Whether you enjoy a crisp pilsner or sipping slow on an imperial IPA, the Emerald City’s wide variety of breweries leave no hop, yeast, malt or wacky natural ingredient combination untested. Here are some local favorites that keep pushing the limits of what it means to be a microbrewery. So grab some friends or your growler and get some beer that might actually be of nutritional value for a change.
Falling Sky
With two locations to choose from (13th Avenue and Oak Alley/ Blair and Monroe), Falling Sky is a great place to grab a beer and sandwich with some friends after work or a quick Sunday lunch when your parents come to town. You can impress your beer-snob dad by ordering a single batch or dry-hopped pale ale followed with some pulled-pork tacos. He doesn’t have to know your mini-fridge is usually filled with PBR or Rainier.
Make sure to try:
-Upside Brown Ale
-Hey Hay ISA (India Session Ale)
Ninkasi
Now, I know what you’re thinking, “Hey man, Ninkasi’s a huge operation. How is that on the list?” You’re right, Ninkasi is a big operation these days, but that hasn’t changed things when it comes to making deliciously innovative new brews. Ninkasi has its usual suspects that you can find just about anywhere in Oregon, but to fully enjoy its craft brew genius you have to to go check out its tap room on 272 Van Buren St. Its porch seating area has heaters and cover for year-round use, making it a great place to gather for birthdays or a first date.
Make sure to try:
-Quantum Pale Ale
-Wunderbier Kolsch
Oakshire
Oakshire is another one of those Eugene breweries that has grown exponentially over the past four years, but that hasn’t changed its adherence to making quality beer. Its tap room on 207 Madison St. is a fun place to grab an Oatmeal Stout or Cascadian Dark Ale with some friends after hitting the Washington-Jefferson skate park. It’s also a good place to start The Whit brewery crawl since street parking isn’t terribly hard to find around it.
Make sure to try:
-Galaxy IPA
-Oktoberfest Lager
Hop Valley
Hop Valley’s tasting room and patio area on 990 W First St. is a great place to meet up with friends or grab food during a lunch break. It has over a dozen of its beers on tap and even more available for sale in bottles and cans. Hop Valley definitely has something on its tap list for everyone with a wide variety of styles, gravities and flavor profiles. Grab a flight and figure out which ones you like best or have everyone in your group get something different for some old-fashion lunch room sharing.
Make sure to try:
-Citrus Mistress IPA
-V.I.P (Vanilla Infused Porter)
Viking Braggot Co.
Viking Braggot Co. is fairly new, but it found its identity and went from zero to 100 real quick. Braggot is technically honey mead, but Viking does it better. All of its beer is made with all natural ingredients and its honey is harvested locally by its brewmaster. Its tap room is a little further than the others at 520 Commercial St, Unit F, but a quick drive out there won’t leave you disappointed. Make sure to bring a couple growlers because you’re going to want more than just a pint. You can also find its brews on tap around Eugene. Find a full list of locations on its website.
Make sure to try:
-Valhalla Belgian Pale Ale
-Reverence Dry Hopped Red Ale
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