Tasting

What does Oregon beer taste like? Mostly hoppy, fresh, and more fruity than sweet. A Widmer Hefeweizen smells of citrus and wheat bread, a Deschutes Mirror Pond Pale Ale of orange and blossoms, and a Black Butte Porter of coffee and chocolate.

At a brewpub, beer usually comes in a pint. The US pint holds 16 American fluid ounces, which is 473 milliliters, less than the British pint at 568 milliliters. A simple glass that widens toward the top, the shaker pint, is common. If you're after an IPA's aroma, reach for a tulip glass instead, which collects the scent at the top.

A Pale Ale or IPA shows best at around 7 to 10 degrees Celsius, while a Porter does well at 10 to 13 degrees. If the beer is ice-cold, it closes up and the hops go silent.

When pouring, tilt the glass under the tap and straighten it at the end to build a firm head of foam. Many brewpubs offer a tasting flight: four to six small glasses, each holding around 120 milliliters, so you can compare several styles side by side.

To drink beer in the US, you need to be at least 21 years old, and in Portland, you'll regularly be asked for ID. For a good starting point, try three beers with very different characters: the pale, soft Hefeweizen, the fruity Pale Ale, and the dark Porter.