Oregon is one of the top destinations in the entire world for beer. The state was on the forefront of the microbeer revolution back in the 1980s and now has a wide variety of breweries and brewpubs. This is evident in the Willamette Valley and in the state capital of Salem, with a number of places to get a fresh-hopped ale or an imperial stout.
The Thompson Brewery and Public House is a member of the McMenamins empire of pubs, breweries, and venues that stretches throughout the Pacific Northwest. This brewery, housed in the 1906 home of a Civil War vet, was the first to be established in Salem after the end of the Prohibition. The menu here focuses on pub grub made with locally sourced ingredients, such as a list of burgers made with local beef and Tillamook cheese. The Thompson Brewery and Public House is open until midnight Sunday through Thursday and to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
Thompson Brewery and Public House
3575 Liberty Rd. South
Salem, OR 97302
503-363-7286
mcmenamins.com
The Calapooia Brewing Company is a twenty-minute drive south from Salem, in the city of Albany, Oregon. The menu here consists of a collection of burgers, hot dogs, and salads. Top burgers include the Squirrel Burger, which has Swiss and cheddar, topped with grilled ham and a fried egg. The most popular beer from this brewery is the Chili Beer, an ale flavored with jalapenos, which has won awards all over the Northwest. This brewpub also has live music every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. It is open until 10 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday and until 12:30 a.m. Thursday through Saturday.
Calapooia Brewing Company
140 Southeast Hill St.
Albany, OR 97321
541-928-1931
calapooiabrewing.com
The Golden Valley Restaurant and Brewery is found twenty miles north of Salem, in the town of McMinnville. Like most brewpubs in the area, it has a menu of burgers, sandwiches, and salads, all with local ingredients. Here, the vegetables are taken from the pub's garden. There is also a line of year-round beers such as the Third Street Wheat and the Red Thistle Ale, along with a few seasonals like Tannen Bomb winter warmer and the French Prarie Blanche, depending on the month. The Golden Valley is open until 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Golden Valley Restaurant and Brewery
980 Northeast 4th St.
McMinnville, OR 97128
503-472-2739
goldenvalleybrewery.com
