Brewing in Oregon
| Industry | Brewing |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1852 |
| Headquarters | Oregon , United States |
| Products | Beer |
The U.S. state of Oregon is home to more than 200 breweries and brew pubs, offering a diverse selection of beer.
History
Oregon's first commercial brewery is frequently attributed to Swiss immigrant Henry Saxer and his Liberty Brewery, established around 1852, although the earliest documented evidence is an 1854 advertisement for Charles Barrett's Portland Brewery.[1]
- 1862 – Henry Weinhard took over Liberty Brewery, expanded its operations, and it was later renamed City Brewery.[2]
- 1914 – Prior to national prohibition, Oregon voters passed a statewide prohibition on the production, sale, and advertisement of intoxicating liquors.[3]
- 1933 – The state ratified the 21st Amendment, officially ending prohibition.[4]
- 1985 – Brewpubs became legal in Oregon following legislative approval.[5]
According to a 2014 report from the Beer Institute, Oregon ranked fourth nationwide with 208 breweries, trailing California (509), Washington (251), and Colorado (217).[6] By mid-2015, the number of brewing establishments had increased to 234 across 194 companies.[7] The state also boasts a substantial number of nanobreweries and has gained recognition both nationally and internationally.
Oregon’s hop cultivation dates back to 1867 when William Wells planted the first hop crop in Buena Vista. Known as the "Hop Center of the World," hop production was historically concentrated near Independence in Polk County. Despite setbacks from mildew and mechanization, Oregon continues as the second-largest hop producer in the United States.[8]
Since 1893, Oregon State University has played a pivotal role in hop research. Dr. Alfred Haunold made significant contributions to modern hop varieties. Additionally, the Fermentation Science Program (started in 1995) and the Oregon Hops and Brewing Archives (established in 2013) have advanced brewing-related innovation.[8]
Established in 1992, the Oregon Brewers Guild serves as a promotional organization for the state’s breweries and stands as the second-oldest nonprofit brewers trade association in the country.[9]
Breweries
Oregon features a wide spectrum of breweries ranging from large-scale operations with regional or national distribution to numerous medium and small-sized producers. Many supply kegs for draft service at bars and restaurants while also producing bottled or canned beverages. Some breweries maintain taprooms for on-site consumption, whereas others operate brewpubs combining full-service dining with onsite brewing.
- 10 Barrel Brewing Company – founded in 2006; offers bottles, cans, and brewpubs located in Bend, Portland, Boise, Denver, and San Diego; acquired by Anheuser-Busch in 2014.
- Alesong Brewing & Blending – based in Lorane; produces bottled beer and operates a tasting room; established in 2015.
- Ancestry Brewing – operates a brewery and taproom in Tualatin with a restaurant in Portland; opened in 2016.
- Barley Brown's Beer – located in Baker City; functions as both a brewpub and production brewery with a taproom; founded in 1998.
- Block 15 Brewing Company – based in Corvallis; produces bottled beer; has operated as a brewpub since 2008 and expanded to include a production brewery and taproom since 2015.
- Boneyard Beer – situated in Bend; features a tasting room; opened in 2010.
- Breakside Brewery – bottles beer; runs brewpubs in Northeast and Northwest Portland; brewery and taproom located in Milwaukie; established in 2010.
- Buoy Beer Company – Astoria-based; produces bottles and operates a brewpub; opened in 2014.
- Captured by Porches Brewing – located in Saint Helens.
- Cascade Lakes Brewing Company – bottles beer; operates brewpubs in Redmond and Bend; founded in 1994.
- Claim 52 Brewing – Eugene-based; offers canned beer, taproom services, and operates a brewpub; started operations in 2012.
- Coldfire Brewing – Eugene location producing bottles and cans alongside a brewpub; opened in 2016.
- De Garde Brewing – Tillamook-based with bottled products and taproom; established in 2013.
- Deschutes Brewery – with locations in Bend and Portland; produces bottled beer and operates brewpubs; founded in 1988.
- Double Mountain Brewery – offers bottled beer; maintains taprooms in Hood River and Portland; founded in 2007.
- Falling Sky Brewing – Eugene-based brewery with an attached taproom; opened in 2012.
- Fort George Brewery – Astoria-based producing canned beer alongside a brewpub; opened in 2007.
- Full Sail Brewing Company – Hood River location offering bottled beer and operating a brewpub; established in 1987.
- Gigantic Brewing Company – based out of Portland offering bottled beer and brewpub services; opened in 2012.
- Gilgamesh Brewing – Salem-based brewery producing bottled beer with an associated brewpub; opened in 2009.
- Gorges Beer Company – headquartered at Cascade Locks with Portland-area brewpubs; launched operations in 2019.
- Great Notion Brewing – Portland-based brewpub that began operations in 2016.
- Heater Allen Brewing – McMinnville-focused on lager styles since its founding in 2007.
- Hop Valley Brewing Company – established in Eugene during 2009.
- Hopworks Urban Brewery – operating out of Portland since 2007 with pubs on SE Powell Boulevard (since 2008) and Vancouver (since 2017).
- Laurelwood Pub and Brewery – based in Portland since its inception in 2001.
- Little Beast Brewing – facilities located both in Clackamas (brewery) and Portland (beer garden); producing bottled beer and operating brewpubs since 2017.
- McMenamins – regional chain of brewpubs throughout Oregon and Washington dating back to 1983.
- Ninkasi Brewing Company – Eugene-based brewery offering bottled beer alongside a taproom since its founding year of 2006.
- Oakshire Brewing – Eugene-based producer of bottled and canned beers since starting operations in 2006.
- Old Town Brewing – Portland-based pizzeria-style brewpub with bottled offerings since opening its restaurant operations back in 1974 (brewery started later).
- Ordnance Brewing – Wilsonville-based producer of canned beer with an attached taproom since opening in 2014.
- Pelican Brewing Company – produces bottles with brewpub locations at Pacific City and Cannon Beach plus a taproom at Tillamook; founded during1996.
- pFriem Family Brewers – Hood River-based brewery producing bottles along with operating a brewpub since starting up in 2012.
- Plank Town Brewing – Springfield-based operation providing bottled beer alongside a brewpub since its establishment in 2013.
- The Prodigal Son Brewery and Pub – Pendleton-based brewpub serving customers since opening doors in 2010.
- Rogue Ales – Newport-originated brewery producing bottles, cans, along with multi-state brewpub locations since launching operations during1988.
- Stickmen Brewing Company – Lake Oswego-based producer offering bottles/cans plus brewpubs located both at Lake Oswego and Tualatin since beginning business activities around2013.
- Upright Brewing – based out of Portland providing bottled beer alongside an onsite taproom since starting up during2009.
- Viking Braggot Company – Eugene-based brewery specializing exclusively on braggot styles with bottles sold through taprooms since beginning operations around2013.
- Wayfinder Beer – Portland-based brewpub opened its doors during2016.
- Widmer Brothers Brewery – founding member of Craft Brew Alliance based out of Portland since1984.
- Wolves & People Farmhouse Brewery – Newberg location producing bottles alongside an operational taproom since opening during2016.
- Worthy Brewing – Bend-originated brewery offering canned products along with running a brewpub since starting up during2013.
Noteworthy Defunct Breweries
- BridgePort Brewing Company – Based in Portland; operated as both a bottle producer and brewpub; established in 1984; purchased by Gambrinus Company in 1995
- Burnside Brewing Company
- Hair of the Dog Brewing Company – Portland location; bottles and brewpub services; founded in 1993
- Henry Weinhard's, originally from Portland, now under the ownership and production of SABMiller; certain beers are contract brewed by Full Sail Brewing Company. The former Weinhard Brewery Complex has been transformed into a mixed-use development.
- Portland Brewing Company – Situated in Portland; offered bottled beers and operated a brewpub; founded in 1986; acquired by Pyramid Breweries in 2004, then taken over by Florida Ice and Farm Company in 2012; ceased operations in 2021.
Festivals
The Oregon Brewers Festival stands as the largest event featuring independent craft brewers across the United States.
The Gold Beach Brew & Art Festival, scheduled on the Saturday following Labor Day, holds the distinction of being the oldest beer festival in southern Oregon and along the Oregon Coast.
Throughout the year, Oregon hosts multiple other beer festivals, each catering to distinct market segments.
Homebrewing
F.H. Steinbart, located on SE 12th Avenue in Portland, Oregon, is recognized as the oldest homebrew supply store nationwide and significantly contributed to the growth of craft brewing in the Pacific Northwest. In 1978, President Jimmy Carter federally legalized homebrewing through HR 1337. Numerous commercial breweries, such as Widmer Brothers and McMenamins, originated as patrons of FH Steinbart.
John DeBenedetti, owner of FH Steinbart, was instrumental in founding the Oregon Brew Crew in 1980, which remains Oregon’s largest homebrew club and convenes monthly at FH Steinbart’s warehouse facility.
Brewery Honors
(Discontinued after 2018)
| Year | Title | Brewery | Head Brewer | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Champion Brewery (Very Small) | Arch Rock Brewing Co. | James Smith | Gold Beach |
| 2014 | Champion Brewery (Small) | Pelican Brewery | Darron Welch, Steve Panos | Pacific City |
| 2012 | Champion Brewpub (Large) | Pelican Pub & Brewery | Darron R S Welch | Pacific City |
| 2008 | Champion Brewpub (Small) | Bend Brewing Company | Tonya Cornett | Bend |
| 2004 | Champion Brewpub (Small) | Laurelwood Pub & Brewery | Christian Ettinger | Portland |
Individual Awards
... [Additional entries maintained in full article] ...| Year | Medal | Beer Name | Brewery | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Bronze | Disorder | Barley Brown's Brew Pub | American-Style Stout |
| 2018 | Silver | Breakside Wanderlust IPA | Breakside Brewery & Taproom | American-Style Strong Pale Ale |
| 2018 | Bronze | BayWatch | Elk Horn Brewery | American-Style Wheat Beer with Yeast |
| 2018 | Gold | Breakside Lunch Break ISA | Breakside Brewery & Taproom | Australian-Style Pale Ale or International-Style Pale Ale |
| 2018 | Silver | Doggerland | Oakshire Brewing | Baltic-Style Porter |
| 2018 | Gold | Nectarine Golden Ale | pFriem Family Brewers | Belgian-Style Fruit Beer |
| 2018 | Gold | Baywindow | 10 Barrel Brewing Co. – Bend | Berliner-Style Weisse |
| 2018 | Bronze | Fantastic Voyage | Gigantic Brewing Co. | Brett Beer |
| 'FivePine Chocolate Porter' | 'Three Creeks Production' | 'Brown Porter' | 'Silver' | '2018' |
| 'Silver' | 'BridgePort Porter' | 'BridgePort Brewing Co.' | 'Robust Porter' | '1996' |
See also
- Alcoholic beverages in Oregon
- Beer in the United States
- Drug policy of Oregon
- List of breweries in the United States
- List of companies based in Oregon
- List of microbreweries
- Lists of Oregon-related topics
- Oregon wine
External links
- Metro US feature on breweries in Portland
- Historical brewery labels from the pre-prohibition era, provided by the Oregon State Archives
- Oregon Brewers Guild official website
- Documentary on Oregon's brewing history hosted by Oregon Public Broadcasting
- Oregon Hops and Brewing Archives curated by Oregon State University
- Overview of the brewing sector in Oregon from the Oregon Encyclopedia