Whet Your Whistle in Washington County, Oregon: A Beer-Lover’s Paradise

When it comes to excellence in hand-crafted beverages, the Pacific Northwest trumps any other location in the U.S. From the ubiquitous hand-roasted coffee and organically grown teas, to the premier excellence of Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris wines, Oregon has also made a name for itself in the world of micro-breweries.

Hand-crafted beers are extremely popular in the region, and Washington County is home to several micro-breweries who have perfected the art of brewing beer.

No stop in Oregon is complete without a stop at a McMenamins, the Oregon-based company that is known for its brew – not to mention their quirky hotels, tasty food and excellent entertainment options. 

McMenamins currently has 24 breweries, which collectively produce more than 200 new and unusual recipes.  Since fall 2006, McMenamins brews all of its handcrafted ales with 100-percent, eco-friendly wind power, and the company is committed to making every effort possible to keep their brewing process earth-friendly and resource-efficient.

McMenamins Cornelius Pass Roadhouse, located in Hillsboro, produces more than 424,000 pines of beer per year.  Established in 1986, the brewery produces one of its most popular ales, “Old Samhain,” which was created in 1987 using the fruit of the grapevines growing wild on the property. In addition to Imbrie Hall, a brew-pub which serves some of McMenamins signature menu items, as well as a great selection of McMenamins’ beers on tap, the site is home to the annual Roadhouse Brewfest, held in July, and features beer from all of their breweries in Oregon and Washington.

Another McMenamins brewery is John Barleycorn's Pub & Brewery, which was established in Tigard, Oregon, in 1996. This brewery produces about 211,000 pints of award-winning beer.

McMenamins’ Oak Hills Brewery , located in the foothills of Beaverton, was established in 1990, and has become known as a “test kitchen” and training ground for brewers. Some of the company’s most memorable beers have been created at Oak Hills, such as the tasty “Rhino Stout” to the experimental - and not-so-successful - garlic-infused “Afterburner.”

Although McMenamins is one of the best known name in Oregon breweries, there are many others that have a loyal following.

Locals flock to the Raccoon Lodge and Brew Pub , located in Raleigh Hills, Oregon, which opened in 1998. Owned by Art Larrance, who co-founded the Portland Brewing Company in 1985, this brewery produces its ales using a 10-barrel system. The Lodge holds events throughout the year, and also has a full-menu of brew pub fare. 

Tigard, Oregon, is home to Max’s Fanno Creek Brew Pub, a family restaurant and brewery offering free Wi-Fi to its customers. This brewery specializes in a number of ales, including a traditional German lager, “Oktoberfest.” The menu includes pub favorites, including Max’s signature clam chowder.

The Old Market Pub & Brewery, located in Portland, recently underwent renovations, and has a new interior to create a fine atmosphere to taste the brewery’s excellent selection of ales. The brew pub offers traditional fare, including their signature fish and chips.

While not specifically a beer, but brewed using many of the same techniques, the honorable Japanese beverage of choice, saké, incorporates the use of yeast, just as beers do. A tour of SakéOne’s facility is reminiscent of touring a micro-brewery. And the end result is just as tasty – a tasting of some of the finest premium and flavor-infused saké this side of the Pacific Ocean.

While in Washington County, visit a brewery or two to find out first hand why Oregon is the micro-brew capital of the U.S.