In Portland, there’s an old axiom that summer doesn’t start until after the 4th of July. So just in time for the sunny season, here is my most popular (and occasionally controversial) feature of the year: the city’s best breweries. The list below is based on the breweries doing the best work right now—it’s an up-to-the-moment progress report on where you’re going to find the most interesting, accomplished, and reliable pints.
After a Jekyll and Hyde spring that started soggy then transformed practically overnight to consistent sun, Portland is bracing for the usual round of heat waves and days when the thermometer tops 90 degrees (or even 100). Here, we’ve gathered our 21 favorite places to eat and drink al fresco throughout the metro area, including plant-filled patios, bustling beer gardens and rooftop bars with some of the city’s most picturesque views. As always, check social media for current hours.
The academy awards of Oregon beer were announced at the Oregon Beer Awards ceremony at Revolution Hall in Portland, Oregon on April 6th, 2023. In 30 categories, 1,113 beers were entered by 126 brewing companies and 56 of them took home medals. In addition to the double-blind judged beer competition presided over by 88 judges over the course of 6 days of judging, there were another 8 awards in non-beer judged categories that were voted on by the OBA academy of over 300 industry peers.
Since transitioning from the Fat Heads brand in 2018, Von Ebert Brewing has emerged as one of Portland’s most respected breweries with a diverse roster of IPAs, wild ales, stouts, and everything else in between. But there is one style of beer that the brewery – which has taprooms in the Pearl District and at the Glendoveer golf course – has been quietly making their primary focus: lager. Though Von Ebert has kept a handful of lagers on their taplist since opening, they have been mostly overlooked compared to their award-winning IPAs and wild ales.
A new collaboration is set for release from Von Ebert Brewing and Breakside Brewery to benefit the Domestic Violence Resource Center from Beaverton, Oregon. Brave Noise Pale Ale, which is part of the worldwide Brave Noise Beer Movement, will be tapped at both Von Ebert locations and select Breakside locations on Wednesday, March 30th.
Von Ebert Brewing’s flagship IPA, Volatile Substance, had a great 2021. In the Oregon Beer Awards in May, it won gold in the American IPA category, edging ahead of two IPAs from Sunriver Brewing. Then in September, it followed that up by winning gold at the Great American Beer Festival in the highly competitive American IPA category as well.
