Lewis and Clark explored it by 19th-century canoe, and Sam Hill created the Historic Columbia River Highway for curious 20th-century day-trippers. These days, the Columbia River Gorge is a hot destination for hoppy adventure. With a large collection of breweries on the Oregon side, the Gorge offers plenty of tastes for brew fans. (Designated drivers and responsible consumption are the keys to safe fun!)
Sandy
Boring Brewing Co. is a bit of a misnomer — the nanobrewery is neither short on excitement nor located in the town of Boring. The small-batch craft brewery in Sandy prides itself on always experimenting with recipes, which results in unique tap-list offerings such as a rosemary-oatmeal stout and a honey-ginger rye.
Troutdale
Just 17 miles west of Portland, Troutdale is the gateway to the Columbia River Gorge and the western threshold of the Gorge beer trail. Stop in at McMenamins Edgefield Brewery, the company’s largest brewery, which opened in 1991 in the cannery building of the former county poor farm. Stay overnight in one of Edgefield’s 100 European-style guest rooms and enjoy the entire 74-acre campus, complete with restaurants, a movie theater, a par-3 golf course and an outdoor concert venue.
Cascade Locks
Thunder Island Brewing in Cascade Locks welcomes visitors to its beautiful space along banks of the Columbia River. At their expanded location on the city’s main street, there’s plenty of room for indoor dining as well as patio space with cool views of the Columbia River and the Bridge of the Gods. It’s especially easy to visit this brewery since it is one of the Cascade Locks stops on the Columbia Gorge Express. Running seven days a week — with a trolley operating on the weekends — the route travels between Portland and Hood River with other stops at Multnomah Falls and Troutdale.
With ambitious dreams of changing the way Cascade Locks drinks beer, Gorges Beer Co. may do just that. The new brewpub, which opened during the summer of 2021, is also designed as a hotel, event space, dog park and place to drink beer with 360-degree views. The brewery’s journey to the Gorge started in Southeast Portland, where it first set up a tasting room in 2020.
Parkdale
Parkdale’s Solera Brewery has what is arguably the best view of Mt. Hood. The in-your-face mountain vista from the backyard picnic tables is more than enough reason to park yourself in the sunshine in this little town south of Hood River. Come winter, get your sips in the cozy tasting room, where you’ll get first dibs on the latest small-batch beer before they’re even bottled.
The Dalles
Take a look at Freebridge Brewing, housed in the historic U.S. Mint building in The Dalles’ downtown area. You’ll stick around for a while thanks to the full lineup of original, bold brews. Even better, you’ll be steps away from one of the latest additions to the Oregon Mural Trail.
Estacada
In the sweet mountain enclave of Estacada, craft-beer lovers must stop at Time Travelers Brewing and Bent Shovel Brewing, both known for their great ambiance, food, events and of course beer. Find home-smoked brisket on the menu weekends at Bent Shovel, and the barbecue-forward Time Travelers (opened in 2023) offers some vegan food and beer options with a focus on sustainability.
Tip: Check out the Mt. Hood Territory Tap Trail, which offers a free mobile passport that features more than a dozen breweries, cideries and distilleries.
Hood River
Sip a beer in a taproom that feels like a living room away from home at Working Hands Fermentation, which crafts unique and complex beers and ciders. Stop in to try the Big Egos India pale ale, Origin Story pilsner and Hello Friday kolsch.
Down on the Hood River waterfront, pFriem Family Brewers brought Belgian-style ales to the fore when it opened its doors in 2012. Just a stone’s throw from a family-friendly park as well as great windsurfing and kiteboarding spots, pFriem is the place to take in the Hood River scene. Down the road from pFriem is Ferment Brewing Company, which uses foraged ingredients to craft beers that tap into the wild terrain of the Columbia River Gorge. Blending farmhouse techniques with cutting-edge science, Ferment’s expansive outdoor seating area is a great spot to grab a pint after a day skiing, biking or hiking on the mountain.
Feel special with a sip of one of Big Horse Brew Pub‘s small-batch brews. (They brew just eight kegs per batch in the building’s cellar!) Big Horse is Hood River’s oldest and smallest brewpub, family owned and operated since 1988. Double Mountain Brewery & Taproom is always hopping in Hood River (and it’s not just the beer!). Belly up to the bar, grab a table inside the lively restaurant or get a chair in the sunshine on the sidewalk. Just around the corner is the Gorge grand brewdaddy, Full Sail Brewing, which opened shop in 1987. Celebrating more than 30 years in business, Full Sail keeps it real with its experimental beer program.
Government Camp
For extra credit, head to the big mountain to unwind at Mt. Hood Brewing Company, the “microbrewery with altitude.” The menu is sourced locally and the beer is brewed with glacial water from Mt. Hood.
