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- Oregon
Locally crafted beer flows from restaurants and wine bars to tap-rooms and bottle shops buzzing with “beer talk.”
Oregon’s Eugene, Cascades and Coast region boasts award-winning wineries — it is, after all, located in the famous Willamette Valley. But locals also take pride in the region’s craft beer. The connection can be traced to a generations-old tradition of home-brewing and to the availability of local ingredients — from pure McKenzie River water to Oregon-grown hops and grains.
The Eugene Ale Trail maps at least a dozen of the top spots. (Pick up a passport at participating locations to track your discoveries.) The stops reflect a variety of styles and settings. If you’re in the mood for an urban walkabout, nab a picnic table on the patio of Ninkasi Brewing Company, Eugene’s largest brewer. Check out the food-cart offering and sip a flagship brew such as the flavorful Total Domination IPA. Explore the surrounding Whiteaker neighborhood and downtown Eugene to discover more local brews and talk beer at bottle shops, tap-rooms and growler fill stations. When you’re ready for a dose of the countryside, head to a brewpub such as Coburg’s Agrarian Ales. Sip a session-worthy Field Bier surrounded by the rural beauty of this family hop farm, and share a wood-fired pizza topped with ingredients grown by neighboring farmers. Also check out these five “extras” on the Eugene Ale Trail.
Hop on the Pacific Pub Cycle
Line up a group of friends and hop on this “community-pedaled bike” for a leisurely ride between seven Eugene breweries.
Hop between 7 Eugene breweries on the Pacific Pub Cycle.
Snack on Something Different
Playing off of its unique craft beers, Eugene’s food and drink scene gets inventive. Crunch into flavorful tacos at Tacovore. Sample dry cider hand-pressed from whole Oregon fruit at WildCraft Cider Works. For dessert, follow the locals to Sweet Life Patisserie, voted Eugene’s best bakery 13 years in a row.
Shop Eugene
At Fifth Street Public Market, browse fashion and home décor accessories, then grab a bite to eat. Nearby, at Oakway Center, explore an array of both local and national stores and eateries in a big open-air complex.
Play Outside
Just an hour from most Eugene breweries, the Cascade Mountain range invites outdoor adventure. Seek out epic views of wildlife and hidden waterfalls, or mountain bike the world-famous trails around Oakridge.
Just an hour from most Eugene breweries, you’ll discover hidden waterfalls and epic mountain bike trails.
Spend the Night
Boutique hotels such as Eugene’s Inn at the 5th feature spa showers and private indoor terraces. Ask for packages tailored specifically to beer-lovers.
Book a boutique hotel such as Eugene’s Inn at the 5th.
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