slides: 9 Of Portland’s Top Brewers
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Tuesday, January 06, 2015
Jesse Cornett, GoLocalPDX Contributor
Photo Credit: The Commons Brewery
Portland is
Beervana. Last year marked the 30th anniversary of the revolution that led to Oregon earning that name (and by most accounts 20 years since the term was coined).
See Slides Below: 9 Of Portland's Top Brewers
Portland boasts the highest number of breweries of any city in the world. With that, it should go without saying that Portland boasts a roster of top notch brewers. In a city where Brewers are more recognizable - and certainly better liked - than politicians, there are a few who rise above the rest. Each for different reasons.
Here is a list of Portland’s top brewers. You be the judge.
Jesse is an East Portland resident, political junkie, snowboard fanatic, and former pub owner.
Related Slideshow: 9 Of Portland’s Top Brewers
Here's a look at 9 of Portland's top brewerers and their best creations.
All photos are courtesy of the breweries.
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Jason McAdam, Burnside Brewing Company
Jason McAdam from Burnside Brewing Company is a quiet craftsman. His lineage includes being at the helm of Roots Brewing. A fan once said of him "if he could get away with putting a cat in a batch of beer, he'd want to try." Even without that, his beer is the cat’s meow. From a big bold IPA as Burnside's mainstay, to a smoked wheat Gratzer, and a more than few things in between, McAdam, should be toward the top of any list of Oregon Brewers.
Recommended: Oatmeal Pale Ale
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Doug Rehberg, Widmer Brothers Brewing
It is said Budweiser may have the best brewers in the world. You'll never hear their names. Unlike in the craft brew world, macro brewers aren't considered rock stars. Doug Rehberg at Widmer Brothers Brewing is somewhat of a crossover. He brews beer for Widmer, who brew just shy of a million kegs of beer annually. Over the past decade when Oregon Brewers entered the recent "creative" era, Doug has ensured these big boys didn't rest on their laurels. If you want to really know what I mean, go visit the brewery, where they have nearly 30 beers on tap on any given day.
Recommended: Ginger Brrrrbon
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Mike Wright, The Commons Brewery
There is nothing common about Mike Wright, the owner and brewmaster of The Commons Brewery. He started his business in his garage less than five years ago and is already preparing for his second major expansion. That is great news.
Commons zigs when most of Portlands breweries zag. Farmhouse style ales are a gateway drug to the Belgian beer revival that seems to be occurring. Maybe not always as sour as your typical Belgian but decidedly different than your average Portland brew.
Recommended: Flemish Kiss
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Alan Taylor, Pints Brewing
Pints Brewing at times seems more busy during their morning coffee hour than happy hour, which is a shame. Head Brewer Alan Taylor learned the craft while in Germany and his hiring brought new life to the fledgling Pints - literally. Pints recently opened an out of state off shoot and are in the works to open a second Portland location (each under a different brand name). Pints as a name may not ever become a household name. Taylor’s beer just might.
Recommended: Seismic IPA
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Ben Love and and Van Havig
Ben Love was at Hopworks when Van Havig got foolishly ousted from a chain brewpub. Together they opened Gigantic. Soon the rest of the city learned what beer insiders had long known: Van is the real deal. Ben, no slouch himself serves as an equally talented brewer.
Recommended: Pipewrench Gin Barrel IPA
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John Harris, Ecliptic Brewing
John Harris at Ecliptic Brewing has the longest credits of any Portland brewer. Put shortly, he is legendary. In a beer world where the brewer can be a rock star, Harris stands out for not standing out. Instead of shaking hands and retail politics with those who've enjoyed his products for decades, Harris remains behind the kettle further perfecting the craft at a level other brewers should aspire to. Haven't heard of John Harris? You may recognize some of the names of beers he's credited with creating: Mirror Pond Pale Ale, Black Butte Porter and Jubelale for Deschutes Brewery. He went on to spend 20 years at the helm of Full Sail before setting out on his own in 2013.
Recommended: Phobos Extra Red Ale
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Ben Edmunds, Breakside Brewery
If you gain an audience with Ben Edmunds, a former teacher, of Breakside Brewery, you'll walk away knowing that he blended that career with his current one and will have learned a few new things about beer. You'll also gain an appreciation for the creative mind that grew Breakside from a nano-brewery on Dekum to a large production facility in Milwaukie in just a few years. The array of beers that Edmunds produces is impressive. Be careful though, my recommended brew is a might bit spicy.
Recommended: Aztec Amber Ale
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Christian Ettinger, Hopworks Urban Brewery
Christian Ettinger left Laurelwood Brewery to open up his first brewpub, Hopworks Urban Brewery (HUB). Apparently he lived by the motto "go big or go home,” and therefore didn’t face the challenge of other brewers on this list spending their early years building out new space while trying to brew and serve. In what surely was considered a risky location, HUB saw gold in their SE Powell location. They were right. Having a good product surely helps.
Recommended: Organic Abominable Winter Ale
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Alex Ganum, Upright Brewing
Alex Ganum at Upright Brewing is another chain brewery expatriate and opened shop in the basement of the Left Bank Annex in 2009. Upright Brewing “specializes in farmhouse inspired beers rooted in France and Belgium but made with a Pacific Northwest twist, while also dabbling in both classic and quirky projects from around the world.” Their limited taproom hours includes before each home Blazers game.
Recommended: Engelberg Pilsener
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