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Yes, Southern Oregon is mostly known for its wine. However, it has some great breweries as well! Here are a few of our favorite places to grab tasty brews and bites in the area.
7 Best Southern Oregon Breweries
Wondering where your upcoming Southern Oregon brewery tour may take you? Be sure to check out these spots.
01. Opposition Brewing Co. – Medford, OR
Opposition Brewing Co. has a modern-industrial atmosphere and an extensive menu of incredible house-made brews. Its specialties are deep-layered browns and bright ales. However, you’ll find their drink rotation features much more than that, with five standard brews, 10 rotating specialty brews, and one guest cider at all times.
The brewery is dog-friendly but not kid-friendly, and it serves food from rotating vendors. If it sounds familiar to you, you may know it by its former name, Apocalypse Brewing Company. The brewery went through a name change back in 2013.
02. Common Block Brewing Company – Medford, OR
Common Block Brewing Company is an indoor-outdoor restaurant and brewery located in The Commons of downtown Medford. It’s a family-friendly brewpub that specializes in shared pints and plates. And we’ll be the first to tell you that their location and space is one of the best, even on this list!
The brewpub has a full menu of 10+ original beers and amazing plates to pair them with, which the staff makes fresh daily. It’s a great choice for lunch, dinner, happy hour – you name it.
03. Walkabout Brewing Company – Medford, OR
Walkabout Brewing Company has a non-traditional history. Its owner, Ross Litton, immigrated to the United States from Australia back in the 1980s. Shortly after he arrived, he began his brewing career at the famous Rogue Brewing Company. However, he had to switch gears when the 1997 flooding destroyed the company’s brew site. Thus, Walkabout Brewing Company came to be.
True to his character and heritage, Litton curated Walkabout Brewing Company’s menu to feature Australian- and English-style beers. While there is a fair share of seasonal lagers as well, the brewery’s flagship brews include the Worker’s Pale Ale, the Jabberwocky English Strong Ale, and the Ripper IPA.
Along with the curated tap list, Walkabout’s atmosphere also carries on the laid-back, Australian vibe of Litton’s home country. You’ll find outdoor seating, fire pits, games, dogs, and fun events like trivia, live music, and comedy shows. Walkabout doesn’t serve food, but there are usually plenty of food trucks nearby.
04. Portal Brewing Co. – Medford, OR
Portal Brewing Co. is located in the old Central Fire Hall in Medford’s well-loved historic district. It’s a family-oriented microbrewery — so much so that its owners are regularly praised for creating such a warm and inviting environment.
Portal features a rotating assortment of standard ales, as well as some seasonal and specialty ones. It also offers an extensive, delicious food menu to complement the drinks, with everything from gyros, to schnitzels, to quesadillas. Stop by for some great drinks, great food, and great conversation!
05. HRL Brewery & Pubbery – Medford, OR
HRL Brewery & Pubbery is newer to the scene, opening back sometime between late 2020 and early 2021. The brewery has a list of about seven house-made brews, along with a rotating tap of 18 local beers, wines, ciders, kombuchas, and CBD sodas. Their food menu features traditional pub food with unique, sophisticated flair.
Something we love about HRL Brewery & Pubbery is their strong commitment to supporting and promoting other local businesses. You’ll regularly find brews from local brewers on tap, as well as random shoutouts to non-brewery local businesses featured on their Facebook page.
06. Jackass Freight Co. Public House – Jacksonville, OR
Jackass Freight Co. Public House is Jacksonville’s most prized pit stop for beer, cider, and spirits. It was named after the 1850s company, Jackass Freight, which was started by freighters James Cluggage and John Poole. They accidentally discovered one of the largest gold deposits in the state while digging a waterhole for their mules.
Today their story lives on by providing residents and visitors of the quaint but lively town over 10 beers on tap every day. The brew house also serves a good selection of pub food, including bar nuts, pretzels, pizzas, and more.
07. Caldera Brewing Company – Ashland, OR
Caldera Brewing Company is a huge brewery. Its 28,00 square foot building features two brew houses and a restaurant, complete with a panoramic view of the mountains on the outdoor patio.
Caldera’s claim to fame and key differentiator is that they incorporate 100% whole flower hops into their brewing process. They also have some unfiltered beers — the “When Doves Cryo Hazy” Mosaic IPA being a house favorite. Finally, they offer craft sodas and seltzers for non-beer-drinkers.
The Caldera restaurant has a good selection of gastropub food to share while you sip. Choose from appetizers, soups, salads, burgers, sandwiches, pizzas, pastas, and desserts.
Also Check Out: Beer-Inspired Events in Southern Oregon
Love the brew life? You may also be interested in some of the beer-inspired events that are held around Southern Oregon. Our favorites are:
- Bikes n Brews — Located in Medford, this is a bike race that takes place during The Heart of the Rogue Festival. Each race route ends at a wonderful reception location with lots of local brews.
- Southern Oregon BrewFest — Located in Central Point, this is a full-blown expo with over 70 taps to choose from. Next year’s BrewFest will run from September 15-17, 2023.
Discover More of Southern Oregon’s Best by Building a Home at Stage Pass
Southern Oregon is full of awesome breweries, wineries, restaurants, and more — and those are just some of the things that make the region a great place to call home. Visit our blog to learn more about Southern Oregon’s attractions. Or, if you’re ready to build a home on some of the most beautiful lots in the area, contact our team to request a private tour at The Vineyards at Stage Pass.
