Portland is known for having great beer and breweries, so this past Saturday we organized a small brew tour through Northwest Portland.

Stop 1: Lucky Lab
Lucky Lab has multiple locations in Portland, but my favorite is located right in my hood, on 19th and Quimby. My favorite aspect is the great outdoor patio, which encourages customers to bring their furry friends for a beer and pizza. I love getting to see all the dogs, and the atmosphere is the perfect spot to hang out with a group of friends on a sunny day.
The pizza is fantastic (easy to order by the slice), and they also have great sandwiches and salads. They offer rotating guest drafts and ciders, as well as some of their famous beers. My favorite? The Super Dog IPA.

Stop 2: Bridgeport Brewery
Bridgeport was one of the first breweries I went to in Portland, and has always been one of my favorites. The Brew Pub is right on 13th and Marshall, and they have a wonderful outdoor eating area along the docks on 13th. They also have a full dining room and delicious food, so even if you aren't in the mood for beer it is still a great family restaurant.
We were definitely in the mood for beer and food, so we headed upstairs to the bar. I tried the new Tilikum Orange Line IPA, a special release to celebrate the opening of the new Tilikum Bridge in Portland. I was a big fan, but my favorite is definitely still their Stumptown Tart, a delicious raspberry Belgian Ale. David and I also shared the Hawthorne Pizza (all of their pizzas are named after Portland Bridges), definitely the perfect treat with our beers!

Stop 3: Rogue
In my opinion, Rogue is one of the most fun breweries around. They have a quirky, fun atmosphere, and definitely don't take themselves too seriously. With tons of locations around Portland and Oregon in general, they are probably one of the most well known breweries in town. They do lots of collaborations, such as their line of Voodoo Doughnut inspired beers, and they also specialize in great seasonal beers that they pair with local ingredients.
At Rogue I had the Sour Frog, a sour Berliner Weisse that is paired with a delicious raspberry syrup. If you have never had a sour beer, this is the perfect one to start with. It is crisp and refreshing with a sweet, raspberry finish. The German Style beer is mild enough that the sourness isn't too overpowering. Most of my friends had never had sour beer or didn't like it, but everyone really enjoyed this one at Rogue!

Stop 4: Deschutes
Although Deschutes Brewery is originally from Bend, Oregon, they have a great brew pub in the Pearl District of Portland. It is usually absolutely packed though, so make sure to go early if you want a table, or be prepared to hang out at the bar with a beer before you get seated!
We were lucky enough to not only get a table right away, but an outdoor table as well!! I got my favorite Deschutes beer, their Fresh Squeezed IPA. Chances are if I'm ever at a restaurant that is serving the Deschutes Fresh Squeezed I'll order it, but it tastes even better at Deschutes.
If you ever have the chance to visit Bend, you have to go to Deschutes and do their brew tour! The guides are fantastic and knowledgable, and you get tons of tasters at the end! Definitely an experience that can't be beat.

Stop 5: Lompoc Brewing
Finally, we decided to stop at Lompoc Brewing on 23rd and Raleigh on our way home. Out of all of the breweries in Portland, I think I have been to Lompoc the most. I played on a kickball team this summer, and every week we got a voucher for Lompoc 5th Quadrant in NE Portland. We always went and enjoyed some beer and dinner after our games, so I have great memories Lompoc. Also, David and I had our first date at Lompoc, so it will always be a special place for us!
This time David and I shared the cheesy spuds, delicious cheesy potato bites with a great spicy dipping sauce. I had the Pamplemousse Citrus IPA, my favorite of their beers. They tend to have fantastic beers on Nitro, which David loves. Definitely try one if you get the chance, they have a different carbonation and are a departure from your average beer.

This is definitely not at all an exhaustive list of Northwest Portland Breweries, but it is a great start if you want to plan your own walking brew tour!