Best beer in Portland? (Bend: pubs, food, place)

[zippyland]

I'm fairly new here, but absolutely floored and delighted by the huge variety of local brews. Any thoughts about the best local beer? I love all varieties (IPA, pale, red, wheat, lager, plisner, stout, porter etc), but my husband doesn't so much care for IPA's, pales, or beers that are super bitter. Recommendations for either of us would be most appreciated!

[hamellr]

Originally Posted by zippyland

I'm fairly new here, but absolutely floored and delighted by the huge variety of local brews. Any thoughts about the best local beer? I love all varieties (IPA, pale, red, wheat, lager, plisner, stout, porter etc), but my husband doesn't so much care for IPA's, pales, or beers that are super bitter. Recommendations for either of us would be most appreciated!

Everyone is going to give you different opinions depending on their tastes. Just pick a place and start trying some until you find something you like.

Here's a list to get you started; The (Nearly) Complete Portland Brewpub List - Portland but ignore the "nearly complete part." It's not even close to complete.

[RoatanMan]

I like the Ruby at Mcmenimens.

[PNW-type-gal]

Almost all of the pubs do "tasters" - small glasses in a set of 4 or 5 or 6, all filled with a different beer. You can get a taste of everything and decide what you like best from there. Most of the pubs are only too happy to tell you what malts and hops are in their beer, and you'll find favorites. There is usually a free magazine (can't remember the name, but it's large format and PNW/upper west coast based) available at breweries which will tell you a ton about brewing.

What I like changes with seasons. I like the winter ales probably the best, the hoppy IPA light summery beers the least.

[valkietalkie]

Like previous posters stated, it all depends on your personal preference.

For me personally, I prefer Deschutes Brewery. While it isn't headquartered in Portland (Bend, OR), they have a wide variety to choose from. The Deschutes brewpub in the Pearl seems to always have a new style of beer to try. I feel like Deschutes tends to experiment more so than other larger breweries in the area. Their food menu is trying to be a bit more upscale for a brewpub and tends to be pricier than the other options in town.

Widmer is a classic standby. They have perfected their Hefeweizen to the point that other Oregon breweries don't even try to compete. If you get the chance, check out their brewery tour. They have a really nice set up and the tour guides are quite informative.

I haven't gotten into Bridgeport quite as much as the previous two. I believe they advertise themselves as Oregon's oldest brewery. I went on a brewery tour there earlier this year and they really stressed sustainability in their operation. Very Portlandy!

I have run into several people that swear by Hopworks. I haven't been there myself, but it is next up on my list.

At the end of the day it is all in the eye of the beholder...