DIRECT FROM PORTLAND

Portland, a river town located on the Columbia and Willamette Rivers in the foothills of Mt. Hood, is known as the "City of Roses" (more than 500 varieties in the International Rose Test Gardens), "City of Bridges" (there are 17), and the "Pearl of the Northwest". One could also call Portland the "Brewing Capital of the Americas" (there are 14 microbreweries and brewpubs in this picturesque city). In fact, City Hall is being lobbied to have them declare Portland just that! Oregon, particularly Portland, is generally acknowledged to be the center of the craft brewing universe, much as the Bordeaux, Burgundy, and Napa areas are to wine industry.

Portland is a vibrant, energetic cosmopolitan city of 1.5 million people abounding with cultural activities to please one and all. Take in museums, concerts, opera and ballet all year long. Special events include: Cinco de Mayo (May); Portland Rose Festival (June); and Artquake (September) to name a few.

It's surprisingly easy to navigate this city which is bordered by one river and split by another. The town is laid out in quadrants and boasts an award-winning public transit system, featuring the 15-mile MAX light rail line. It can take you almost anywhere you want to go, and has become somewhat of a tourist attraction itself.

Start in the downtown area at the Portland/Oregon Visitors Association, located by the river on the corner of S.W. Front and Salmon, where you can get a tour map and information about everything that's going on in town.

The best way to enjoy the Central City is by walking. Visit the historic Skidmore/Old Town District where you'll find night clubs, import shops and the Saturday Market, a giant outdoor crafts fair open weekends March-December. Then tour the metropolitan public art display at the Portland Building, home of the grand "Portlandia," a hamaered bronze statue second in size only to the Statue of Liberty. From there walk the streets of Chinatown which lead to Union Station, listed in the National Register of Historic Places. In the South Park Blocks, you'll find the Oregon Historical Center, the Portland Art Museum, and the Civic Auditorium, home of the Portland Opera. One of America's largest bookstores (with 750,000 volumes), Powell's City of Books fills an entire block in the eclectic Pearl District.

While in this area, you'll want to visit the Portland Brewpub, located in a small warehouse which was formerly a creamery. Customers can view various stages of the brewing process at the microbrewery production facility located in the same building at 1339 N.W. Flanders Street. The Portland Brewpub is owned and operated by the Portland Brewing Company, a brewer of distinctive, hand-crafted beers, and one of the leaders in the Pacific Northwest.

Some of the Brews they offer (not including seasonals) are Portland Ale, the founders' original pale ale brewed with two-row barley malt and a blend of Nugget and Cascade hops; Oregon Honey Beer, a very pale light-bodied ale made with tow-row barley malt, clover honey, and Nugget and Willamette hops; Portland Porter, a robust and full-bodied beer with domestic pale, caramel and black malts balance with the imported English chocolate malt and local Willamette and Nugget hops; Mt. Hood Beer with aromatic hops and full malt flavors; Portland Stout, which speaks for itself-it is a very rich example of this beer style; and finally, McTarnahan's Ale, a complex, copper colored Scottish style ale of great character made with pale and caramel malts and Cascade hops. This beer was awarded the Best American Amber Ale Gold Medal at the 1992 Great American Beer Festival, and is named for "Chairman Ale-meritus" Mac MacTarnahan. He calls himself the Betty Crocker of the Portland Brewing Company, but the founders say he's much more than that. Robert MacTarnahan was one of the original investors, having been referred to Portland Brewery by a friend who had a microbrewery in Yakima.

Fred Bowman, Co-founder and Vice-president of Portland Brewing Company, said it was his thirst for good, fresh, European-style beer that got him started in the brewing business. After doing some home brewing in his basement, he and a partner, Art Larrance, opened Portland Brewing Company, with MacTarnahan's backing, in 1986. The Oregon Legislature had just passed a bill allowing the existence of brewpubs in 1985, and so they began in the aforementioned warehouse, where the original brewpub also serves as a retail outlet.

The Portland Brewpub is owned and operated by the Portland Brewing Company, a brewer of distinctiver, hand-crafted beers, and one of the leaders in the Pacific Northwest.

As a result of significantly increased demand for its products, Portland Brewing Company began a major expansion in 1992. Two copper brewing vessels, each with a capacity of 140 barrels, are in operation at Portland Brewing's new showcase brewery. The brewing equipment was purchased from Sixenbrau Brewery-a brewery located in Nordlingen, Bavaria, that has a 447 year history in the art of brewing beer. Portland Brewing's new brewery, located at 2730 N.W. 31st, became operational in May 1993. The new brewery, funded in part by the first microbrewery public stock offering in the State of Oregon, increases the company's capacity and features the new "Brewhouse Taproom" for sampling its fine, hand-crafted beers. The Taproom offers a creative menu with Brewhouse specialties like Brewer's Sausage, Beer Steamed Copper Kettle Clams, Dungeness Crab, Black Forest Ham and Butterkaese, Salads, Soups and more.

Portland Brewing Company co-hosted the 1994 Oregon Brewer's Festival where over 50,000 microbrew enthusiasts sampled beers of some 63 craft breweries from 17 states and Canada. Belgium has the most microbreweries per capita in the world; Portland ranks second. Make your plans now to visit Portland.

Across the river, in the Lloyd District, is home of the NBA powerhouse Trail Blazers. At the Lloyd Center, there are 175 stores and restaurants overlooking an indoor ice skating rink.

In Southeast Portland, you'll find the new Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI), which ranks as the Northwest's premier science education facility. Southwest Portland boasts Washington Park, home of many wonderful opportunities for sightseeing, including the International Rose Test Gardens and the Metro Washington Park Zoo, which features the newly created African Safari and the African Rain Forest.

For more information call:

Oregon State Tourism Division
1 (800) 547-7842

Markets
(503) 228-2392

Metro Washington Park Zoo
(503) 220-2448

Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
(503) 797-4000

Oregon Historical Center, Portland
(503) 222-1741

Metro Washington Park Zoo
(503) 220-5714

TicketMaster
(503) 224-4400

At the juncture of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in Northeast Portland, you'll find the University of Portland and more: the Grotto, 62 acres of inspiring gardens for relaxing walks; Delta Park, which offers Indy-car racing; horse racing at Portland Meadows and model airplane flying. Northwest Portland is Oregon's version of Nob Hill where there are restored Victorian and Georgian mansions as well as trendy shops and restaurants. See what's brewing at the coffeehouses and microbreweries or take to the trails in the 5000-acre Forest Park which offers 70 miles of trails.

Just outside Portland, you'll find Multnomah Falls with water cascading down 620 feet and flowing into the Columbia River. Also nearby is Mt. Hood for skiing and the Columbia River Gorge, a wind surfers paradise.

OREGON'S MICROBREWING RENAISSANCE

Portland Brewing has played a dominate role in Oregon's renaissance. In calendar year 1994, Portland Brewing's total sales were 16,600 barrels, up 84% from 1992. For the fiscal year 1994 which ended June 30, 1994, sales increased to 25,700 barrels, a 100%+ growth!

Since 1985, Oregon has been the springboard for this growing interest in hand-crafted beers. While craft beer sales nationally account for approximately 1% of the total market, they account for over 5% in Oregon. There are several reasons why Oregon is the center of this microbrewery renaissance:

• Portland features more microbreweries and brewpubs than any other city in the United States.
• Per capita consumption remains high compared with other areas of the country.
• A strong beer culture stemming from the early presence of Blitz-Weinhard, the oldest brewery west of the Mississippi.
• The Oregon Brewers Festival is held each year in Portland involving microbreweries throughout the United States to showcase their products at the event.
• Favorable brewpub legislation.

Oregon consumption of microbrewed beers was 78,856 barrels in 1992 and reached 114,500 barrels in 1993, according to the Oregon Liquor Control Commission.