Five of Country’s Top 50 Brewing Companies Call Oregon Home
Two others have Oregon breweries

Five of the 50 largest brewing companies in the United States are based in Oregon, according to figures released today by the Brewers Association.

The Boulder, Colo.-based association tracks production figures for all breweries in the country. Five Oregon breweries made the Top 50 list, with two other brewing companies with Oregon ties also on the list.

Widmer Brothers Brewing Co. of Portland was the highest-ranking Oregon brewery, coming in at 18. Also making the list were Deschutes Brewery (20), Full Sail Brewing (25), BridgePort Brewing (41) and Rogue Ales Brewery (44).

Pyramid Alehouse/Breweries Inc., which owns Portland Brewing, sandwiched in between Widmer Brothers and Deschutes at No. 19. Rock Bottom Restaurants Inc., which operates a brewery in Portland, made the list at No. 40.

Only California, with six Top 50 breweries, had more breweries on the list.

With 591,000 barrels of craft beer production, Oregon ranks second in the country behind California for volume of craft beer, or what is commonly called microbrews.

"When people think of great craft beer, they think Oregon," says Oregon Brewers Guild executive director Jim Parker. "If Hollywood wanted to make a film like ‘Sideways’ about beer, they would have to come to Portland, where there are more breweries than in any other city in the world."

The Oregon Brewers Guild is Oregon’s non-profit trade association for the state’s independent breweries. The Guild, which receives no state funding, comprises 42 breweries, 16 associate or supplier members, 12 retail members and more than 500 enthusiast members or S.N.O.B.s (Supporters of Native Oregon Beer). For more information, see www.oregonbeer.org.