For the premiere issue of Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine™, I gave the skinny on Portland’s beer scene in the article “Old School, New School.” Everyone I reached out to for the article had more information to share about Portland’s craft beer scene than could fit on paper. Here are some of the tips and tidbits that had to be omitted:
"The craft brewing pioneers in Portland are Widmer, McMenamins, and Bridgeport. While Deschutes, Rogue, and Full Sail didn’t start in Portland, they all have brewpubs or ale houses here now, and I’d say that those fall in to that classic category, too. And while it’s newer, I think that Hopworks Urban Brewery is so Portland–organic beer, family friendly pubs, dedication to sustainability and bike culture." — Lila Martin, Travel Portland
"We liked the malt-driven styles best. BridgePort Ale had flavors of caramel, toffee, and toast with very low bitterness levels. Our other beers followed suit, and not until we introduced Blue Heron Pale Ale in 1987 did we place an emphasis on hop-driven beers. Of course, that all changed when we came out with IPA in 1996." — Karl Ockert, original brewmaster at Portland’s original brewpub BridgePort Brewing