When talking about beer in Oregon the first thing that comes to most people’s mind is Portland. Commonly called Beervana for having over 30 breweries, many award winning such as Hopworks, Laurelwood, and Bridgeport to name a few. Undeniably, Portland is at the forefront of beer in Oregon and beyond. However, Portland is not the only beer town in Oregon. Several smaller towns such as Hood River, Bend and Eugene tout impressive breweries, beer bars and bottle shops. In this post I will cover some of my favorite spots to grab a beer in Eugene.

The first place that I like to visit when I am in Eugene is Ninkasi Brewing Company. Ninkasi has been making delicious, super hoppy beers since 2006. The Eugene brewery is not a brewpub but you can stop by for a tasting or to get a keg filled. Try the Tricerahops Double IPA, it is surprisingly smooth for a double-hop IPA, and at 9 percent alcohol it is sure to be a hit.

About a mile away from Ninkasi in downtown Eugene is Steelhead Brewing Company. Steelhead is a great place for lunch and a brew. If I am in the mood for a light refreshing beer I always order their Hairy Weasel Hefeweizen. This English-inspired pub offers a variety of food from pizzas to steaks. If you sit at the bar you can watch the brewers work while you enjoy the fruits of their labor.

Rogue’s Eugene City Brewing offers a variety of beers from hoppy to light like their refreshing Honey Orange Wheat, which is a perfect choice for a summer day. This brewpub has a restaurant, bar, and a private room for rent that has its own bar and a view of the brewery. The pub has a full menu, and offers more than 22 Rogue beers on tap as well as a variety of guest taps.

A trip to Eugene would not be complete without a stop at the Bier Stein. This bottle shop boasts more than 950 beers. The Bier Stein is more than a bottle shop, it is also a pub that rotates 10 beers on tap and offers a variety of appetizers, salads and sandwiches.

Although it is not in the vicinity of downtown Eugene, a stop at Oakshire Brewing located in an industrial area is worth the trip. Oakshire’s expanding list of beers includes Oakshire Amber, Oakshire Wheet, Watershed IPA, and my personal favorite the Overcast Espresso Stout. Like Ninkasi, Oakshire does not have a pub, but their tasting room is open on Saturdays from 12-4pm.