Eugene Oregon is home to many excellent breweries. For example, Ninkasi Brewing and Steelhead Brewing are well-known, excellent breweries in Eugene and are certainly quality places to visit.

Ninkasi Brewing is one of the better known breweries in Eugene.

However, during my recent Eugene visit I was directed to some brewery diamonds that deliver outstanding brews and are rapidly gaining international recognition in the brewing world – Hop Valley Brewing and Oakshire Brewing.

My guide was Richie G – good friend and relative, excellent guitarist and musician of Richie G and Ma Beat, and leading citizen and business person in Eugene. Thanks Richie G!

Hop Valley Brewing Company

Initially started in 2009 in Springfield, Hop Valley Brewing has grown quickly. Brewmaster Trevor Howard and his father, Ron Howard, are joined in Hop Valley’s ownership group by Jonas Kungys, Chuck Hare, and Jim Henslee. An expanded production brewery and tasting room opened in Eugene in 2013 (in addition to the Springfield location).

Left to right - Richie G, Ron Howard, and Firkin Ron get ready to tour the Hop Valley Brewing facilities. — Left to right – Richie G, Ron Howard, and Firkin Ron get ready to tour the Hop Valley Brewing facilities.

Located on First Street in Eugene, the expansion facility was created from a 1950 building that was brought back to life and featured a combination of state-of-the-art equipment and sustainable construction. For example, virtually every piece of an old barn (circa 1890 and donated by Silver Tail Farms) was used in Hop Valley’s Eugene tasting room and patio area to create a rustic and beautiful sitting area. All of the furniture was hand made from re-purposed local fir and steel. At the same time, every component of the brew house was handpicked to ensure the efficient use of energy and maximize worker safety.

Co-owner Ron Howard graciously gave us a tour of the facility. The tour started with Hop Valley’s 2014 World Beer Cup Bronze Medal winning Citrus Mistress India Pale Ale (IPA). This seasonal IPA (6.5% ABV / 80 IBU) is made with four different hop varieties and added grapefruit peel. Intoxicating citrus, peach, and tropical fruit aromas are accompanied with delicious flavors of grapefruit, pith, pine, and malt biscuit. A wonderfully dry, bitter finish had me ready for another romp with my Citrus Mistress.

This old barn provided much of the wood for the tasting room.

A modern, 60-barrel brewery facility ensures efficient and safe brewing.

The tasting room offers both indoor and expansive outdoor seating.

Expansive outdoor seating is available for good weather days.

The tasting room features twenty-five beers on tap, each listed with detailed information and plenty of opportunities to taste unique, one-time brews.

A large screen displays provides brewing details for popular beers. — An electronic screen displays details for popular beers.

The tasting room also offers a food menu with a nice range of dining selections.

Several large TVs add a sports-bar feel to the tasting room and live music starts at 8 p.m. on Tuesdays. — Several large TVs add a sports-bar feel to the tasting room. Live music starts at 8 p.m. on Tuesdays so look for Richie G and Ma Beat.

The beer selection includes 541 American Lager, Alpha Centauri Imperial IPA, Alphadelic IPA, Citrus Mistress IPA, Czech Your Head Czech Style Pilsner, Double-D Blonde Ale, Proxima IPA, Stepchild Red Ale, VIP Vanilla Infused Porter, as well as, seasonal brews Festeroo Winter Ale and Pollination Summer Ale.

Double -D Blonde Ale is a tasting room favorite and a three-time World Beer Cup Bronze Medal winner (2010, 2012, 2014). The Double-D Blonde provides malt and floral aromas with a delicious flavor of malt biscuit with floral undertones and a crisp finish.

One of my favorite beers was the Alpha Centauri IPA with its intense pine and citrus aromas and delightfully assertive pine and resin flavors.

My tasting flight included Citrus Mistress IPA, Double D Blonde, Wolfe Barleywine, Alphadelic IPA, Alpha Centauri IPA, and a Stout on Nitro. — My tasting flight included Citrus Mistress IPA, Double-D Blonde, Wolfe Barleywine, Alphadelic IPA, Alpha Centauri IPA, and a Stout on Nitro.

Hop Valley is a brewery you don’t want to miss.

A big thanks to Richie G for making the tour possible and to Ron Howard for making us feel very welcome and taking the time to give us a detailed tour!

Oakshire Brewing

Started in October 2006 by brothers Jeff and Chris Althouse, Oakshire Brewing is a 15-barrel production brewery in Eugene, Oregon dedicated to making fine craft beer. Brewmaster Matt Van Wyk is a beer industry veteran with 10 Great American Beer Festival medal awards and 2 World Beer Cup Medal awards that verify his expertise and capability. His awards include a GABF Silver Medal for Oakshire Overcast Espresso Stout.

With their 15 barrel system, Oakshire brews a variety of beer styles, including Northwest Ales, Lagers, Wild Ales, Barrel Aged Beers, Beers with unique ingredients, as well as Traditional Beer Styles.

Year-round beers Watershed IPA, Oakshire Amber, and Overcast Espresso Stout set their flagship product foundation. Seasonal brews include a Winter Ale called Ill-Tempered Gnome, a Cascadian Dark Ale called O’Dark:30, and Summer Line Dry Pale Ale. Single Batch and Brewer’s Reserve beers are also available.

In addition, a line of barrel-aged beers known as the Hellshire series are available. In 2013, Oakshire’s Hellshire III, a single-batch foreign-style stout aged for almost a year in Kentucky bourbon barrels, won the GABF Gold Medal in the Wood- and Barrel-Aged Beer category.

Video courtesy of OakshireVideos.

The tasting room offers indoor and outdoor seating.

Long community tables are provided in the spacious indoor section of the tasting room as well as bar seating.

At least 12 different beers were available for sampling during my visit.

Some of my favorite samples were the Amber Ale, the Watershed IPA, Overcast Espresso Stout (on nitro), and BA Smooth (a Barrel aged session ale consisting of 40% Belgian Pale aged in Heaven Hill bourbon barrels, 40% Belgian aged in Heaven Hill barrels, and 20% sour farmhouse ale).

Oakshire Brewing is a must visit for anyone seeking outstanding craft beer in the Eugene area. Thanks again Richie G for guiding me to this great brewery!