry Baltic Porter and Bronze medal for Outback X NABAA Bronze medals; Metolius Golden Ale, Outback X and Dry Irish Stout
Their recently updated menu includes seasonal favorites such as Spicy Napa Cabbage Salad and Chicken Cobb Salad. Some of their specialties are Oregon Marionberry Balsamic Glazed Salmon, Outback Old Ale Brats and South Sister Penne Pasta.
Mt. Hood and Columbia River Gorge Area
With 22 years experience in the small brewing business we recommend Full Sail Brewing Company in Hood River Oregon offers amazing award winning brews and wonderful home cooked local organic foods. Some of Full Sail's Awards include:
World Beer Awards America's Best Premium Lager 2010
WBC Best American Pale Ale, Full Sail Pale WBC Best India Pale Ale, Full Sail IPA Full Sail IPA
Full Sail was also voted the best Brew Pub and Tour in the Gorge area. Brewery tours are available daily, starting at 1 PM until 4 PM every hour on the hour. At Full Sail all foods are from local farms. Full Sail has won numerous awards for its work in maintaining sustainability and improving the environment.
Portland
The Alameda BrewHouse is in Northeast Portland. Only nine years old, this Brew Pub is a favorite of locals and a treat for visitors. Early on it established itself as an award winning small brewery by winning many awards including:
Wasco Indian Summer Summer Ale World Beer Cup - 2004
Great American Beer Festival Great American Beer Festival - Gold 2005
This Brew Pub offers the classic Northwest Brew Pub fare serving items such as battered halibut and chips, hand formed burgers, steak and fish. For those with adventure in mind, try either the salmon gyro or the gingered tahini soy prawn served on skewers. For those who do not eat fish or meat there are veggie-burgers too.
Eastern Oregon
The Terminal Gravity Brew Pub in Enterprise, Oregon also has award-winning crafted beer. It was a recent winner of The Oregonian Best Beer of the Year Award for its India Pale Beer.
Like other Brew Pubs, while the emphasis is on beer, they have the standard Northwest bar fare, and for a little more adventure genuine buffalo meat raised by a local.
The Coast
Pelican Pub and Brewery in Pacific City, Oregon is known for its beer and its menu. Each day, the Chef and the Brewmaster work with one another to decide how they can incorporate beer into the cooking process. Recent awards for the brewery include.
Great American Beer Festival 2010 Gold Medal for Kiwanda Cream Ale
Great American Beer Festival 2010 Bronze Medal for MacPelican Wee Heavy Ale
Great American Beer Festival 2010 Bronze Medal for Tsunami Stout Draft Magazine
2010, Top Beers of The World for Kiwanda Cream Ale
Pelican serves three meals a day. But, dinner is exceptional! The sumptuous menu features seafood, chicken and beef sourced locally. All dishes have a suggested beer to pair with the food.
Willamette Valley
In Willamette Valley is the town of McMinnville. It is the home of The Golden Valley Brewery is a small brewery that produces excellent beers. Interestingly, the brewery also owns The Angus Springs Ranch where beef is pasture fed with supplemental feed provided by the hops from the brewing process.
The Brew Pub owned by The Golden Valley Brewery is known as On the Ranch. While standard pub fare is offered, On The Ranch also provides entrees that are exceptional. Thick grilled steaks, locally sourced pork and locally procured wild fish from the local rivers and the ocean so no farm bred fish is served.
Oregon also has fine gourmet dining available in all recreational areas of the state. Many fine restaurants use locally raised meat, fish caught in local waters, poultry raised in the area and fresh, locally grown seasonal vegetables.
However, the microbreweries in Oregon are just outstanding and many, such as the ones reviewed above, are way above average, with fresh, locally grown and raised food items on their menus. Visiting a Brew Pub in Oregon promises to be a terrific experience. Award winning crafted beers complement excellent food. Do not miss the experience when visiting Oregon. Locals will tell you that for most, they often go to a Brew Pub as a family night out.
