Craft King: Albany, Oregon is the ideal entrance to the Willamette Valley’s craft beverage landscape

Albany is known as the Hub of the Willamette Valley, so if there’s one thing Albany visitors don’t have to think too hard about it’s where to find a local craft beverage. Wineries and breweries are right in the heart of Albany’s booming drink scene.

Wine

Wine lovers can explore 300 wineries within two hours of Albany, starting with Springhill Cellars, a boutique producer of Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris in Albany that boasts a beautiful setting with stunning views of the Coast Range. Just minutes north of Albany is Willamette Valley Vineyards. Reclaimed three decades ago from a tumbledown prune orchard, it now offers one of the state’s most spectacular tasting rooms and award-winning wines.

Cozy up this season at one of the great wineries or breweries of the region

Microbrews

Wine isn’t the only beverage putting Oregon on the map. Beer lovers and brewers flock to the Willamette Valley to sample craft beers. Today’s beer scene is all about variety, creativity and choice. Deluxe Brewing in downtown Albany embraces today’s microbrew revolution producing a slate of smooth, German-style lagers and even artisan spirits under the name Sinister Distilling. Calapooia Brewing Company serves a variety of microbrews including its award-winning Chili Beer, brewed with fresh peppers. Other tasting venues lie just a stone’s throw away including Three Sheets Brewery Tap Room, No Rails Ale House and the Growler Garage and Tap House.

For more on Albany’s beverage scene, visit AlbanyVisitors.com and click on Spirited Cuisine.

Take in the festivities

Special events throughout the year offer unique opportunities to indulge your palate:
• Albany Craft Brew Smackdown
• Mid-Valley Brewfest
• The Taste
• Springhill Cellars’ Federweisser Festival
• Uncorked
• Albany Taps and Caps
• Mixology Madness
• Upstairs Downtown Wine Walk