Portland's Best Local Beer: Where To Buy

Portland is a haven for beer lovers, with 70+ breweries and a thriving craft beer scene. The city offers a wide range of local beers, from innovative experiments to traditional European-style ales. Whether you're looking for a cosy taproom, a bustling beer hall, or a specialised bottle shop, Portland has something for everyone. The city's beer culture extends beyond its breweries to tours, tastings, and festivals, making it the perfect destination for those seeking a unique and diverse beer experience.

Local breweries

Portland is a craft beer lover's paradise, with over 70 breweries to choose from. The city's beer buzz began in 1984 when BridgePort Brewing Company (now closed) and Widmer Brothers opened facilities in the Pearl District, soon followed by McMenamins, which opened Oregon's first brewpub. Today, McMenamins has more than 50 locations in the Northwest, and Portland's breweries are distributed across the city.

Breakside Brewing

An award-winning brewery known for innovative experiments like smoky ambers and basil-spiked blondes. Their flagship IPA won a gold medal at the 2014 Great American Beer Festival.

Deschutes Brewery

A popular spot with Northwest roots, offering legendary dark beers like the Black Butte Porter and The Abyss.

Zoiglhaus and Kells Brewery

These breweries showcase deep European influences.

Great Notion

Regularly offers unique combinations and experiments, such as their hazy IPA brewed with a blend of robust hops and sweet fruit.

Upright Brewing

A North Portland gem, Upright Brewing is known for its refreshing lager balanced with rare German Tettnang hops.

Lucky Labrador Beer Hall

A dog-friendly spot with bites and brews, including their popular dark beer that's sweet, creamy, and satisfying.

Ground Breaker Brewing

Local brewer Lee Hedgmon crafts delectable gluten-free beers at this brewery.

Wolves & People Farmhouse Brewery

Located on a historic family farm in Newberg, Oregon, Wolves & People craft unique old-world-style beers, including saisons, wild yeast ales, funky sours, and classic lagers. Their straw-hued saison is a must-try.

Occidental Brewing

A St. Johns brewery offering continental-style brews, including a hefeweizen that will transport you to summer in Bavaria with notes of banana, clove, and citrus peel.

StormBreaker Brewing

With two locations, including one in the heart of St. Johns, StormBreaker is a favourite among locals. They offer a range of beers, including a crisp lager with a subtle sweetness and their popular St. Johns Winter Beer Fest.

In addition to these breweries, Portland also has numerous bottle shops and beer bars, such as Belmont Station, The BeerMongers, Bridgetown Beerhouse, and Imperial Bottle Shop and Taproom, where you can explore a wide variety of local and craft beers.

Beer shops

Portland is a craft beer lover's paradise, with over 70 breweries and a vibrant beer culture. The city has a wide range of beer shops, from large bottle shops with thousands of options to small, specialised stores. Here are some of the best beer shops in Portland:

Belmont Station

Belmont Station has been Portland's premier beer destination for over 25 years. The Bottle Shop features 1,400+ beers that have been thoughtfully selected, meticulously rotated, and properly stored under UV-filtered light. The adjoining Biercafé offers 34 rotating taps of world-class beer, cider, wine, and other treats. Belmont Station also has a food truck, Monster Smashburgers, serving up delicious burgers and fries.

The BeerMongers

The BeerMongers bottle shop and taphouse offer a good selection of over 600 different bottles, with a focus on West Coast beers. They have 10 rotating beers on tap, ranging in price from $2-5 a glass. The owners emphasise low prices, and customers can fill their growlers to go and special order almost any keg. The BeerMongers also show Portland Timbers, Trailblazers, and Oregon Duck games.

Bridgetown Beerhouse

Bridgetown Beerhouse is a Mississippi Avenue bottle shop run by owner Mike White. The store has a no-frills vibe, with minimal decor and no seating. It offers about 500 bottles of craft beers, mostly American six-packs, and a notable stock of canned craft beers. Mike is friendly and knowledgeable about beer and is accustomed to making recommendations for non-beer geeks.

Imperial Bottle Shop and Taproom

Imperial Bottle Shop and Taproom was named one of America's 100 Best Beer Bars by DRAFT Magazine in 2014 and 2015. They offer over 20 local beers on tap and over 400 American Craft beers at reasonable prices. Bottles are shelved by style, making it easy to find new labels. Imperial does not serve food, but customers can bring in takeout from nearby restaurants.

John's Marketplace

John's Marketplace is a large, non-local, non-organic grocery store in Multnomah Village that carries over 5,000 import and craft beers, hundreds of ciders and meads, and over 2,000 wines. The store recently underwent a renovation, adding a deli with eight beers on tap and burgers for carnivores and vegetarians. The staff are knowledgeable and excited to talk about beer. John's Marketplace also has a beer garden and offers wine and beer tastings.

The Portland Bottle Shop Specialty Wine & Beer

The Portland Bottle Shop in Sellwood focuses on small production companies from around the world. They carry more than 400 wines and 300 beers, as well as ciders, and have eight rotating taps. They offer random evening beer tastings and weekly wine tastings at a small cost. The Portland Bottle Shop has recently expanded its food menu to include more choices to accompany your brew.

Beer bars and bottle shops

Portland has a lot to offer when it comes to beer bars and bottle shops. Here are some spots to check out:

Loyal Legion

Loyal Legion offers a massive selection of Oregon beers with 99 beers on tap. They also offer food options such as falafel bowls and freshly baked pretzels with cheese dipping sauce.

Belmont Station

Belmont Station is a premier beer destination in Portland, featuring a bottle shop with over 1,400 beers that have been carefully selected and stored under UV-filtered light. Their adjoining Biercafé has 34 rotating taps, and there is also an onsite food truck serving burgers and fries.

The BeerMongers

The BeerMongers bottle shop and taphouse offer 10 rotating beers on tap, with a focus on west coast beers. They have a selection of over 600 different bottles, arranged by style to help customers discover new brews. They also have tables, a couch, and beer reference books for a comfortable browsing experience.

Bridgetown Beerhouse

Bridgetown Beerhouse is a Mississippi Avenue bottle shop with a selection of about 500 craft beer bottles, mostly American six-packs, and some German and Belgian options. The store has a no-frills vibe, with minimal decor and no seating, but the owner, Mike White, is friendly and knowledgeable about beer.

Imperial Bottle Shop and Taproom

Imperial Bottle Shop and Taproom was named one of America's best beer bars by DRAFT Magazine in 2014 and 2015. They offer over 20 local beers on tap and over 400 American craft beers at reasonable prices. Bottles are shelved by style, making it easy to discover new beers.

John's Marketplace

John's Marketplace is a serious beer destination, carrying over 5,000 import and craft beers, ten taps, hundreds of ciders and mead, and over 2,000 wines. They also have a deli area with eight beers on tap and food options for carnivores and vegetarians.

McMenamins 23rd Ave Bottle Shop

The McMenamins 23rd Ave Bottle Shop offers over 800 beers, wines, ciders, and spirits. Bottles can be enjoyed at their indoor or outdoor tables, and they also have 20 beers and ciders on tap, as well as growler fills.

The Portland Bottle Shop Specialty Wine & Beer

The Portland Bottle Shop in Sellwood focuses on small production companies, offering over 400 wines and 300 beers, as well as ciders and eight rotating taps. They have expanded their food menu to include various options to accompany your brew. They also offer beer and wine tastings on select evenings at no charge.

Saraveza bottle shop

Saraveza is a North Portland bottle shop and bar, featuring vintage coolers and an extensive list of bottles. The bar is decorated with Midwest kitsch, including bottle cap tables and vintage PBR signs. They offer a range of beers from Oregon, California, and Belgium, as well as some Wisconsin options. They also serve savory pies and tavern fare.

Beer festivals

Portland is a craft beer lover's paradise, with 80+ breweries and a bountiful beer culture that includes tours, tastings, and festivals. The city's beer scene is celebrated year-round, with events like February's Oregon Craft Beer Month, June's 10-day Portland Beer Week, and December's Holiday Brew Fest.

One of the most popular beer festivals in Portland is the Portland Craft Beer Festival, which takes place annually on the first full weekend in July, kicking off Oregon Craft Beer Month. The festival features a wide selection of local beers, ciders, and wine-based cocktails, all crafted within the city limits of Portland, making it unique among other beer festivals. The festival is held at Elizabeth Caruthers Park, where attendees can enjoy a large outdoor party while sampling beverages from various breweries.

Another notable festival is the Oregon Brewers Festival, which showcases some of the region's best craft beverages. This festival often joins forces with the Portland Rose Festival, and admission is included with CityFair tickets. Attendees can purchase a mug, which comes with a 12-ounce pour from the wide variety of beers and ciders available, many of which make their debut at the festival.

Throughout the year, Portland also hosts a variety of other beer-centric events, such as the St. Johns Winter Beer Fest, NoPo Winter Beer Fest, and Goose Hollow Coffee Beer Fest. These festivals provide opportunities to sample local beers, ciders, and cocktails, often with live music, food, and other attractions.

In addition to these festivals, Portland offers a range of bottle shops and beer bars, such as Belmont Station, The BeerMongers, Bridgetown Beerhouse, and Imperial Bottle Shop and Taproom, where beer enthusiasts can explore and purchase a diverse selection of local and international beers.

Beer gardens

Portland is a craft beer lover's paradise, with over 70 breweries to choose from. The city offers a range of beer gardens, each with its own unique atmosphere and selection of beers. Here are some of the best beer gardens to check out:

John's Marketplace

This sprawling, chilly beer garden in the Multnomah Village neighbourhood carries over 5,000 import and craft beers, as well as a wide selection of ciders, meads and wines. With ten taps out front and eight beers on tap in the newly renovated deli area, there's something for everyone at John's Marketplace. The staff are excited to talk about beer and are always happy to make recommendations.

Belmont Station

Belmont Station has been Portland's premier beer destination for over 25 years. The bottle shop features 1,400+ beers that have been thoughtfully selected and properly stored under UV-filtered light. The adjoining Biercafé offers 34 rotating taps of world-class beer, cider, wine and other treats, and there's also a food truck serving up delicious burgers and fries.

The BeerMongers

The BeerMongers bottle shop and taphouse offer 10 rotating beers on tap, with a focus on West Coast beers. They have a huge bottle selection of over 600 different beers, arranged by style to help customers discover new brews. The owners emphasise low prices, and there are tables, stools and a couch for customers to relax and browse beer reference books.

Bridgetown Beerhouse

This Mississippi Avenue bottle shop is a one-man show, with owner Mike White offering a carefully curated selection of about 500 bottles of craft beer, mostly American six-packs and 22-ouncers, with some German and Belgian options. The store has a no-frills vibe, with minimal decor and no seating, but White is friendly and knowledgeable, making it a great spot for non-beer geeks to get recommendations.

Imperial Bottle Shop and Taproom

Selected as one of America's 100 Best Beer Bars by DRAFT Magazine, Imperial offers over 20 local beers on tap and more than 400 American craft beers at reasonable prices. Bottles are shelved by style, making it easy to find new labels. While there is no food available, customers can bring in takeout from nearby restaurants.

With so many fantastic options, Portland's beer gardens provide the perfect setting to sip and savour a diverse range of local and international craft beers.

Frequently asked questions