Sure, you could pick up a four-pack and sample some local favorites at home while watching Netflix, but true beer fans know that hitting the breweries in person is a must. It means access to beers you’ll never find on grocery store shelves, whether that’s a sour beer or nitro, a fresh-hop IPA (the all-too-brief season starts and ends in autumn), a small-batch one-off, or a special vintage bottle.
Portland has long been at the forefront of brewing trends, and there’s plenty of interesting stuff happening beyond the expected wide range of IPAs offered at most breweries. Read on to find out what breweries should be at the top of your Portland agenda.
I get steamed Maryland blue crabs—they’re local to this region and always served Maryland-style with an Old Bay–style spice blend—and whatever local beer is on offer. They have other things, too…but they’re not why I go there. My DC-native spouse took me to this place before there was really an established food scene in the city, and it’s remained an essential DC spot for this Baltimore girl.
