Everyone knows about Ballard and East Portland. Take a stroll through four under-the-radar beer districts where the next beverage is always just a few steps away.
The Pacific Northwest is home to approximately 1,000 independent craft breweries. Most of them have taprooms that attract beer lovers looking to sample the house-made suds. Breweries are scattered hither and yon across the entire region, but in some cases the density of breweries around a single location is surprising. Beer aficionados have adopted the term brewery district to describe a neighborhood that enjoys multiple breweries within close proximity, offering beer trekkers a chance to visit several breweries within walking distance of each other.
Depending on how you draw the lines, Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood is home to at least a dozen breweries. East Portland is home to even more, though they are not so densely concentrated. Those are both well-known brewery districts, but there are some other lesser-known brewery districts in the Pacific Northwest that deserve recognition.
Sunnyland | Bellingham, Washington
Just north of downtown Bellingham, the Sunnyland neighborhood is quickly emerging as one of the region’s premier beer destinations. While there are plenty of other breweries in town, this flat, walkable neighborhood is currently home to seven breweries.
Wander Brewing – Tucked away down a dead-end street, Wander Brewing occupies an old warehouse building with high ceilings, exposed beams and an industrial vibe. If you like to sip your brew in the actual brewery surrounded by oak barrels and stainless-steel tanks, you’ll love this place. Also, there’s plenty of patio seating. (Food trucks frequently; Kids welcome; 1807 Dean Avenue; wanderbrewing.com)
Otherlands Beer – The brewery employs traditional, old-world techniques to produce beers that are both rustic and delicious, like unfiltered lagers and farmhouse ales. You’ll also find a smaller sampling of modern American-style beers like pale ale and IPA. Beyond the beer, something feels very European at this brewery and café, which offers both indoor and outdoor seating. (Food available; Kids welcome; 2121 Humboldt Street; otherlandsbeer.com)
Stemma Brewing – A lovely little brewery that’s about to get bigger, Stemma will soon move into a larger building across the parking lot. The décor and the bright pastel colors are cheerful, reflecting the character of the beers. The current space has lots of patio seating and a smaller indoor area, but we’ll see what the future holds at the new digs. (Food trucks always; Kids welcome; 2039 Moore Street; stemmabrewing.com)
Twin Sisters Brewing – This brewery, restaurant and beer garden has something for everyone: a cozy brewery tasting room, a large restaurant, and an expansive beer garden. If you just want beer, head to the brewery building. If you want table service, food, even cocktails, head to the restaurant building. If you want to let the kids stretch their legs, head to the beer garden and maybe play a game of bocci. (Food available; Kids welcome; 500 Carolina Street; twinsistersbrewing.com)
Others breweries in Sunnyland:
Kulshan Brewing
North Fork Barrel House
El Sueñito Brewing
Yeast Van | Vancouver, British Columbia
The number of breweries in British Columbia skyrocketed in recent years and nowhere is that more evident than in East Vancouver, which has now earned the beery nickname Yeast Van. You’ll find more than a dozen breweries scattered across the neighborhood, in some cases on the same block.
Storm Brewing – Eclectic, funky and rough around the edges, Storm Brewing almost feels dangerous.If Dr. Frankenstein built a brewery and not a monster, this would be it. The beers follow suit: They are weird in all the right ways. It’s not really a taproom, it’s just some space in the brewery where you can stand around with a beer. Truly unique, there’s nothing else quite like it. (No food; No kids; 310 Commercial Drive; stormbrewing.org)
Andina Brewing –You cannot miss the bright yellow building featuring a giant mural of the brewery’s mascot, La Pola. The brewery’s founders hail from Columbia and that heritage influences the beer, food and taproom décor. Unlike many other brewery taprooms, Andina serves cocktails too. It’s a bright, open space with big windows and high ceilings. Some outdoor seating when the weather agrees. (Food available; Kids welcome; 1507 Powell Street; andinabrewing.ca)
Callister Brewing –Vancouver’s self-described “smallest brewery” recently won a big award. At the 2022 Canada Beer Cup, one of Callister’s beers, a wee-heavy Scottish ale, earned a gold medal and was named Best in Show. Inside the cozy taproom you’ll find a dozen rotating taps, including three traditional English-style hand pumped beer engines pouring cask-conditioned ales. (Bring your own food; Kids welcome; 1338 Franklin Street; callisterbrewing.com)
Parallel 49 Brewing –The tap list is massive, with up to 40 different beer options. The food comes from a food truck, which is parked inside the taproom. The patio seating sprawls across the front and around the side of the building. Don’t let the scale of things, including the massive tanks towering over the patio, intimidate you; there’s a cozy, friendly, community vibe at Parallel 49. (Food available; Kids welcome; 1950 Triumph Street; parallel49brewing.com)
Others brewery recommendations in Yeast Van:
Powell Brewing
Luppolo Brewing
Strange Fellows Brewing
Container Brewing
Bomber Brewing
The West End | Spokane, Washington
Like so many other cities, Spokane is trying to revitalize its struggling downtown core. The emergence of a brewery district is a step in the right direction. The West End (the west end of downtown) is now home to six breweries, none of which are more than a couple blocks apart.
Brickwest Brewing – Spokane’s West End Plaza — a downtown, open-air community space — doubles as the brewery’s beer garden. Along with a menu of sandwiches and other munchable stuff, the brewery lends significant focus to crowd-pleasing lagers and lighter ales. Of course, they have IPAs and other styles too. (Food available; Kids welcome; 1318 W 1st Avenue; brickwestbrewingco.com)
Iron Goat Brewing – Along with a menu of standard pub grub, Iron Goat Brewing serves its always-tasty beers in a taproom that is simultaneously cozy and roomy — with brick walls, barrels, large windows, rollup glass doors and a patio out back. It’s a good place to explore beer flavors because Iron Goat brews a wide variety: from IPA to barrel-aged porter, fruited sour to imperial stout. (Food available; Kids welcome; 1302 W 2nd Avenue; irongoatbrewing.com)
Whistle Punk Brewing – The beer is made off-site, but Whistle Punk serves it up in a downtown location that is as comfortable as your favorite T-shirt. The taproom almost feels like a secret as you enter through a nondescript door in the alley just off Monroe Street. It is a very old building, with brick and stone walls, and once upon a time this space may have been a basement, a boiler room or maybe even a speakeasy. You won’t want to leave; the outside world feels a million miles away. (Food delivery available from nearby restaurants; No kids; 122 S Monroe Street; whistlepunkbrewing.com)
Other breweries in the West End:
The Golden Handle Project
River City Brewing
The Old Mill District | Bend, Oregon
While the city of Bend and the surrounding area is home to 30-something breweries, the recently energized Old Mill District south of downtown is now home to three of them. This walkable beer district is a quick stroll from downtown, which is its own brewery district.
Crux Fermentation Project – Perched on a hill overlooking the Old Mill District with the cascade mountains towering in the distance, the large beer garden at Crux Fermentation Project is a lovely place to enjoy tasty beers and spectacular sunsets. In its previous life, this was an auto repair shop, which was a sad waste of the view. (Food available; Kids welcome; 50 SW Division Street; cruxfermentation.com)
Immersion Brewing – The brewery and taproom are in a revamped historic building that once served as a box factory built in the early 20th century during Bend’s first logging boom. Immersion Brewing is a particularly great stop if your companion favors wine or cider: Bledsoe Family Winery and Avid Cider Company have tasting rooms right next door. (Food available; Kids welcome; 550 SW Industrial Way #185; imbrewing.com)
Monkless Belgian Ales – Lovers of Belgian-style beers will love this place. The location is fabulous, with a huge deck offering sweeping river and territory views. It’s right across the river from the Les Schwab Amphitheater, so if there’s a concert happening, you’ll hear it for free. The building’s exterior belies what awaits. It’s rather nondescript from the outside, but the deck and the interior are lovely. (Food available; Kids welcome; 803 SW Industrial Way #202; www.monkless.com)
Other nearby breweries in Bend:
Deschutes Brewery Public House
Silver Moon Brewing
Bend Brewing
