Background
Founded by Charlie Devereaux, Matthew Jacobson, and Rodney Muirhead in 2016, Wayfinder Beer is located on the Central Eastside of Portland. The tap room is very large, and has a cool brick and beam aesthetic, with exposed brick masonry walls, exposed wood joist ceilings, and hardwood floors. The vibe is cool, cozy, and features abstract artwork throughout. They have a large elevated patio with a firepit and a variety of seating types. They were inspired by travels to Germany and Czechia and wanted to emulate their travels through this brewery. Wayfinder Beer have won almost a dozen awards including “Best New Brewers in the World” in 2018 by Rate Beer.
Experience
We arrived in Portland at night. After checking into the KEX Hotel (a cool hotel/hostel), we walked over to Wayfinder Beer for a pint and some dinner before they closed. We sat on the patio. We tried the Original Cold IPA and Mirrors and Smoke, a Rauchbier. The beer was delicious. The IPA was unique, refreshing, and really celebrated the northwest hops. This beer was developed to showcase the West coast IPA in a new way, without being too intense. The Rauchbier was smooth, and not overly smoky. The beer is German inspired, so we tried the bratwurst and schnitzel sandwich. The food was tasty and filling. Despite being near the end of the night, it was still fairly busy.
Getting Here
The area is pedestrian friendly, and it seems that one would have to use street parking if they were to drive here. There is lodging nearby, and the brewery is in walking distance of several other breweries (Mt. Tabor, Cascade Barrel House, Deschutes Brewery and Modern Times), bars, cafes and restaurants.
