Post Summary: Roundup of the Best Breweries in Oregon Based on Firsthand Experience
Oregon is known for beer-loving locals that don’t settle for watered-down libations of any variety. So is it any wonder that these (high) standards have propelled the craft breweries in Oregon on a national scale? Hardly.
I’ve loved beer my whole life (at least my adult life and perhaps then some) and moving to Oregon was the best decision a beer lover could possibly make. I always make a point to check out the beer scene when I travel (and I travel a lot). I can say with confidence that the best breweries in Oregon are also the best breweries in the world.
A lot of folks don’t realize how many breweries there are here. Believe it or not, Oregon is home to well over 200 breweries! As you can imagine competition is steep.
I implore you to take the fruits of my habit and use it for your own benefit. In that spirit, here’s a roundup of the best Oregon breweries based on firsthand experience.
NOTE: If there’s a brewery you feel is worthy of mention on this list, I’m all ears! Drop me a comment below with the name of the brewery and why they should be included.
Why trust me about the best breweries in Oregon?
Well for starters I love beer and I live in Oregon. Beyond that I have traveled all over the state and have been on a mission for the past 5 years to find the best breweries here in Oregon.
Other brewery cred includes my wild red beard, appreciation of bourbon and whisky, and thousands of beers I’ve sampled over the years. If that’s not enough for you then head over to some news site to get the milquetoast reviews you seek.
A couple of notes about my preferences. I will say that I like to think I can appreciate a great beer even if the style is not my favorite. With that being said, I particularly enjoy IPAs (the hazier the better), pilsners, sours, and pale ales.
The Best Breweries in Oregon
Click for a handy Table of Contents
Table of Contents: Oregon’s Best Breweries
- Why trust me about the best breweries in Oregon?
- The Best Breweries in Oregon
- M. Crowe Ferments (Lostine)
- Crux Fermentation Project (Bend)
- pFriem Family Brewers (Hood River)
- Breakside Brewery (Portland)
- Fort George Brewery (Astoria)
- de Garde Brewing (Tillamook)
- Gigantic (Portland)
- The Ale Apothecary (Bend)
- Ruse Brewing (Portland)
- 10 Barrel Brewing (Bend & Portland)
- Thunder Island (Cascade Locks)
- Immersion Brewing (Bend)
- Cascade Brewing (Portland)
- Alesong Brewing & Blending (Eugene)
- Ferment Brewing Company (Hood River)
- Terminal Gravity Brewing (Enterprise)
- Migration Brewing (Portland & Gresham)
- Baerlic Brewing (Portland)
- Block 15 Brewing (Corvallis)
- Occidental Brewing Co. (Portland)
- Honorable Mentions
M. Crowe Ferments (Lostine)
If you are really looking to find out if someone is an aficionado on the best breweries in Oregon ask them if they like M. Crowe. Odds are they haven’t even heard of it. Their loss. M. Crowe is a magical place.
The brainchild of the eccentric Tyler Hayes, this old convenience store turned eclectic brand makes perhaps the smallest batch beer in Oregon. All of the beer is brewed in the back of their Lostine store with homegrown local, 100+ year old strain of barley that Hayes cultivates himself with the help of farmer Alan Klages.
All of that home brewing and personal touch culminates in one hell of a beer and one of the best breweries in the state of Oregon
And to think my journey here almost ended in tragedy. Arriving I found the store temporarily closed. Naturally, panic ensued. They wouldn’t be opening for a few days. The drive from Portland not being a short one (7 hours) I hastily emailed the contacts listed on the website praying for a miracle.
The beer gods smiled upon me that day. The great folks at M. Crowe opened the store the next morning just for me and gave me a full tour of the operation including a taste of the beers they had on tap. Heaven.
Crux Fermentation Project (Bend)
The success of Crux Fermentation Project, one of the most awarded breweries in Oregon, is largely due to the numerous unique brewing techniques (open fermentation, barrel mashing) they’ve been perfecting since opening in 2012.
The belief behind this operation is simple: there’s a beer out there for everyone. The running joke is that if you can’t find a beer to love at Crux then you may not like beer, period.
The tasting room is beautiful, but it’s the menu that catches the eye. With a plethora of tantalizing options, it’s hard to peel away. Boasting tons of ales, lagers and experimental beers, don’t rush the experience and give yourself some time to get acquainted with the menu.
If all else fails, ask the kind staff. They’re bound to have a recommendation up their sleeve. As for food, small bites are available but the food carts outside may be more filling. Live music plays weekly, bring some friends and plan to linger.
Between serving the best beer in Oregon, offering epic mountain views and playing host to a welcoming vibe, there’s no doubt that Crux Fermentation Project is one of the best breweries in Oregon. But don’t just take my word for it, go see for yourself!
P.S. They’ve started distilling whiskey in the past few years and it is absolutely delicious. Be sure to enjoy a dram while you’re there!
pFriem Family Brewers (Hood River)
pFriem Brewery in Hood River needs no introduction. This brewery is now an Oregon household name albeit a tough one to pronounce correctly (“freem”). Opened in 2012, pFriem has amassed an impressive array of prestigious beer awards (including being named Brewery of the Year by Beer Connoisseur three times).
The artisanal beers are inspired by European influences while staying true to Northwest roots. The end product is a beautiful thing: complex, smooth, and satisfying, these are some of the best beers in Oregon.
Equally impressive is the creative food menu. Featuring delectable seafood fare alongside seasonal delights featuring locally sourced ingredients, the menu exceeds the reputation of traditional pub fare.
All told, pFriem is one of the best breweries in Oregon, perfect for a post-hike catch up with friends. The outdoor patio is very cozy, but if you sit inside you’ll be privy to watching the action happen (the barrels are housed in the restaurant).
Breakside Brewery (Portland)
Why do I consider Breakside Brewery one of the best breweries in Oregon? It’s all about the numbers. Breakside has been recognized for their mad skill in creating some of the best craft brews not only in Oregon, but nationally.
In 2014, Breakside Brewery won the national top prize in the IPA category at the Great Beer Festival. Likewise, in 2019, they won in 10 different categories at the North American Beer Awards.
The list of awards is too long to list, but you can read more here if you’re interested.
The national success might have been surprising to outsiders — considering the brewery was founded in 2010 — but only solidified what Portlanders already knew — we won the brewery lottery by a landslide.
Fort George Brewery (Astoria)
The outdoor patio at Fort George Brewery in Astoria is always full and for good reason. This is undoubtedly one of the most popular breweries at the Oregon coast not only because the brewery itself is a great hang out spot, but because the beer here is some of the finest Oregon has to offer.
Dating back to 2007, Fort George offers a pretty massive assortment of excellent beers out of a converted 1920s auto garage. Enticing locals and visitors with strong pours of hazy IPAs and award-winning ales, the vibe at this Oregon brewery is hard to beat. I know plenty of folks who claim this as the best brewery in Oregon and it’s tough to make a compelling argument otherwise.
Local’s Tip: If I’m being honest, the food leaves a lot to be desired. I’ve visited Fort George Brewery on several occasions and have ordered a few meals. Good, not great is the best way to describe the pub fare. Swing by Blue Scorcher Bakery (in the same building) beforehand for great sandwiches if you’re feeling peckish.
de Garde Brewing (Tillamook)
If you’re an avid sour ales fan, make a beeline to de Garde Brewing. Established in 2014 by husband and wife duo Linsey Rogers (formerly worked at Tillamook Cheese) and Trevor Rogers (formerly worked at Pelican Brewing) it didn’t take long for locals to acknowledge it as one of the best breweries in Oregon.
The story goes that Trevor tried locations all along the Oregon coast to see which was the best spot for their wort samples from wild yeast to spontaneously ferment and Tillamook took the cake.
The results are pretty incredible and locals aren’t the only ones that think so! De Garde Brewing consistently rakes in prestigious awards for their delicious concoctions.
It’s not hard to see why. Offering unforgettable high quality sour ales, creativity is the name of the game at de Garde Brewing. What makes this Oregon brewery unusual is the brewing method.
De Garde is one of a few breweries in the world that uses a coolship method to make beer. A coolship is a flat, open top vessel used for cooling wort (liquid extracted from mashing). As such, the beers are made with natural-forming wild yeasts from the coastal air.
If you’re more of a traditionalist, fret not. De Garde has a rotating menu of six guest taps catering to well-loved styles like lagers, ciders, ales and IPAs. But between you and me, it’d be a crime to miss an opportunity to try the best sour ales in Oregon.
Gigantic (Portland)
I would drive an hour out of the way for the IPAs at Gigantic. That’s how enjoyable the flagship brews are at one of the best breweries in Oregon. Consistently serving up great beer in a casual atmosphere, Gigantic Brewing is one of the best places to catch up with old friends over a cold one.
They have a seriously impressive list of brews on tap and I make sure to sample as many IPAs as I can. Get the tasting flight of six and ask the friendly staff for their recommendations. You won’t regret it.
They always customize to my taste buds and I’ve never been disappointed by a single beer. In fact, during my first visit to Gigantic Brewing it quickly rose to the top on my list of the best breweries in Portland.
Nothing fussy, just a relaxed venue with stellar brews. What more could you ask for?
The Ale Apothecary (Bend)
If you’re on the hunt for some of the best sour beers in Oregon, it’s high time to make the pilgrimage to the Ale Apothecary. This sour-forward Bend brewery focuses on sourcing ingredients exclusively from Oregon farms and forests.
Because of this, every libation is a taste of the wonderful Pacific Northwest. Visiting this Bend brewery feels like being invited to a friend’s cozy cabin in the woods. That friend, in this case, would be Paul Arney – Ale Apothecary’s visionary founder.
As with so many of the best brewers in Bend, the well-curated selection of beers changes regularly, so you never know what to expect. The brew master finds inspiration from local ingredients and determines what to make based on what he can get his (golden) hands on.
It was here in 2023 that I tasted one of the finest beers I’ve ever sampled – the Sahati at Ale Apothecary. This beer was brewed inside of a spruce tree felled by the brewers themselves, then hollowed out and loaded up with spruce branches – the resulting flavor was so intensely wonderful. A beer I’ll never forget from one of the best breweries in Oregon.
Ruse Brewing (Portland)
Ruse Brewing started the way that all the best Oregon breweries start — two passionate friends on a wild mission to produce the best beer in Portland using the help of creativity and science.
The founders met while working at Culmination Brewing in Northeast Portland before branching off with a goal of brewing 20 barrels a month. They initially focused on sours and farmhouse style ales before slowly mastering the craft of pretty much every style of beer under the sun.
In no time, Ruse was making some of the best beer in Oregon and locals noticed. So the owners decided to open an inviting brewery in Portland’s Brooklyn neighborhood. They don’t serve food but allow visitors to bring their own to enjoy alongside the brews.
10 Barrel Brewing (Bend & Portland)
Founded in 2006, 10 Barrel Brewing Co. probably needs no introduction. This is one of the most popular breweries in Oregon (as well as one of the most commercially successful).
First, the tasting rooms are an all-around excellent place for hanging out and catching up with friends. There are two locations in Bend- one on the west side and another on the east (and one in Portland). 10 Barrel offers a vast selection of beers, but you can also sample wines, sours, and even cocktails.
When it comes to food, this brewery offers a delicious (and generous) seasonal menu. I once had a summer salad at the west side Bend location that I can’t get out of my mind 2+ years later. Don’t sleep on the pizza, it never fails to hit the spot. I also really love the berry cheesecake, which is a perfect accent to the end of a fantastic meal.
Summer isn’t complete without a 10 Barrel cucumber sour on their rooftop in Portland.
Thunder Island (Cascade Locks)
This Cascade Locks brewery was founded in 2013 but didn’t officially branch out to its current (beautiful) location until 2020. The taproom is really cool, with fermentation tanks on full display as soon as you walk in.
All the beers are top-notch but the IPAs are most impressive, ask about the seasonal pours and you’re bound to be amazed by the head brewer’s creativity.
The massive floor-to-ceiling windows flood the space with light and offer panoramic views of the gorge and Bridge of the Gods. Make your way upstairs to the cozy bar and massive seating area to place an order. If it’s cold and rainy, snatch a table by a window. If it’s summer, head outside.
The large patio is beautiful and offers great views of the surrounding mountains and the Bridge of the Gods. You’re guaranteed to find dogs sitting alongside happy hikers and friends at one of Oregon’s best breweries.
They have a fun little program where visitors can purchase beers for PCT hikers that make a pit-stop at the brewery. It’s a popular spot for PCT hikers, made clear by all the backpacks hanging on the wall.
Immersion Brewing (Bend)
Located in Bend’s charming Old Mill District, Immersion Brewing is often labeled one of the best dog friendly breweries in Oregon (there are many). The outdoor patio is spacious but usually filled to the brim on warm summer days.
Family-owned and damn proud of it, the garage-turned-brewery (a lot of those on this list) is all about good beer and good vibes. Turns out I’m not the only one that considers this one of the best breweries in Bend, it won Small Craft Brewery of the Year in 2020.
The stars of the show are the hazy (and I mean haaaazy) IPAs and sensational sours. You can’t go wrong with anything you order because these folks know what they’re doing. Pair your pint with some pub fare and you’ll be digging up details on living in Bend in no time.
Cascade Brewing (Portland)
No list of the best breweries in Oregon is complete without mentioning Cascade Brewing. Opened in 1998, this Oregon brewery is one of the oldest in Portland – a true original.
However, it wasn’t until 2006 that it started to set itself apart from the plethora of great Oregon breweries by specializing in barrel-aged sours.
And wow, what a blessing that turned out to be. With more than 20 beers on tap, you’ll be hard pressed to find a more extensive (and exciting) list of bright sours in one place.
Cascade Brewing has won numerous awards and is still considered one of the original masters of sour brews in the nation.
Alesong Brewing & Blending (Eugene)
Located in the heart of the breathtaking Willamette Valley (Eugene), Alesong Brewing is an award-winning Oregon artisanal brewery best known for producing top-notch barrel-aged brews with a belgian influence.
Alesong’s belief is that barrel-aged beer offers a more balanced, complex, interesting, and satisfying Oregon beer. Hard to argue with that. The listed menu descriptions of their beers read like Michelin fodder.
These beers are on the spendy side but for good reason. The process to create them is more time intensive and more expensive. The result is some of the best beer in Oregon.
Ferment Brewing Company (Hood River)
Hood River has no shortage of beautiful breweries, but in terms of the best, Ferment can’t be beat. And I’m not the only one that thinks so! We spent a weekend exploring all the best breweries in Hood River with a group of friends, and the decision was unanimous, Ferment came out on top.
Fighting words, I know. But someone had to tell you.
Fully planked with natural wood panels, the massive floor to ceiling windows expose breathtaking views of the gorge. The newly designed brewery has a minimalist Nordic flare to it, which keeps the focus on the exceptional brews.
If you’re in the mood for small talk, strike up a conversation with locals about the best outdoor patios at the breweries in Hood River (complete with fire pits) and Ferment is guaranteed to pop up. We visited during winter, so we sat indoors, but I’m itching to get back in the summer months for the patio alone.
Terminal Gravity Brewing (Enterprise)
After receiving many recommendations we finally were able to visit Terminal Gravity located a bit off the beaten path in Enterprise Oregon. The hype for this spot was big and I feared that it would be too much for this seemingly hole-in-the-wall sort of joint. One of the best breweries in Oregon?
Arriving, the scenery could not have been more majestic. If you’ve never been out to the Wallowas consider this your engraved invitation. It’s basically Oregon’s version of Switzerland. The brewery itself is quite idyllic which also had me a bit anxious – could the beer as nice as the setting?
Spoiler alert – it is. Wow. Maybe it was the alpine high but the beer at Terminal Gravity tasted absolutely top-notch. As I sipped my “Fuggetaboutit” hazy pale ale under a covered picnic table a thunderstorm rolled in overhead. If lightning had struck me down at that moment I would’ve died a very content man. Dramatic, I know.
Migration Brewing (Portland & Gresham)
Founded in 2018, Migration is an award-winning craft brewery in Oregon that spread like wildfire and currently boasts four locations.
The passion project of four friends, Migration Brewing is a staple in the community and creates an inviting space for guests to linger over excellent brews and traditional pub fare.
You can find their brews all around town but nothing competes with the source, which is why I highly recommend visiting the actual brewery over picking up the cans in store.
The IPAs are a crowd-favorite, but I’m partial to the hearty pilsner. Just make sure you invite your friends and order some of the fare because it completes the experience.
Baerlic Brewing (Portland)
First things first, where does the name of this Oregon brewery come from? Baerlic (bear-lick) is an old-english adjective meaning “of barley.”
Strictly devoted to using local ingredients, Baerlic was born from an unapologetic passion for perfecting the art of beer making by two friends, Ben Parsons and Richard Hall. The end result? One of the best breweries in Oregon.
They started brewing in a basement (isn’t that how all great stories start?) and it didn’t take long for their small operation to begin winning awards in amateur competitions. With victory at their backs, the duo decided to take a risk by opening a brewery in Portland.
Serving some of the best beer in Oregon, Baerlic now has three locations in the City of Roses and finding a table at any of them during the weekends feels like an impossible task. Locals can’t get enough of these brews, made evident by the long lines and happy chatter at the brewpubs.
Block 15 Brewing (Corvallis)
Based in Corvallis, Block 15 is one of the best breweries in Oregon. Locals have come to rely on this wildly popular Oregon brewery for strong IPAs (Sticky Hands is the biggest crowd-pleaser) and seasonal creations.
Established in 2008, the objective is to brew excellent craft beers few can forget. Fueled by passion and unabashed curiosity, this brewery is one of the highlights of visiting Corvallis.
The pub is beautiful, with massive windows drenching the area in natural light, the space feels inviting and warm. But folks don’t come here for the sunshine, they come here for some of the best beer in Oregon.
After having a pint of the Sticky Hands IPA you may find yourself justifying the 1.5 hour drive south from Portland. But trust me, you won’t be the only one.
Occidental Brewing Co. (Portland)
Opened in 2011 with a goal of crafting well-balanced continental-style brews in Portland, Occidental has garnered a loyal following and thus ensured its success in the craft brew capital of the world – Portland, Oregon.
The atmosphere is welcoming, the old-school music is great and the old beer can collection is worth mention as well. I met up with some coworkers at Occidental and we tried a handful of beers. Frankly, we were impressed by every one, but something about the Hefeweizen was truly special – it’s one of the best I’ve had in Portland!
Honorable Mentions
Not every brewery can make the top twenty but are still totally worth a visit. Here’s a few of my favorites that make it into that category:
- Great Notion
- Oakshire
- Chetco Brewing
Best Beer Oregon FAQ
There are more than 200 active breweries in Oregon, making Oregon one of the states with the most breweries per capita.
Home to more than 70 breweries, Portland has the most breweries in Oregon state. In fact, Portland has the most breweries per capita of any US city
List of the Best Oregon Breweries (Post Summary)
In sum, here’s a roundup of the best craft breweries in Oregon
- Crux Fermentation Project
- Gigantic
- de Garde Brewing
- pFriem Family Brewers
- Baerlic Brewing
- Block 15 Brewing
- Breakside Brewery
- The Ale Apothecary
- Ruse Brewing
- 10 Barrel Brewing
- Thunder Island
- Immersion Brewing
- Fort George Brewery
- Cascade Brewing
- Alesong Brewing & Blending
- Ferment Brewing Company
- Migration Brewing
- M. Crowe
- Oakshire
- Occidental Brewing Co.
You may enjoy reading: 15+ Best Breweries in Bend, Oregon
Map of the best craft breweries in Oregon State
You Might Also Enjoy
- Best Breweries Portland: 20 EPIC Portland Breweries Guaranteed to Quench Your Thirst
- Best Breweries Bend: 15+ Epic Bend Breweries Worth the Wait
- Best Breweries Columbia River Gorge: All 12 Columbia River Gorge & Hood River Breweries (Ranked)
- Best Breweries Oregon Coast: All 15 Breweries at the Oregon Coast (Ranked)
And there you have it my friends, a quick roundup of the best breweries in Oregon. I hope you enjoyed the post, don’t hesitate to let me know if I missed anything!
Cheers!
Antonina
How can you leave out Sun River Brewing in Sun River, OR.?
2 or 3 years ago they were voted the “Best Small Brewery in America”
This year they were voted “The Best Brewery in Oregon”.
They have won Gold, Silver and Bronze metals at the World Beer Cup the past 3 years.
Sun River Brewery is a powerhouse Oregon Brewery.