Eugene Recommendations and Autzen Tailgating?

[BYUTexan]

BYU fan here, I will be arriving in Eugene, Friday the 16th and was looking to visit some of the local breweries and taprooms, looking to do a "pub crawl" during that day so to speak to check out the local craft beer scene, but I didn't realize how many breweries and taprooms there are in Eugene so I'm a bit overwhelmed with all of the different options in choosing which ones to go to. Here are the ones I'm considering (in no particular order):

1. Alesong on 5th

2. Oakshire Public House

3. Beergarden

4. Ninkasi Better Living Room

5. Elkhorn

6. Hop Valley

7. Cold Fire

8. Wildcraft Cider Works

9. Gratitude

10. Claim 52

11. Falling Sky

12. The Beer Stein

13. Tap And Growler



Can y'all help me narrow down the choices based on your recommendations? Also, is there a bus system that we could take in between stops at these places so that we won't have to drive or is it all walkable (within walking distance and with sidewalk access, etc)?



Tailgating: what is the tailgating scene like and what should we expect that day? Since it will be an earlier game (12:30), I'm guessing there won't be that much tailgating and breakfast options will be limited? Anyone here hosting a tailgating party for that morning/day?



Thank you!

[Duck07]

Is this a trick question? A BYU fan asking for beer recommendations?

[BYUTexan]

Is this a trick question? A BYU fan asking for beer recommendations?

I'm not your typical BYU fan, lol.

[pdxduck2013]

BYU fan here, I will be arriving in Eugene, Friday the 16th and was looking to visit some of the local breweries and taprooms, looking to do a "pub crawl" during that day so to speak to check out the local craft beer scene, but I didn't realize how many breweries and taprooms there are in Eugene so I'm a bit overwhelmed with all of the different options in choosing which ones to go to. Here are the ones I'm considering (in no particular order):

1. Alesong on 5th

2. Oakshire Public House

3. Beergarden

4. Ninkasi Better Living Room

5. Elkhorn

6. Hop Valley

7. Cold Fire

8. Wildcraft Cider Works

9. Gratitude

10. Claim 52

11. Falling Sky

12. The Beer Stein

13. Tap And Growler



Can y'all help me narrow down the choices based on your recommendations? Also, is there a bus system that we could take in between stops at these places so that we won't have to drive or is it all walkable (within walking distance and with sidewalk access, etc)?



Tailgating: what is the tailgating scene like and what should we expect that day? Since it will be an earlier game (12:30), I'm guessing there won't be that much tailgating and breakfast options will be limited? Anyone here hosting a tailgating party for that morning/day?

Thank you!

I think it really depends on what style of beer you like. I'll speak just to the breweries I know from either visiting them in Eugene or having their beers on tap somewhere in the Portland area/being in grocery stores:
-Ninkasi is known for its IPA's but also has one of the more popular Oatmeal Stouts in the state.
-Claim 52 has some pretty good IPAs, but I'd argue that their specialty is smoothie beers, where they're up there among the very best in the area.
-Alesong is best known for Saisons, Sours, and Barrel Aged Stouts. They're all very good and they win awards at just about every beer festival.
-Hop Valley is owned by Coors now, so they distribute to a sizeable portion of the country now but their beer is good.
-Oakshire does a little bit of everything. When I hear their name, I always think of their Espresso Stout because I think that's what is most widely distributed.
-ColdFire has a lot of Pilsners and IPAs on tap at bars and tap houses in the Portland area and everything I've had from them has been pretty good.

[rockthief]

yes

[Duck07]

Is this a trick question? A BYU fan asking for beer recommendations?

I'm not your typical BYU fan, lol.

Well as far as transport goes, it looks like LTD got rid of the specialized Bus routes on game-days and instead a private carrier called First Student runs that. I've found it to be a good option for getting dropped off right at Autzen and getting out after the game since I don't live in Eugene anymore.

https://www.eugenecascadescoast.org/reg ... l/parking/

The best first viewing of Autzen in my opinion has to be from the South going "over the river and through the woods, to Autzen stadium we go!" This is also a good location if you're trying to hock t-shirts for the game (or get one).

A lot of the parking/tailgate sections have been turned into athletic fields, notably the baseball and soccer stadiums so the indoor practice facility is the 12$/beer tailgate section. The Boy Scout lot on the North side of Autzen and the BMX track are my two favorite spots so if you're the friendly type without too many friends, you could probably find a few friendly Ducks to hang out with. The 12:30 kickoff does grind into some of that pre-game fun.

Good Luck and if you really want to people-watch to get a feel for Eugene, just go to the downtown LTD bus station and you'll see it all.

[BYUTexan]

Wow, thanks guys!

Any recommendations as far as parking on the day of the game? Looks like there are few options with not much parking near the stadium and I just tried booking an Uber but there are no rides available. This should be interesting.

Does The Cooler allow you to park there if you go there to eat breakfast?

[Zyme]

The baseball stadium, PK Park, often opens its beer gardenright next to Autzen. If you are looking for good watering holes around campus Rennes landing is another intuition right of campus (great food too, and right around the corner from the flagship Ducks Store). Tracktown pizza is another long established place to get food and libation. Both locations are nearby where the southbank trail (looks like they've renamed it the Ruth Basecom bike path) leaves off of to get to the stadium via the Autzen footbridge.

Further afield you are in the middle of Willamette Valley wine country. If you have some time a winery tour is def worth the time.

[R bar Duckaholic]

All great options- Coldfire is a fun place to start on gameday as you can walk from there through alton Baker park to Autzen- also the food trucks they have are fantastic. Not sure if I saw gratitude on your list but that might be worth a stop as well, and Ninkasi Better Living Room has a great foos menu.

[BYUTexan]

Gratitude is on my list of places. I want to try their fruit infused beers, they look really good. Do you know if Coldfire would allow us to park there so we can do some pre-game drinking and post-game drinking as well?

[lukeyrid13]

For parking, I suggest parking somewhat near Matthew Knight Arena and then walking over the bridge into Autzen. It's probably a 20 minute walk but well worth it. The staff lots nearby are also open to all on weekends.

For tailgating, I'd try the Masonic Lodge area. Folks there tend to be very friendly / liberal when it comes to sharing drinks & corn hole games etc.

If you do park at / near Coldfire, allow a lot of extra time. So many roads will be blocked or manned by traffic cops that moving 2 blocks can take 20 minutes.