During crisp autumn months, sipping a local craft beer on a sunny patio with the smiling people of the community is a really special experience. Find the right beer and patio combo with this guide to the top beer gardens in Eugene.
McMenamins North Bank
The riverfront dining space at McMenamins North Bank restaurant and brewpub is a great way to get a feel for this vibrant river city. You can ride your bicycle right up to the patio from the Ruth Bascom Riverbank Path System. On a temperate autumn evening, McMenamins offers roaring fire pits and cozy throws to wrap up in while you enjoy your meal and a tasty pint.
Drop Bear Brewery
This new South Eugene neighborhood brewery, established by David and Lorraine Lehane from Australia, is an inviting option for an autumn afternoon. Open Wednesday - Sunday; Drop Bear Brewery offers a street front patio. Watch the world whizz by as you relax with a beer slushy (yes, they serve those!) and a plate of delicious Thai food from the permanent Thai food truck onsite. Or feast on their wood fired pizza and vegan fare (Lorraine is a dedicated vegan foodie). This family-friendly brewery stocks plenty of board games, welcomes well behaved dogs indoors, and is bicycle-friendly. So cycle on over to Drop Bear Brewery on a beautiful fall day and explore their artful flight of great beer.
Viking Brewing Company
Drink like a Viking in the Westside Warehouse District of Eugene. Braggot is a traditional brew of hops and honey first used by Vikings. Viking Brewing Company is bringing inspired new techniques to this beverage of the ancients. Sip on a refreshing pint on the patio and play a game of bean-bag toss. This location is open Thursday - Saturday only.
McMenamins High Street Brewery
Cloistered in the leafy garden behind the restaurant, McMenamins High Street Brewery offers a pleasant, shady patio for leisurely dining. Order a Ruby ale on the heated porch or pull up a seat near the fire pit in the garden.
Falling Sky Brewing House
Tucked away on Oak Alley is Falling Sky with its on-site brewery. Here, guests can see the large copper-plated brewing equipment. Falling Sky makes many different kinds of beer and offers a delicious seasonal pub menu. The small outdoor space is well-loved year-round. And when it rains — that's okay! Because when the weather is wet, Falling Sky offers a discount on pints.
Oakshire Brewing
Oakshire Brewing is located in the heart of the Whiteaker neighborhood — a unique community full of art and counter-culture history. Join the locals for a pint on the open patio. The outdoor space is dog and kid-friendly so the whole family can enjoy a stroll down to this welcoming pub. Food trucks commonly roll-up beside the outdoor picnic tables. Oakshire gives one percent of the profits from sales of their flagship Watershed IPA to protecting the pure McKenzie River which makes the beers in Eugene so special.
beergarden.
Frequently hosting live music and surrounded with food trucks, the beergarden. is a family-friendly, comfortable outdoor space for relishing an afternoon or evening with community.
PublicHouse
Springfield
PublicHouse's seasonally-tented courtyard is a community hub for after work relaxation. Order drinks in the beer hall or whiskey at the whiskey bar and pair with a selection of dishes from multiple food vendors.
Obsidian Grill
McKenzie River
Obsidian Grill's beer garden is located behind the McKenzie General Store up in the Cascade mountains. Duck into this casual enclave for a cold beer and a great meal. Enjoy live entertainment on Saturday nights.
Coast Fork Brewing
Cottage Grove
Shop for your farm and ranch staples, swing a craft beer and enjoy freshly baked sweets and savories at Coast Fork Brewing. Outside seating makes it possible to soak up as much as the autumn sunshine as possible.
Taj Barnhart Morgan is the Director of Content Strategy for Travel Lane County. A journalism graduate from the University of Oregon, Taj has two decades of special event management and hospitality marketing experience in San Diego, CA and Maui, HI. Passionate about mothering, and back to her Oregon roots, she is discovering the Eugene, Cascades & Coast region all over again through the eyes of her daughter.
