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Sample a constellation of local brews at North Portland’s Ecliptic Brewing.

Credit: Bjorn via Flickr

Mississippi/Williams Brewery Tour

Find superb craft beer and laidback neighborhood vibes on this North Portland pub crawl.

Updated Oct. 30, 2020 2 min read

Only 2­.5 miles from downtown, and accessible via MAX light rail, the vibrant Mississippi/Williams area attracts 30,000 revelers each year to its annual street fair. Celebrated year-round as a destination for crave-worthy eats and independent boutiques, this lively district also boasts one of the best concentrations of quality craft beers in the city. Brewing legends and industry giants coexist with tiny experimental brewers and even a pioneering nonprofit pub. Relax on a sunny patio and raise a toast to Beervana at these seven North Portland brewpubs.

Stormbreaker Brewing

Outfitted with fire pits, tents and a TV projector, StormBreaker’s ample patio is perfect for enjoying a relaxing evening, rain or shine. Grab a pint of the malty Mississippi Red and chow down on gourmet grub like barbecued Broccolini, jerk chicken and bacon-kale salad at this rising star brewery, which opened in early 2014.

Ecliptic Brewing

Another relative newcomer to the Mississippi scene, Ecliptic boasts deep roots: Oregon brewing legend — and amateur astronomer — John Harris spent decades at local breweries McMenamins, Deschutes and Full Sail before opening up shop here in 2013. The tap list is heavy on barrel-aged recipes and unusual ingredients (think Riesling grape juice); the signature Orbiter IPA boasts a constellation of “C” hops (Cascade, Centennial, Chinook, and Columbus) and a bright, full-bodied flavor.

Ex Novo Brewing

The first of its kind in the country, this nonprofit brewery combines great craft beer with commendable social change by donating all net profits to organizations like Portland-based MercyCorps and Impact NW. The noble pub’s diverse rotation of taps includes a peaty Scotch ale, a saison with notes of cantaloupe and bubblegum and a funky, jackfruit-spiked farmhouse brew.

Upright Brewing

Tucked away in the Leftbank building, across the street from the Moda Center, Upright Brewing is best known for its Pacific Northwest twists on classic French and Belgian farmhouse beers. Head down to the basement tasting room for creative seasonal lagers, fermentation room viewings and local art, including Delta blues concerts on Sundays.

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