Portland's mild climate lends itself to the art of beer-making, and breweries around the city do it in fine style. Locals claim their hometown has more brewpubs and microbreweries than any other U.S. city.

The state's oldest operating microbrewery is BridgePort Brewery and Pub (1313 N.W. Marshall St.), founded in 1984 and producing 25,000 barrels annually from a site that once housed rope factory.

At Portland Brewing Co. (2730 N.W. 31st Ave.), customers in the airy, bright, Bavarian-style grill can sip their Zig-Zag River Lager as they watch more being made across the room in giant copper vats. The kitchen turns out a fine salmon-and-potato quesadilla.

Related sites: Portland Brewing Co. BridgePort Brewery and Pub