In the heat of summer, sip a cold craft beer in a cheerful beer garden. Here are a few favorite brewery patios for enjoying the local craft beer scene outside. For more great breweries and pubs, follow the Eugene Ale Trail to get a full experience of the region's top breweries.
Obsidian Grill in McKenzie River
Behind the McKenzie General Store awaits a fantastic beer garden with umbrella tables. A great venue for relaxing after a river rafting trip, there is craft beer and local, organic food dished up or purchased in the store. Live entertainment on Thursday and Saturday nights all summer long.
beergarden.
The beergarden. in Eugene is the classic gathering place for craft beer drinkers. They have an extensive variety of local, regional and other craft beers on tap and multiple food trucks provide a diverse selection of food options. The enclosed courtyard is family-friendly with a relaxed vibe. Covered porches, tents and umbrellas provide flexible seating. When humming with people, you may share table space with others at long wood picnic tables. There is often live music or entertainment, including music student recitals, up-and-coming artists and popular local groups.
PublicHouse in Springfield
A beer hall abuts a paved courtyard which in turn is adjacent to a whiskey lounge, creating many wonderful places to settle in. PublicHouse has served as an incubator for new culinary start-ups, and thus has a diverse and ever-changing collection of resident eateries. Ordering is done via a mobile app. Entertainment is often scheduled for the lawn area adjacent the hall, so come kick back on a warm summer evening to listen to live music and sip a cold beer (or a whiskey cocktail!).
McMenamins
McMenamins is a reliable spot with their own excellent craft beer and great pub food. Three McMenamins locations in Eugene provide unique patio experiences. Take in views of the Willamette River from McMenamins North Bank's decks and sidewalk seating right on the bike path — this is one of the best locations for on the water dining, so be prepared to wait for the outdoor tables. A historic house is home to their High Street Brewery. Here a porch and gardens wrap around the house, full of leafy foliage and strung with twinkle lights. This charming set-up offers an intimate shady beer garden in the back and friendly patio dining on the street. McMenamins East 19th Street Cafe near Hayward Field has a smaller side patio frequently buzzing with campus energy. Umbrellas, heat lamps and fire pits make all these destinations adaptable for any weather, although plenty of sunshine is typical for Eugene summers.
Hop Valley Brewing Company Eugene
Sip craft beer among trellised hops on the outdoor deck area of Hop Valley Brewing Company Eugene. This is the perfect spot for watching the world cruise by in "The Whit", under the shade of an umbrella and with a cold craft beer in hand.
Oakshire Brewing
Just a few blocks away is another favorite, Oakshire Brewing. This urban patio is dog friendly and typically ringed with food carts. Oakshire Commons, their new pub in Springfield, offers sidewalk seating. With 20 different taps, there is sure to be something to please every beer drinker. Look out for limited release cans – some beers are only available for a week or two and are quickly gone!
Falling Sky Brewing House
Falling Sky has been brewing fantastic beers for over a decade. Falling Sky Brewing House in downtown Eugene offers an outdoor beer garden where you can try the latest offerings from their extensive (and always changing!) list of craft beers. The food is also top notch, with most ingredients sourced from the local area.
Viking Brewing Company
This former warehouse space in West Eugene is surrounded by asphalt, but as soon as you step through the gate you'll find yourself on Viking Brewing Company's super relaxed patio. Enjoy delicious honey-infused braggots to quench your thirst. Frequent live music, trivia, and other events make this location an unexpected secret amongst the nearby warehouses.
You can also visit their Southtowne pub location with its own patio seating and an expanded food menu. Marvel at the intricate wooden carvings around the bar that will really make you feel like you're in a real Viking village. Skol!
Drop Bear Brewery
Front porch seating on Willamette Street in South Eugene makes Drop Bear Brewery a lively destination with great craft beer, organic pizzas and a Thai food truck.
More Outdoor Seating
Claim 52 Tasting Room
Between downtown Eugene and the Whiteaker Neighborhood, Claim 52 Tasting Room occupies the former Wildcraft Cider location. Across the front of the building is a large sunny front porch, perfect for a cold afternoon beer.
Cornucopia
Cornucopia's friendly restaurant on 17th Avenue has a shady back patio, just perfect for escaping the heat on a summer day. Their downtown Eugene location on 5th Avenue and their Springfield Main Street location have sidewalk seating.
Coast Fork Brewing in Cottage Grove
Just a half hour south in Cottage Grove you’ll find Coast Fork Brewing with patio dining out front. This small craft brewery features a selection of their own beers, guest taps, a great bottle selection and an amazing food menu with locally sourced ingredients. The shepherd’s pie paired with a Row River Red Ale is one of the best meals around!
3 Legged Crane Pub and Brewhouse in Oakridge
The front patio at 3 Legged Crane Pub and Brewhouse is always bustling with the post-adventure outdoor crowd. Rub shoulders with mountain bikers, anglers and hikers as out-of-towners compare notes and get tips from the locals.
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.
