Travel by Beer: The Pacific Northwest

The Pacific Northwest is one of leading producer's of microbrews. According to the Brewers Association, Oregon and Washington rank fourth and eighth, respectively, in the number of craft breweries per capita. If you are interested in learning more about some of the finest Oregon craft beers, click here to get started on your research of what the Pacific Northwest has to offer. Now, let us begin the tour.

Having a place to crash is a must on a road trip revolving around beer, so why not stay at a brewery? McMenamins is a Pacific Northwest brewing company that has establishments in Oregon and Washington. Several of their brew pubs are also hotels. The company restores historic buildings into unique getaway destinations. One could have an excellent vacation simply by visiting these brewery-restaurant-hotels. Centering your trip on these hotels will give you the opportunity to see some of the most scenic parts of the Pacific Northwest, while enjoying some tasty handcrafted beers! While this guide is centered on McMenamins locations, you will likely want to sample some other local beers. The rest of this guide is organized by city, hotel and local breweries. Starting in Bend, Oregon, the guide takes a north bound route and ends in Centralia, Washington. Be sure to click on the blue links for more information.

Bend, Oregon

On the eastern front range of the Cascade Mountains, Bend, Oregon is a beautiful town. It is the ideal to check out the mountains, forests and remains of ancient volcanic eruptions. Here you will find McMenamins Old St. Francis School. This former Catholic schoolhouse is now one of the brewer's feature locations. While in Bend, be sure to stop in at one of Oregon's premiere craft breweries, the Deschutes Brewery, for some beer and a tour.

Columbia River Gorge

The Columbia River is one of the largest rivers in America, and is one of the most beautiful parts of the Pacific Northwest. Stay a night at the 74-acre Edgefield Manor. This historic landmark has been restored, and even offers a golf course and massage parlor. If you want to see a little more of the Gorge, head over to Hood River and visit the Full Sail Brewing Company and the Double Mountain Brewery. Hood River also offers some great water sport opportunities.

Portland, Oregon

The largest city in Oregon is home to multiple McMenamins resorts. Each is unique, and is worth at least a stop for some beer. Grand Lodge was built as a Masonic and Eastern Star Home in 1922. It is now a beautiful getaway featuring some great art. Kennedy School is a former elementary school in northeast Portland. This is a great place to grab a bite to eat and a beer. There is also a cigar room if you are so inclined. The White Eagle Hotel is a small hotel, but will not disappoint. Located in north Portland, there is a lot of history in this brew pub. If you are looking for some live music, bands perform nightly. In 2010, a new hotel will be opened in the heart of downtown Portland.

Although you could spend all of your time in Portland at these locations, you will probably want to sample some other local beers. The Widmer Brewing Company's Gasthaus Pub is a good place to sample its famous Hefeweizen. Although the Rogue Brewery is headquartered in Newport, Oregon, you can stop in at the Distillery and Public House to sample some of their beers. If you are looking for an organic beer, look no further than Hopworks Urban Brewery or Roots Brewing Company.

Centralia, Washington

Crossing the border into Washington, the next stop is Centralia. Here you will find the Olympic Club Hotel and Theater. Once a hotbed for gambling and bandits, it retains its 1908 charm as a brew pub. You might also want to head over to Dick's Brewing Company to sample another fine example of Oregon craft brewing. If you are interested in a tour, they are only offered on Friday afternoons.