It’s terribly easy to write about Portland’s breweries and beer culture. Another easy sell on my part is Bend. Rounding out the top 3 is Hood River and the breweries along the Columbia River Gorge. 1) There’s a great handful of them. 2) Their beers are truly world class. 3) It’s insanely beautiful. 4) It’s an easy drive from Portland and whenever we get devoted beercationers at Inn Beervana, we always recommend the day trip.
Illustration by Brandon Loscar
As Ben Dobler, a brewer at Widmer Bros, elucidated: “Some (collaboration beers) play on the strengths of one partner, some play on the strength of both partners, sometimes we take a big leap of faith and try something completely out of our wheelhouses.”
Working on “Oregon Breweries,” themes and patterns started emerging in the way I think about all the wonderful breweries in my home state. Hood River‘s simply an awesome place. All the more so because of handful of amazing breweries in such a small town. And for that, we all have Full Sail to thank!
DRAFT (vol. 7.4, 2012) turned the spotlight on breweries far away from any big city’s bright lights. The intro in this story on true farmhouse breweries to Logsdon Farmhouse Ales was a great excuse to finally pay this pioneering brewer’s new venture in Hood River a visit.
Brian Yaeger: Beer Writer 