Brewery Road Trip in Oregon

Breweries that commercially make and sell beer, are located all over the world and have existed for almost 5,000 years.

Beer has long been made for consumption and enjoyment, but more importantly, it was produced as a means to pay workers for their labor. Rations of bread and beer have been used as payment since the beverage was first created in Mesopotamia.

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Breweries Throughout History and Modern Day Oregon

According to BeerHistory.Com, U.S. colonists began brewing beer by using corn as early as 1587. An article from Mental Floss states that despite several U.S. prohibition laws over the last few centuries, beer has remained a staple beverage for people in America and is still incredibly popular today.

Oregon is one of the main states that suffered but eventually survived prohibition laws.

Despite a successful vote to ban liquor in 1914 and the creation of the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) after the amendment to lift national prohibition in 1933, beer consumption in Oregon grew in popularity peaking in the 70s and 80s.

The Oregon State Library website notes that when President Jimmy Carter signed a bill that “created an exemption from taxation for beer brewed at home for personal or family use,” local craft brewing became extremely common in Oregon.

The site also states that modern day Oregon has over 150 craft brewing companies and nearly 230 brewing facilities in 63 cities throughout Oregon.

Travel Portland reports that the entire month of July is known as “Oregon Craft Beer” month, and with the massive Oregon Brewers Festival at the end of the hundreds of beer festivities, this state definitely has a love for all things beer.

Penalties for Drinking and Driving in Oregon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuBKmks3ZcI

Beer is known as a delicious beverage that can make any gathering just a bit more fun. With several different kinds of craft beer available at most local grocery and liquor stores, this convenient beverage is the perfect addition to sports games, tailgating, or a nice homemade dinner.

Although beer is perfectly fine in moderation, it is still an alcoholic beverage and should be treated as such. Because most beers typically have a low alcohol content, some people are under the impression that it is okay to drink beer and drive.

However, drinking and driving is extremely dangerous and puts everyone in the car, as well as everyone on the road, in danger.

To avoid causing harm to yourself and others, there should always be a designated driver among your group. Whether you are going out for drinks, tailgating at a college football game, or even drinking beer at someone’s home, be sure that there is someone with you who is not drinking and who is in charge of driving.

Having a designated driver will limit the possibility of getting a DUI for driving under the influence of alcohol. According to Attorneys.Com, in Oregon the penalties for a 1st time DUI offender are:

• A minimum fine of $1,000 to $10,000
• License suspension for one year
• Installation of an ignition interlock device for one year after license suspension
• Completion of a drug and alcohol program
• Participation in the Victim’s Impact Panel program

More information for second and third time DUI offender consequences in Oregon can be found at Attorneys.com.

Top 10 Breweries in Oregon

Out of the 150+ craft brewing companies and nearly 230 brewing facilities in Oregon, we have narrowed it down to the top 10 breweries you might want to put on the map before roadtripping to Oregon.

#1 – Barley Brown’s Brewery

Established: 1998
Recommended Beer: Pallet Jack

Barley Brown’s Brewery is an independent brewery in Oregon, so all of their beers are specially made. Try any of Barley Brown’s beers, and you’re sure to be pleased.

Barley Brown’s Brewery recently won a Bronze Medal from the Copa Cervezas de América’s booth at the CBCDC.

This brewery has both a restaurant and a taphouse, which makes it a great location for getting some lunch or just having a beer. The taphouse opens daily at 2 p.m.

#2 – Deschutes Brewery

Established: 1988
Recommended Beer: The Abyss

Deschutes Brewery‘s mission statement says it all: “Extra time, craft and passion are the common denominator in these varied, full-flavored, excursions outside the brewing mainstream.”

Visit this brewery in Bend, Oregon or Portland, Oregon. Deschutes Brewery also offers daily tours of the Tasting Room, where you can see the tools they use to brew their beer.

#3 – Bend Brewing Co.

Established: 1995
Recommended Beer: Elk Lake IPA

Bend Brewing Co. is the second oldest pub in Bend, Oregon. They are known around town for winning awards for their in-house craft beer, which is brewed right there in Downtown Bend, Oregon.

Bend Brewing Co. is located just near the Deschutes River at Mirror Pond.

#4 – Cascade Brewing

Established: Unknown
Recommended Beer: Cascade Sang Noir

Cascade Brewing‘s blending house currently has over “1,400 French oak, Kentucky Bourbon and Northwest wine barrels – plus nine foudres – filled with wheats, blonds, quads, reds, browns and porters that are aged and blended into magical elixirs.”

Their slogan is “Pucker Up and Join the Sour Revolution.” With an amazing score of 100 on Beer Advocate, this brewery has a world-class rating.

#5 – Full Sail Brewing Co.

Established: 1987
Recommended Beer: Amber Ale

Full Sail Brewing Co. was named Oregon Brewery of the Year at the 2017 New York International Beer Competition.

The deck of the brewery offers breathtaking views of the Colorado River. The Full Sail Brew Pub is open daily from 11 am – 9 pm.

#6 – Hair of the Dog Brewing Company

Established: 1993
Recommended Beer: Adam From The Wood

Hair of the Dog Brewing Company‘s beers are often named after actual people who inspired the creation of that specific beer.

As their company website states, Hair of the Dog Brewing Company was founded “with the purpose of providing beer lovers with new and unusual beer styles. Creativity and originality have been cornerstones of the company’s philosophy since it was founded. Each beer has its own name and unique identity; like the people who have inspired them.”

#7 – Upright Brewery

Established: Unknown
Recommended Beer: Blend Love

According to their homepage, the name “Upright Brewing” is actually a reference to the primary instrument of Charles Mingus, “the great musician whose compositions defied categorization. At Upright the recipes and processes are decidedly unbound, yielding brews that share Mingus’ spirit of exercising creativity and craft.”

Upright Brewery creates beers inspired by France and Belgium.

#8 – Breakside Brewery

Established: 2010
Recommended Beer: Breakside IPA

Breakside Brewery is the recipient of several awards, including Oregon Beer Awards 2017’s Brewery of the Year Award, Best of Craft Beer Awards 2017’s Brewery of the Year Award, and Oregon Beer Awards 2015’s Brewery of the Year ­Award.

Several of their beers have also won prizes individually, including the Breakside IPA.

See a full list of awards here.

#9 – pFriem Family Brewers

Established: 2012
Recommended Beer: Mosaic Pale Ale

pFriem artisanal beers are influenced by the great brewers of Belgium, yet also have elements unique to the Pacific Northwest.

The pFriem family actually has over a decade of award-winning experience in the Northwest Craft Brewing Community.

In 2012, the owner was able to open this artisanal brewery in Hood River, Oregon.

#10 – Laurelwood Brewing Co.

Established: 2001
Recommended Beer: Raspberry Wheat

Laurelwood Brewing Co. not only has delicious beer, but they also have fantastic food. Check out their “Grubhub Burger” next time you’re in the area. It’s currently their Burger of the Month.

For more information about amazing types of beer, places with unique craft beer selections, and general beer recommendations check out Beer Advocate.

Safety Tips Before Hitting the Road

One of the best things that you can do before any trip is to plan ahead. By simply mapping out your trip before you leave, you will have a much better understanding of the best ways to spend your time.

A fun idea might be to take a road trip along the Oregon Coast stopping at different breweries along the way.

— Brewery Map

Brewery Map is a great place to find out where different breweries are located all throughout the United States. This website even provides a map so that you can visualize your journey perfectly.

Simply type in the city that you’ll be in, select the radius you’re willing to travel, and the site will provide tons of breweries in that area.

You can even select the “Road Trip” option, insert your starting point and destination, and the site will provide a list of breweries that pop up along your trip.

— Brew Trail

Brew Trail is another site that works in a similar way. Simply select the state where you want to find a local brewery, and the search engine will do the rest.

Use these tools to plan your trip and locate breweries ahead of time, so you don’t have to worry about it while you’re relaxing and having fun. By planning ahead of time, you will also have a clear idea of where you’re going, which will make it an easier and hopefully safer journey.

In order to ensure that you have a safe journey, get your car checked out before you leave. A tune-up ahead of time will allow you to have peace of mind during your trip.

Safety is the most important key to a happy, memorable trip with friends and family.

Here are a few more tips for safe travel:

• Travel with an emergency kit in your vehicle. Have a first-aid kit on hand and an emergency kit for problems that you can encounter on the road. Include flashlights, batteries, water, a toolkit, and anything else you think might be useful.
• Never drive a vehicle after you have been drinking, even if it’s just one drink. Don’t put yourself and others at risk. Always have a designated driver in your group. If that is not possible, car-sharing services such as Uber and Lyft are fantastic options.
• Finally, make sure that you have the right car insurance for your vehicle. Compare different car insurance companies for the best rates. Don’t be afraid to shop around, and look at at least three to four auto insurance policies that apply to your vehicle and situation.

As long as you research and plan ahead, you are almost guaranteed to have a fantastic trip.

With safety as your number one priority, you can have a great time visiting breweries all throughout the United States. If you end up in Oregon, visit the top 10 breweries listed above, and explore the sites the beautiful state has to offer.

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