Full Sail, naturally, hails from Hood River, and began in 1987.

Perennial brews: Amber, IPA, and Pale Ale, Session lager, plus Wassail

Session is probably what put them in the top 10, because those little bottles are at every hipster bar and party in town.  Can’t say I’ve had their amber, and it sounds more my style than Mac’s.  Wassail is super bitter.  They make some limited-edition beers, and the LTD 05 (yellow label) is a tasty, malty lager, almost a Belgian style amber.  They list it as a seasonal, and this is the second spring I’ve seen it on the shelves.

Besides their standard home-base brewpub in Hood River, there is a small brewing operation in Portland at the riverplace marina.  Their web page describes it as being visible through glass from McCormick and Schmick’s, and says you can enjoy the beers “next door.”  I guess I’ll have to go to the McCormick & Schmick bar and see the taps for myself.  In the name of research, of course.

Before we finish the big guys, I’ve noticed a few other breweries that seem to show up pretty regularly on draft around town and don’t want to forget about.  Let me know if I should add some more, but I can think of 3:

• Lompoc
• Amnesia
• Migration

There are plenty of others in Oregon, but not a whole lot that seem to be common on tap.  If I get bored, I might add a few more, like Lucky Lab and Upright Brewing.  Feel free to suggest others, though, that you consider noteworthy and available at more than one bar.

MacTarnahan’s is a brand twice acquired in the last decade, first bought by Pyramid, which is based in Seattle with a California presence.  Both brands are available locally, but neither are particularly common on tap.  They used to be called Portland Brewing Company, known for Oregon Honeybeer, which they still produce but apparently not regularly.

MacTarnahan’s: Mac’s Amber Ale, Grifter, Goose Bump, Spine Tingler, Sling Shot

Pyramid: Hefeweizen, Apricot, Thunderhead IPA, Curve Ball, Snow Cap

I need to try Mac’s Spine Tingler (trippel), Sling Shot, and HumBug’r.  Curve Ball is only 18 IBU, even lighter than Sling Shot (and the likes of Blue Heron).

The MacTarnahan’s taproom near Montgomery Park has a respectable happy hour menu and some additional exclusive beers.  I tried an alehouse amber and the limited dunkel, which seem to be Pyramid brews.  Both were excellent.  Might be worth a stop at their Seattle pub.

Now owned by the Gambrinus Company (along with Shiner and Trumer Pils), Bridgeport was founded in 1984.

Best known beers: Hop Czar, Blue Heron, India Pale Ale, Kingpin, Ebenezer

I like Café Negro, but it’s not my favorite porter. Summer Squeeze could be worth trying. Can’t remember if I’ve had Ebenezer, but I’d probably like it: at 40 IBU, it’s  less bitter than Sleighr and Brr.  Blue Heron sounds interesting; I keep confusing it with Full Sail for some reason, maybe their old labels were similar.

Bridgeport has an upscale brewpub in the Pearl, as well as a recently re-vamped Ale House on Hawthorne.  The happy hour at the latter seems awkward, but the late-night weekend hours might do the trick.  If they include discounted beer.

I am poised to abandon Facebook in favor of Twitter+Tumblr, but @HutchHutchinson is taken.  What to use?  Am I SOL?

Ninkasi is based in Eugene, but seems to hold as many Portland taps as HUB or Laurelwood (which are EVERYWHERE).

Who hasn’t heard of these: Total Domination IPA, Believer, Tricerahops, Sleigh’r, Radiant Ale

I was surprised to learn, after recalling enjoying a number of their beers, that only 3 seem to be below 40 IBU (none of which are year-round): Spring Reign, Nuptiale, and Conservation Ale.  Oddly enough, I don’t think I’ve had any of those.  The ReNEWAle 2012 Porter is 38 IBU and I believe I’ve enjoyed that one, but it may become as scarce.

For now, Ninkasi lacks a namesake pub in the Portland area.  I’m hoping I’ll make it to Eugene and check out their home digs sometime.