OREGON BEER GUIDE

Portland’s Finest Bottle Shops

The model for the modern bottle shop? One part retail, one part tavern, one part cultural center, and one part luncheon counter. Sample the scene at these shops.

By John Chandler July 1, 2013 Published in the July 2013 issue of Portland Monthly

Beer

1410 SE Stark St; 503-233-2337

Convivial and clublike, this (you guessed it!) beer bar and bottle shop features 10 taps and more than 100 bottles, ranging from low-key commercial lagers to fancy artisan seasonals from the likes of Upright and Logsdon. Retro beer signs and a rough-hewn interior make for a homey vibe, and visitors are welcome to nosh on superb sandwiches from Meat Cheese Bread next door. 

Beer Bunker

7918 SE Stark St; 503-254-8200

If you’ve wandered into this breezy Montavilla watering hole in search of a ball game and a distinctive array of regional beers, you’re in the right place. With three flat-screens, more than 100 bottles, and a dozen taps, the Beer Bunker prides itself on offering shelf space to smaller, intriguing breweries like Natian and Fearless—and providing plenty of room for brew believers to revel. 

The Beer Mongers

1125 SE Division St; 503-234-6012

Garage doors open onto a space that could be mistaken for a sports bar—except nobody’s watching the TV. Instead, the dude-heavy clientele can be found clustering around tall tables awaiting the arrival of a guest brewer toting something fresh and unusual. If it’s an off day, there are still eight beers on tap and more than 600 bottles to consider, any of which can be savored (and debated) with a fellow beer nerd at a nearby table.  

The Hop & Vine

1914 N Killingsworth St; 503-954-3322

This abundantly hospitable stop is a must on any brew tour, with more than 220 bottles, eight rotating taps of rewarding worldly goodness, and modestly priced pub grub, like a zesty bahn mi sandwich with barbecue pork and tofu. Take your bounty out back to a bucolic patio. And if you’re still hopping for more hops, head just down the street to Saraveza Bottle Shop and Pasty Tavern.

John’s Market

3535 SW Multnomah Blvd; 503-244-2617

You won’t find any taps here, but with more than 800 bottled beers this is the spot for the serious shopper, whether you’re seeking a reliable BridgePort IPA, an exotic Lithuanian lager, or a rare specimen from an ancient Trappist monastery. It’s the beer hounds’ alternative to Portland’s other old-school choice, Belmont Station, which still sets a gold standard of its own. 

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