A much-cited Washington Post report on craft breweries suggests that, nationally, the shimmer might be fading.
Specifically, while nearly 1,000 new breweries opened in 2017, 165 closed, for a closing rate of 2.6 percent. That's up, percentage-wise, more than 40 percent over 2016.
SLIDESHOW: 5 hot brew spots that are dazzling the area
One wouldn't know it, though, from looking at Oregon, where 243 breweries are operating (up from 230 at the end of 2016). The craft brewing industry is doing its part to add workforce members, with an 8.3 percent employment growth rate in 2017. That's helpful as Oregon itself looks to keep its solid 4.1 percent unemployment level steady.
The Oregon Brewers Guild cites research indicating that beer contributes $4.5 billion to the state's economy. That's largely because brewpubs and brewers keep opening around the region. We found five such instances of new operations and one very venerable Portland brewer that continues expanding around the region.
Three of those brewers — Level Beer, Royale Brewing Co. and Second Profession — are in Northeast Portland while a fourth, Shattered Oak, occupies a space in the growing brewing hub of Oregon City.
We gathered images from the five new spots. Click through on the picture above to get a gander at where locals and beer tourists alike will be spending their time bellying up to the taps as the summer approaches.
The Portland Business Journal is a KGW News partner.
