No longer are the outdoor recreation adventures the main draw to visit the Columbia River Gorge. There is a thriving craft brewery scene from Troutdale all the way to The Dalles just waiting to be explored... or tasted. Bonus points? Visiting deliciously crafted brews is not a weather dependent activity. Here are a few of our favorite stops along the way. Check out the Breweries in the Gorge map for more ideas to plot our your next brewery tour adventure.
Thunder Island Brewing: Thunder Island Brewing Company is an adventure-based brewery that is handcrafting creative and innovative beers in the Pacific Northwest. Based out of Cascades Locks, Oregon, forty-three miles east of Portland, Thunder Island Brewing makes beers inspired by a love for outdoor adventures, with a nod to local history and with a respect for all that the scenic Columbia River Gorge has to offer. Need to buys friends and family a gift? Consider purchasing a gift card from Cascade Locks Strong to support the businesses in this community who were drastically impacted by the Eagle Creek Fire in September, 2017.
pFriem Family Brewers: Located on the beautiful Hood River waterfront, pFriem Family Brewers produces beers that regularly win international awards and the hearts of every local and visitor. The food is delicious to boot! The photogenic pFriem tasting room – which is built around the brewery – offers a Belgian-influenced menu, made with locally sourced ingredients and designed to pair with the pFriem family of artisanal beers.
Freebridge Brewing: Freebridge Brewing is located in the uniquely historic building known as "The Mint". When gold was discovered in Eastern Oregon in 1860, the gold had to be shipped to the San Francisco Mint for processing by pack train and sternwheeler through The Dalles. This was a dangerous task and prompted Congress and President Abraham Lincoln in 1864 to approve building a branch of the US Mint in what was known as "Dalles City". Despite several attempts to move the location, construction of The Mint didn't start until 5 years later in 1869, but after construction delays and the Eastern Oregon gold rush ending, The Mint was never fully completed. Today, much of the buildings interior has been restored and is available for you to now enjoy the "liquid gold" that is being minted out of Freebridge.
** Want to make a loop of your brewery tour around Mt. Hood? Check out Mt. Hood Brewing in Government Camp for some beer with an altitude, or stop by Boring Brewing for some IPAs that are anything but boring.
