TriMet's MAX Yellow Line Brewery Crawl
The Line:
The MAX Yellow Line in Portland, OR is operated by TriMet, the Portland area's transit authority. The MAX lines (Metropolitan Area Express) are light rail lines which first began operation in 1986 when the initial segment opened. The Yellow Line, which began operation in 2004, runs from Portland State University in Downtown Portland to the Portland Expo Center in the North.
The Breweries:
For this tour, 6 breweries were chosen, all located within the city of Portland. The tour will start just below downtown on the Portland State University (PSU) campus and head north on the yellow line across the Willamette and toward the Expo Center.
- Rogue Hall- This outpost of the Rogue Nation is located on the PSU campus. They offer a convenient place for students and life time learners alike to sit back with some Rogue Beer and soak up that collegiate atmosphere. Outside seating, free wi-fi, and more then 20 Rogue Beers on tap, including the PSU IPA, round it all out. (Note: Rogue does not brew any beer at this location)
- Tugboat Brewing Company- A cozy little brewpub with the atmosphere that will make you think you are just hanging at your friend's house. Lots of board games and books are all around to go with your beer. They often have 3 to 5 of there own beers on tap and then guest taps from other micro breweries, largely Oregon.
- PINTS- Located in the Old Town/Chinatown district, this brewpub is a coffee house in the morning and urban taproom by night. They opened in 2012 and focus on Northwest and British inspired beers. They usually have about 10 selections on tap so you will definitely have selection.
- Widmer Brothers Brewing Company- The Widmer brothers started their brewery in 1985 on the other side of the river in the future Pearl District. At their current location they have a pub and restaurant along with their modern brewery. Try one of their many beers, including their hefeweizen which is credited with introducing the style to the United States, and if you are there on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday consider taking a brewery tour (it concludes with free samples!).
- Fire on the Mountain Buffalo Wings- While the main draw for Fire on the Mountain may not be their beer, they do brew and with this location so close to the MAX line, how can one pass up a chance for some wings and beer? The first Fire on the Mountain location was opened in 2005 and has now expanded to three locations in Portland and now also brew their own beer. They also take their environmentalism seriously, for example, they recycle, composite, and the wings are from free range chickens. (Note: Fire on the Mountain does not brew at this location; the brewery is at their Fremont location)
- Lucky Labrador Tap Room- Lucky Lab was started in 1994 by two friends from Portland at their location on Southeast Hawthorne Blvd. Originally the plan was to call it Lucky Dog Brewing, but since their was a dog food by that name, they had to make the switch to Labrador. They now have a total of four locations, with this one being the most recently opened. You'll find 16 taps of their beer here for your enjoyment. (Note: Lucky Labrador does not brew any beer at this location)
The Tour:
- Start your tour on the Portland State University campus around the Portland South Park Blocks. The South Park Blocks run for twelve blocks amongst museums, public art, benches, and the university. You will find Rogue Hall (1717 Southwest Park Ave) just off the park on PSU's campus.
- After your Rogue brew, head to 6th St for your first MAX ride. This part of the ride will take you through the center of downtown Portland and along the Portland Transit Mall. The Transit Mall is a pair of streets (5th and 6th streets) which were restricted to transit on two of the three lanes in 1977. Until 2009, the transit mall was just buses but light rail was added at that time for the MAX lines. You will also pass the historic Pioneer Courthouse and Pioneer Courthouse Square, known as Portland's living room.
- Get off the MAX at Pine St and head over to Tugboat Brewing (711 Southwest Ankeny St) for your next beer.
- The next brewery, PINTS, is not all that many blocks away and no one would fault you for just walking there. If you are trying to keep in the spirit of breweries by train, though, head back to 6th and Pine to grab the MAX again. This portion of the Transit Mall will take you into the Old Town/Chinatown district. Get off the MAX at the Union Station stop and you will see Union Station down the street. The train station was completed in 1896 and serves as Portland's Amtrak station. Now head over to PINTS (412 Northwest 5th Ave).
- Stroll back over to the MAX for your trip over the Willamette River. The MAX will head over the river on the Steel Bridge, a double deck vertical lift bridge completed in 1912. It is the second older vertical lift bridge in North America (the oldest being the Hawthorne Bridge just a few bridges down the river).
- You will depart the MAX again at the Albina/Mississippi station and walk to Widmer Brothers Brewing (929 North Russell St).
- Board the MAX after your Widmer brew (and hopefully tour as well) and take the MAX to the N Prescott Station and walk to Fire on the Mountain (4225 North Interstate Ave).
- For the last location on the tour, board the MAX one last time to take it one stop north to the N Killingsworth station and walk to Lucky Labrador (1700 N Killingsworth St).
View MAX Yellow Line Brewery Crawl in a larger map
