Feeling overwhelmed in Beervana? Dont know where to start? Below are five of the best and great places to start your Portland craft beer journey. Touring all of these facilities on the Trimet (public transportation) is more than possible, but remember to call ahead to make sure there is room.

1:  Widmer Brothers

One of the most widely distributed brewers in Portland, Widmer is a great place to start a beer journey into Beervana. Widmer was started five years after the legalization of home brewing in the Pearl district, and it has grown into the largest distributed brewery in Portland, with production of approximately half a million barrels a year.

The facility itself is a very short walk from the Yellow Max line (easy ride to and from Downtown), and tours are typically on Fridays and Saturdays. A brew tour here leads you through the massive facility, tasting a number of their beers and even taking home a nice sample glass.

2: Bridgeport Brewery

Founded in 1984 by local winemakers and located in the Pearl, the brewery claims to be “Oregon’s Oldest Craft Brewery”. The brewery exports to 18 states around the country, with about 100,000 barrels a year in production. This is one of the must-tour breweries in Portland, and is more well known.

Right in the middle of the Pearl district, this brewery is very easy to get to by Streetcar, Max or bus. Tours are typically on Saturdays in the old charming brewery- an old brick building held together by old growth wood beams and filled with beer. There are a number of samples during the informal and personal tour and after the tour, you can take a leisurely stroll through the Pearl.

3: Cascade Brewing

A slightly newer brewery than the previous two is Cascade Brewing. Founded by industry veteran Art Lawrence and former Bridgeport engineer Ron Gansberg, this east side facility offers mostly sour beers, among others. They drift from tradition, making many of their beers in barrels (hence Barrelhouse) instead of the stainless steel tradition.

The Barrelhouse is a short ride on bus 15 from Downtown. The large outdoor space is perfect for enjoying beer during the beautiful Portland summers. The staff is very friendly and the beer is strong, so this is a great place to stop by!

4: Hair of the Dog

Just a short walk across the Morrison Bridge, you’ll find Hair of the Dog. With many delicious beer selections, barrel-aged whiskey options, and great food, this brewery is a must see. The tour is lead through their garage-like brewery by their very knowledgable brewer.

We suggest you call ahead the day of to make sure that they are doing tours on that day. Also, this brewery is a little harder to find than the rest, so we recommend showing up a little early to make sure you find the right place.

5:  Hopworks

Further into the Southeast you will find Hopworks, a certified organic carbon neutral brewery. For this tour, we recommend getting there early, not because it is hard to find, but because there is a bar in the brewery basement that offers free beer for the tours. The tours here are led by knowledgeable brewers to answer any questions you may have.

This brewery also has a Northeast location. It features a great patio and a stationary bike that sends power back into the bar, not to mention an excellent way to pedal off the beer.

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It doesn’t take living in Portland very long to realize that beer is basically a food group. And what goes better with beer than movies? Forget cold popcorn and overpriced soda. If you want to see movies and actually enjoy them and/or possibly forget the plot, view them at one of the many “Brew ‘n’ View” theaters around Portland.

1-2: McMenamins

McMenamins has been a neighborhood gathering spot throughout Oregon since 1983. They handcraft their own beer, wine, spirits and coffee. While they offer an eclectic mix of pubs, historic hotels, concert venues, spas, and events, they are best known for their brew ‘n’ view options!

- Kennedy School: McMenamins renovated an abandoned elementary school in Northeast Portland to now feature a movie theater, a hotel, and several bars and restaurants. You can walk the halls and view extensive original artwork and historical photographs. The theater is in the former school’s auditorium and features old sofas, armchairs, and tables. The theater can hold up to 300 guests, who can enjoy handcrafted ales, wines, spirits, and pub fare. Entertainment Weekly magazine even named Kennedy School one of the “Top Ten Theaters Doing It Right.”

http://www.mcmenamins.com/1300-kennedy-school-theater

- Mission Theater: Mission Theater began as a Swedish Evangelical Mission. The theater features an ornate balcony which overlooks a pulpit, spacious main floor, and movie screen. It can seat up to 250 guests and offers free WiFi, full bar service, and pub menu. In addition to movies, Mission Theater is a perfect setting for multimedia presentations, concerts, meetings, and other social gatherings.

http://www.mcmenamins.com/210-mission-theater-home

3: The Laurelhurst

The Laurelhurst opened in 1923 and was one of the first art deco theaters of the period. From a single screen to four auditoriums, the Laurelhurst offers modern amenities while still maintaining its classic appeal. In addition to enjoying modern movies and independent, art, and classic films, patrons can sip on microbrews and snack on pizza, wraps, salads, popcorn and candy.

http://www.laurelhursttheater.com

4: Living Room Theaters

Living Room Theaters is seeking to change the cinematic experience. The comfortable environment combines a European style cafe and lounge with a relaxing place to see exclusive new releases and the most popular independent films. According to their website, Living Room Theaters launched in Portland because “Portland has one of the highest per capita film going audiences of any city in the United States.” Their Portland location is the first all-digital and only-digital theater in the country. This creates an advanced and environmentally friendly viewing experience by eliminating the use of harsh chemicals and reducing pollution. This space includes a fireplace, tables, chairs, and sofas to enjoy tapas, salads, paninis, pizza, desserts, wine, a full bar, and of course, acclaimed films.

http://pdx.livingroomtheaters.com

5: Academy Theater

The Academy Theater dates back to 1948. After falling into disrepair in the 1970s, a full renovation was completed in 2006. The theater’s interior is reminiscent of a vintage Technicolor movie (think: The Wizard of Oz). The idea is that when guests enter the lobby, they won’t just feel like they stepped back in time, but instead, that they stepped straight into a colorful 1940s movie. In addition to reclining stadium seating with ample leg room, Academy Theater offers an amazing menu from pizza to hot dogs to sushi to fresh fruit, as well as microbrews, wine, kombucha, coffee, and tea.

http://www.academytheaterpdx.com