By Angelo De Ieso II
Photos by Matthew G. Monroe

At the forefront of the microbrew revolution since the 1980s, Portland has continued to be a leading producer of handcrafted beer, thanks in part to the efforts of brewers such as the McMenamin and Widmer brothers, not to mention Portland’s oldest craft brewery, Bridgeport. Today the liquid artform is an integral part of the city’s landscape.

Currently with more craft breweries than any other city in the world, Portland has become a destination for artisan beer zealots from around the globe. The popularity of Henry Saxer and Henry Weinhard’s Old World recipes—dating back to the 1850s—has survived war, economic depression and even Prohibition.

Closing its brewery doors in 1999, the historic Weinhard’s marked the end of an era in Portland brewing, while designating the beginning of a second epoch in modern craft beer.

The Old World impact has married itself with modern day innovation and currently runs the gamut of cultural and stylistic diversity. Here is a look at some of Portland’s most popular craft brewers and the beers that made them famous:

Alameda Brewhouse

John and Eric @ Alameda Brewing

Founded in 1996 by Matt Schumacher and Peter Vernier, Alameda (4765 NE Fremont, 460-9025, alamedabrewhouse.com) is currently under the watchful eye of Head Brewer John Eaton. Eaton continues to offer the Beaumont neighborhood a steady lineup of house favorites and seasonals.

Beer of note: The gold medal winning Blackbear XX Stout—A sweet and robust foreign-styled stout. Deep black in color with an inviting gray-brown head, it is like a dessert in a glass (also available in 22-ounce bottles).