Walking Man Brewing Co.

Walking Man Brewing Co.Walking Man Brewing Co.
Walking Man Brewing Co.Walking Man Brewing Co.
Brewery, Eatery

240 SW First St.
Stevenson, Washington, 98684
United States

(509) 427-5520 | map
walkingmanbeer.com

Hours:
4 to 9 p.m. Wednesday - Friday
3 to 9 p.m. Saturday
4 to 9 p.m. Sunday

Closed Monday - Tuesday
BEER STATS
Average:
3.92
Beers:
28
Ratings:
405
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.14
Reviews:
33
Ratings:
41
pDev:
8.21%
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by cbak999:
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Reviewed by cbak999 from Florida

4.38/5  rDev +5.8%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 5
This place is a hidden gem in a small town - walking down the stairs, and below a "for rent" floor in a 2 story building, I wasn't really sure what to expect....but this small brewery has a awesome number of beers. We sat on the outdoor porch to get out of the sun, but the outdoor biergarten was awesome! Plants and flowers everywhere. And the hop trellises told me that these folks know what they are talking about. We ordered some samples of their IPAs and strong ales. All the beers were super tasty - this place could go big time if not for the small, sleepy town of Stevenson. A "must check out" if ever in the Portland area - it's less than an hour east of town!!
Jun 02, 2007
More User Ratings:
Photo of Pivopijak
Reviewed by Pivopijak from Washington

4.3/5  rDev +3.9%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.25
Down stairs little covered garden and grotto patio at the entrance to the tap room. Small and quite cozy interior, with dark wood beams, wooden booths and heavy custom wrought iron framed, wood stools for some perimeter wood plank counters. The windows are framed by dark green sills, which looks real good with all the wood in the interior. The ceiling is quite low and adds to the ambience. Of the five beers sampled, the Araku Hito Japanese lager and Homo Erectus imperial IPA were the favorites.
Jun 06, 2022
 
Rated: 4.22 by fmakalidude from Washington

Dec 04, 2017
Photo of flagmantho
Reviewed by flagmantho from Washington

3.93/5  rDev -5.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.75 | selection: 4
I visited Walking Man last weekend while passing through the area. I really like the place; it's got an older, worn-in vibe inside and outside has a ton of seating in a relaxed atmosphere. There were 9 taps available when I was there; I had the cherry stout and it was outstanding. They have a kitchen as well, although I did not avail myself of the food. Next time, perhaps!
Sep 17, 2016
 
Rated: 4.13 by MaximumYuks from Oregon

Feb 21, 2016
 
Rated: 4.39 by todds from Oregon

Apr 26, 2015
Photo of MaybeKatie
Reviewed by MaybeKatie from Oregon

3.88/5  rDev -6.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4
A quaint brewery with a warm taproom. The beer selection is good and the menu is great. The place was jumping and the staff took care of the room with ease. A nice place to drink a great beer.
Jan 06, 2015
 
Rated: 4.25 by TheBungyo from Washington

Dec 13, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by Anaxagoris from Washington

Dec 03, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by atpca from California

Jul 16, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by DrMindbender from South Carolina

Jul 14, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by SJbigtuna from Washington

Jul 13, 2014
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Reviewed by barleywinefiend from Washington

3.92/5  rDev -5.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.75 | service: 4 | selection: 4
A: Located in sordove a two story barnish/slash old restraint thing you find Walking Man. While the signage and everything is up on the street level the actual beer garden/restraint is down the hill. We walked up with baby and pooch in tow, no problem. Great, family friendly. We walked inside first and checked out some bar seating, pub tables, nice and clean. Outside on the patio is the beer garden which is partially covered and roomy. Laid back.

Q: Over the years I seen Walking Man quality pea, crash, burn and rise again. They always seem to be up and down lately. Nothing spoiled or awful but my Homo Erectus wasn't the same Homo I recall from years ago but I did try a new Summer Rye Pale Ale which was pretty darn good.

S: All of the servers were, somewhat prompt but pretty laid back to. As far as I am concerned the staff was good. I never waited for a beer so I can not complain.

S: About 8 to 10 beers if I recall, mostly mainstays and staples put they did have the Flip Lop Pils which I always enjoy and one or two new creations. Beer to go, no bottles of course. Great stop for good beer!
Jul 15, 2013
Photo of claspada
Reviewed by claspada from New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -15.5%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.5
Basement style bar, smallish bar with some surrounding seating.

There selection was around 7-10, but nothing that I really was itching to try after sampling so many good beers earlier on. Not a palate fatigue thing but how many IPAs can you have.

Bartender wasn't particularly pleasant which I always find unfortunate. Get a new job.

Did not sample food, just ate at Everybody's. I had their Rye IPA just because I love Rye IPAs, it was good, not great. Clientele was sparse and did not seem engaging at all compared to the scenes in downtown Hood River.

Wish I would have stayed at Everybody's due to the nicer atmosphere and more exciting selection.
Jun 18, 2013
Photo of Rifugium
Reviewed by Rifugium from North Dakota

4.1/5  rDev -1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
This was the final stop on our Hood River road trip day, whilst visiting the fine state of Oregon in December 2011. Making our way amid the torrential rain, through the seemingly quiet town of Stevenson, WA, we found the unassuming brewery on an innocent side road. Going down a flight of stairs, we entered the rather small establishment. Nice intimate atmosphere, sort of like a hunters' lodge, with simple, rustic, rugged decor. We got there just about a few minutes after opening time, and the place was already relatively bumping. A smaller bar seats about 10 people, with a few tables and chairs...I can't imagine more than 50 people fitting in the place, though it seemed like there was an outdoor dining area, but I couldn't really tell what with the ongoing monsoon. Can't say anything bad about the service, and the prices were all reasonable. Beer selection was very good, with all house brews on, of course, and a good variation of styles to choose from among the 12 or so taps. Food was great: I had a pizza, I think a wild mushroom pizza or something, but whatever it was, I remember it being amazing. My wife had just that day discovered how amazing blue cheese was (she never listens to me!), so she indulged in the BBQ wings, which looked amazing as well.

Nothing bad to say about this place, except that it's too far away from me. Easily worth hitting up if you live in the Portland area, and I hope someday to return.
Jan 23, 2012
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Reviewed by Outlawshaw from Missouri

4.53/5  rDev +9.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
My wife and I stumbled upon this place just before the new year of 2010 and finally made it back last weekend for our one year wedding anniversary. We love this place. A great ambiance includes some confusing bathroom doors that say Readers and Dreamers. Once you learn to choose either one, it is really funny watching newbies stand and think about which one they should go in.

The pizza we ordered was fantastic, and the service we received was phenomenal. Maybe it was because we had the appearance of beer aficionados, but we got a free, private tour the first time we were there.

It was amazing to find that all of the beer I sampled was above average. ALL.
Oct 18, 2011
Photo of HuskyinPDX
Reviewed by HuskyinPDX from Washington

3.38/5  rDev -18.4%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3.5 | service: 2.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Ok, so imagine your friend decided to start a brewery. The only problem, is location. So, he decides to turn his mom's house into the brewery and put a bar in the basement. He then puts some tables and chairs is the back yard. That is what Walking man felt like to me. I was expecting this, so that is ok.

The food is better than expected, the service is fine, but slow. The drive out to Stevenson from Portland is the highlight. We went for the beer, and we felt a bit dissapointed. I had the 10 beer sampler, that covered all the Walking Man highlights. I found most of the beers good, but nothing special. I had heard so much about Homo Erectus, that I ordered a Pint, so if it was any better. I didn't even finish it. I even brought along my growler so I could bring some beer back to PDX, but I decided not to. I would mind going back if I was in the area, but I don't think we will ever head that direction just for Walking Man.
May 30, 2011
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Reviewed by ajsuper1221 from Maryland

4.45/5  rDev +7.5%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 4
On a trip to Oregon, I was staying in a hotel near Stevenson so we decided to stop in to the city to get some dinner. After dinner, we walked around town and stumbled upon this place.

It's an old cabin looking place, and down some stairs there is this awesome beer garden area with outdoor seating. It was a beautiful night and the place was hopping.

Inside my dad and I sat at the bar and each ordered the sampler. That came with some small servings of the pale ale, oatmeal stout, and IPA. It was all fantastic. The standout was certainly the Walking Man IPA. It was pretty incredible.

If you're in the area, this place is a must.
Dec 01, 2010
Photo of loren01
Reviewed by loren01 from Washington

3.95/5  rDev -4.6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 3
Went here a while back while in Portland. Just a hour or so drive up the Columbia Gorge to this place. Got there 15 min before they opened and there were people waiting to get in on a Sunday!!! Thought to myself this must be a good sign. There is a beer garden type area outside that people can sit but we ended up going in and grabbing a booth inside. Service was very good, I ended up having a sampler, they had a great selection...didn't expect them to have so many beers there I guess. I think the sampler came with about 9 beers on it. Had some of their pizza which was ok...nothing to write home about but it filled us up and its not like we came for the food anyways. Overall this is a cool place with beer just as good if not better than anything you will get in Portland. Take the scenic drive up the gorge and check it out.
Nov 14, 2010
Photo of djbreezy
Reviewed by djbreezy from Washington

4.4/5  rDev +6.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
Atmosphere is great, not a ton of tables but some great detail work in the bar. Lots of wood, some iron work on the tables and stools.

Mostly high quality taps. Good selection. About 12 taps I believe. Always a good balance between the styles.

Service has been excellent the two times I've gone. Even when busy the servers are attentive. Order times have been good and growler fill times even better.

The pizza is tasty. The food is mostly greasy. Would be nice to see some healthier options.

The patio is nice outside in the summer. Wish this place opened earlier consistently. Doesn't seem to open the doors until about 3 but that's okay. Always worth the drive up from Portland, especially for their IPA selections.
Nov 06, 2010
Photo of jpro
Reviewed by jpro from Colorado

3.9/5  rDev -5.8%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5
Stopped in here during a Columbia River Gorge camping trip last October. A short drive from Ainsworth State Park in Oregon, over the "Bridge of the Gods," I found Walking Man to be a quaint, unobtrusive little nook that could have passed for an old-time general store. There's a nice patio outside the lower level, complete with some hop vines growing along a trellis that outlines the entrance to the bar. The inside / bar area is pretty small - tiny bar with a few tables and booths. On this particular afternoon it was kind of dead, which was a bit of an atmosphere killer. There did seem to be quite a few out-of-towners, though, which was kind of a surprise. The beer selection was all Walking Man - I had the Pale Strider and a Crosswalk Wheat, and was very satisfied with both. I also had a pizza, which wasn't overly tasty, but was enjoyable - after a long day of hiking it did the trick. If I make it back out to the Portland area again, I'll definitely make another trip. Great beer here, for sure.
Sep 14, 2010
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Reviewed by Oxymoron from Colorado

4.13/5  rDev -0.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 5
A trip to WA allow me and a few friends to visit Walking Man on a semi cold spring day. Easy to find and close parking, Walking Man was a pretty small place with some seating inside and a pretty big outside area. There was a good side bar and some seating there as well, but we decided to enjoy the outside instead.

A decent selection of American and English style beers. We tried a few samples but ended up going with pints all around instead. I ended up getting the American IPA and the Barleywine. Both were very tasty with a good west coast hop character. Of the beers everyone had they were well above average. We did have some issues with the Stout but the table was split on the off notes.

We ended up getting pizza, which turned out great. The salmon pizza by far was the best and definitely recommended for anyone thinking of going. The staff was a touch slow with getting refills and etc, but that is ok. We weren't in a hurry. Overall a good time and would suggest a visit if anyone is travelling there.
Apr 16, 2010
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Reviewed by NeroFiddled from Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev +1.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4
I've only been to Washington state once, and my only reason for going was to visit the Walking Man! (Seattle will have to wait).

I'm not sure if it was the day and time (a late Saturday afternoon), but the place was packed. And I'm not surprised, the setting was idyllic. A bagpiper was playing in the small field next door while a dozen or so happy campers lounged in the warm sunshine on the patio with fresh beers and pizza. Inside it was the same, no seats to be found. Fortunately a spot opened up after a quick rip to the restroom.

I enjoyed three beers (Black Cherry Stout, Knuckle Dragger, and Old Stumblefoot) while conversing with some of the locals. I didn't have any food (I'd just come from Full Sail) but it looked good and several items caught my eye: the Chipotle Hummus and the Black and Blue Pizza (made with black olives, blue cheese, and mushrooms).

What really made it special was the vibe. I mean I liked the basic, stripped down look of the place (the concrete bar top, sturdy chairs, camp-like lodge feel, patio, etc.), but that wouldn't work if there weren't good people on botyh sides of the bar. It was fun, and yet really relaxing. I'm not sure when, but I'll be back again!
Aug 02, 2009
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Reviewed by msubulldog25 from Oregon

4.23/5  rDev +2.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4
Our intrepid band of hikers/imbibers (that's me, guldengirl, Metalmonk & bryalli) descended on the tiny town of Stevenson after a day spent on the Oregon side of the Columbia. A quick jaunt across the river at Hood River and, 20 minutes later, we were at Walking Man. Not hard to find, it's a 2-story wood-clad structure, weathered to a perfect 'greyness'. One could enter from First Street above, descending a row of stairs, or round the corner to the taproom/patio level entrance. We circled the block and parked near the sun-bathed patio, perfectly inviting on a warm Friday afternoon. Snagging the last outside table, nestled beneath a shallow overhanging balcony, we settled in for yet another round to cap off the day.

A matronly server greeted us cheerfully and shared the latest specials and beer listings. 10 taps (Walking Man only) flowed on this day; rather than choosing just one, I opted for the sampler, which included such familiar stalwarts as Knuckle Dragger, Walking Stick Stout and Street Walker with some less familiar ones like Abbey Rode, Big Black Homo and Fire Walker (chili pepper-infused malt liquor!). All the beers were satisfying to varying degrees, well-crafted, and showcased the broad-ranging creativity of this brewery. We skipped food, except for a rather tasty portion of spicy/sweet seasoned fries, so I'll forgo a review 'til next time...

Strolled inside for a few minutes...the vibe there is very much that of a comfortable 'neighborhood pub'. Brewer Bob Craig sat at one end of the bar, jawing with friends. A handful of booths were mostly filled on a late afternoon and the din was of subdued liveliness. A handwritten chalkboard menu describes each of the tapped beers; otherwise, there's little decor other than an intriguing collection of beer can relics. Bathroom doors bear the ambiguous monikers 'Readers' and 'Dreamers'.

I owe Walking Man a debt of gratitude for awakening me to the awesomeness of local craft beer a mere 4 summers ago. Several of their beers are usually tapped at my neighborhood watering hole, Concordia Ale House, so we have developed a special bond (hell, I even partially blame my surgically-repaired left ankle on a pint too many of their Perambulator Weizenbock - that's a story for another day). I owed it to them to (finally) make the pilgrimage eastward; the payoff: a completely enjoyable conclusion to a terrific day. Highly recommended and absolutely worth the hour-long drive from Portland. Cheers to Sharon, Jeff and Bryce for sharing a truly memorable afternoon...
May 21, 2009
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Reviewed by Metalmonk from North Carolina

4.26/5  rDev +2.9%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4
It would be difficult not to love this place based on the atmosphere/location alone. Tucked away in the small town of Stevenson, WA, along Hood River and the beauty that surrounds it, we pulled up and it immediately felt like we were crashing the party of some cool folks with a really cool little place in town. We proceeded to grab a table and order some beers. Msubulldog25 (lemme just call him "Brian") got the sampler tray, which ranged from lackluster to great. I had a full glass of the Black IPA (ie. Big Black Homo) which was excellent.

The backyard beer party was in full swing that gorgeous Friday afternoon, and so were our buzzes (we'd been to Full Sail and Double Mountain before this). The garlic fries were just the thing we needed to absorb some of the beer, and I probably could have stayed another few hours and whiled away the evening with their other standout beers (Abbey Rode and Knuckle Dragger). Yeah, the atmosphere trumps their beers, but those are also worth going for. You'll probably never visit another brewpub like it. Recommended!
May 20, 2009
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Reviewed by SickBrew from Washington

4.44/5  rDev +7.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5
This is that place, you know the one just off the main state route that is a diamond in the rough. Thing is you wouldn't find it unless you where looking for it. Most travelers through the scenic Columbia River gorge whiz by since it's a block off the main state route (14).
Well once you find it you will be pleased. This is small local brew pub with a comfortable feel and boasts a welcoming atmosphere from the moment you pass the hop fines on the way in, to when you finish the experience in the bathroom with the homemade hardware fashioned from brewing parts. The selection rocks, the barmaids (bra-less) are friendly and the choices in seating (bar, tables and outside patio) are great. This brew pub is almost like a visit to your pals back yard brewery only it has really good beer. At a little over an hour east of Portland, OR the drive is well worth it.

Prost!
Sep 20, 2008
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Reviewed by GJ40 from North Carolina

4.2/5  rDev +1.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
I've wanted to get to Walking Man for some time now and I finally got my chance. The pub is a small, very simple establishment but it didn't disappoint. It's more or less in an old house. The interior (down at basement level) has a small bar with several tables. It's nicely done with mostly natural woods. Outside they have a patio area with lots if tables. It's great on a nice day. The place really feels like you're in someone's home.

I tried the Big Black Homo (I still can't get over the name) and the IPA. I enjoyed them both. A friend with me had the sampler and passed some of the darker beers my way. They were great too.

We had a couple of appetizers. The jalapeno poppers were about what you'd expect but the garlic fries were fantastic.

Walking Man is a very unique place with some great beers. I highly recommend it.
Jul 26, 2008
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Reviewed by beermebeerman from Oregon

4.6/5  rDev +11.1%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | food: 5
Visited in mid Feb this year. It was raining almost all the way to Stevenson from Portland, until we got about 15 miles away and it turned into snow. By the time we got to Stevenson there was about 6 inches of snow covering the roads.

Got inside out of the cold, got seated, and immediately ordered up a bbq chicken pizza and a raspberry wheat. The bathrooms are kinda cool, not sure which one was the men's but after drinking a couple you'll forget wich one you went into anyways. Atmosphere isn't anything too special, but it's nice. I like the decorating and the woodwork is pretty cool. The barstools look like acid etched metal.

The food was incredible. It didn't look that great and I wasn't very hungry but i finished the whole pizza in short order. The quality of food and beer is exceptional. They had a few seasonals available at the time. The black cherry stout is great.

Overall a great place. If you're in the area plan on making a trip.
Apr 25, 2008
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Reviewed by HardTarget from Texas

4.18/5  rDev +1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
9 tables inside a pretty small bar area, 7 bar stools of welded rebar and metal, custom logo on each. Welded chairs, old time serving platters of beer days gone by, well earned metals hanging over the entrance to the brewery area, old beer cans and framed labels, and large empty malt sacks on the walls. Old books out to help pass the time. Acid etched concrete floors.
Outside patio furniture with tall and fruitful hop bines.

We split Spring rolls and Greek pizza and both were very well done.
Staff was nice, a bit laid back, but not bad.
Prices were very reasonable.

Part of a great day trip out of Portland. Pick a nice day, go hike the gorge, see the falls, drink the beer, go down and check out the landing on the river. We saw some really good wind surfers out there.
Aug 23, 2007
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Reviewed by DaPeculierDane from Wisconsin

4.05/5  rDev -2.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
The Columbia River Gorge is really its own little beer mecca entirely separate from near-by Portland. Walking Man greatly adds to the list of other nearby brewers. I really can’t think of another part of the country that is so wild and unpopulated and yet so loaded with good breweries.

Atmosphere: Walking Man is housed in an old building a couple blocks above the Columbia River in a small Washington town. It boasts a tremendous patio complete with bagpiper the day we were there and filled up quickly even though we arrived just as they were opening in the late afternoon. The interior is comprised of a medium sized L-shaped wooden bar in a rather dark, timber filled room. Well designed Walking Man merchandize and art along with some brewerania decorates the place well. I enjoyed looking at the old beer cans, bottle openers, and most of all some photos of soldiers in Iraq sharing a Walking Man growler with a few Iraqis. There is no Men’s room, a fact the three ladies behind the bar seemed proud of. Instead one finds a room labeled dreamers complete with Picasso replicas, slightly altered to contain Walking Man products and a great landscape of drunken sheep drinking…you guessed it…Walking Man. Another room named “Readers” displays dozens of beer related quotes all over its walls. The actual brewery sits just beyond these two rooms and can be partially viewed through a glass window on a door.

Tap selection was fairly large for a brewery of this size. I started with a Jay Walker, a wonderful RIS named after a late patron, moved onto a Homo-erectus, and Walking Stick (oatmeal) Stout, then a taster of everything, and finally a growler of Knuckle Dragger, a hoppy Strong Ale. Other available beers included Cross Walk Wheat, a Helles lager, an IPA, a tasty raspberry beer, and there popular and widely distributed Black Cherry Stout, a beer that I found to be drain pour worthy and reminiscent of generic cherry cough syrup, bleigh!!! All other beers were good to phenomenal. Oh…and a barley wine, I had a very strong, yet completely un-boozey barley wine. Mmm…

Food mainly consists of pizzas. They’re very good. The topping selection is diverse and the ingredients are of high quality. There were also a couple of sandwich options.

Other notes: The bar stools are the heaviest I’ve ever seen. Their growler art is some of my favorite. They don’t open until late in the day. If you are into the outdoors, drive 20 minutes NW to Panther Falls, more spectacular then Multnomah, located on FR 65 exactly 4.6 miles past the entrance to Panther Creek NF camp ground. It’s a nice place to enjoy a growler.
Aug 02, 2007
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Reviewed by MikeFromMarsPA from Pennsylvania

4.36/5  rDev +5.3%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4
When you're on a long cross-country road trip, sometimes you pass by really good breweries at odd hours. We went through Stevenson, Washington at around 11:30am Wednesday morning, but since this place had such good reviews, we figured we'd try to find it.

The place was closed when we got there, but we went around back where a garage door was open to the brewing area, and struck up a conversation with the two brewers who were working there. We told them that we were from the East Coast in the area touring breweries, and they pretty much stopped what they were doing for 20 minutes to show us around, give us a few samples, and trade growlers. They recommended a bunch of other breweries in the area for us to stop at, which is a really good sign that they're more interested in the beer than the money.

I can't say anything about the food, or the atmosphere of the pub when it's open, but when the view out the back of the brewery area is the Columbia River Gorge, who cares? Judging by the samples of beer and the great brew team, I could tell this was a great place.

I said something to the one brewer, lamenting the fact that they were only open after 4pm, Wednesday through Sunday. His response was, "If we were open more, we'd have to work more." I couldn't argue with that logic. They've got the real thing going on here at Walking Man, so check it out.
Jul 12, 2007
Photo of John_M
Reviewed by John_M from Washington

4.28/5  rDev +3.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
Hard to know where to start when reviewing this brewpub. Let's start with the beers.


For those who like big beers (like myself, for instance), this place is fabulous. The regular line-up is excellent, no doubt, with my favorites including the Homo Erectus and knuckledragger. (an imperial IPA and a "strong ale." It's noteworthy that the knuckledragger is hoppier then a lot of IPA's I've tried from "lesser" brewers) However, in my opinion it's the seasonals and speciality beers that really set this place apart. Aside from the regular HE, the brewer has also made an incredible bourbon based version and an even better wet hop version ("my big phatt homo" - hey, it never hurts to have a bit of a sense of humor as well IMO). The Jaywalker imperial stout is also excellent, a beer I would have to count (along with the Abyss) as one of the best of its kind in the NW. The perambulator and somnambulator are to die for (I couldn't get enough of this fabulous nectar when they had it on at Concordia last winter), and the high road scotch ale is big, rich, sweet and complex. Alas (or perhaps fortunately), the brewer never has on more then one or two of the specialty beers noted above, so one must make numerous repeat trips to try everything. Hmmmm.... now that I think about it, maybe that's not so awful or arduous a task after all.

The place itself is hard to describe. I always come into town (Stevenson) from the bridge of the gods, so I'm coming from the West. The BP is on a quiet side street next to the railroad tracks, and is below the street where you park your car. You then walk down the stairs to a very comfortable beer garden. The WM folks usually have a fire going outside during winter nights, while in the summer you sit outside and relax in the cool breeze on a warm summer day. I've always found the service here to be quick and friendly, whether you sit outside or inside the cozy tap room. As for the food, while the selection is small, I highly recommend the black and blue pizza and the salmon spread pizza. Both are quite good and go well with the beers here.

The hours here are a bit odd; they're not open for lunch and they close early during the week and on weekends. Still, if you are into good beer and are in the Portland area, this place is a must visit. Cheers!
Jan 31, 2007
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Reviewed by slander from New York

4.1/5  rDev -1%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4
This Pacific North West is some pretty country. We did a stretch up the Columbia River after brunch and I found the landscape to be similar but different to the North East all at once and then completely not at all and then once and again around a different bend. All the beer is new and unfamiliar; at least from the places I've never seen or heard of. Am really diggin' the little locals. It was mostly a winded highway stretch hugging the river but we've now hit a little bridge. There was no toll; we just had to provide answers to 3 questions to get across the bridge (Sir Lancelot of Camelot; To seek the Holy Grail; Blue)...

A light stumble around Stevenson, Washington brings you upon Walking Man. As we arrived most timely just before they were opening, we had to mull around suspiciously for a few minutes outside with the other early shows in the garden seating area (8 tables and another 4 under the deck). It's a small tight place but it does the trick. The "J" shaped bar in the corner seating 7 sports heavy weighted bar stools with their brewery logo cut in the diamond plate seat backings. 3 raised bar tables, a pair of center picnicish tables, and a pair of booths on each side of them. The bar back is a green wood unit with 4 shelves to both sides of a center arched mirror and a tower of 10 taps below running it's width. Taps are listed on a blackboard on the bar back wall and an old beer can display running above, stacked high with a handful of old bottles and some glassware. Acid etched concrete floor & bar top, the walls with paneled wood lowers and the uppers painted pale green with dark green trims, and a giant wood cross beam above. Drop lighting over the booths, tables and bar, the walls decorated with malt bags, old beer trays, coasters, steins, and brewery hats & shirts. The center post behind the bar holds a collection of some 2 dozen bottle openers, old railroad spike coat rack on a post and wrought iron coat hooks on the booths. There's a bunch of beer books on the window sill, and others on backpacking, hiking, gardening, Mt Saint Helens, and the birds of Washington state (chick-a-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee). Some Walking Man posters, GABF metals, and awards from World Beer Cup, Portland Beer & Wine Festival, 2006 Strong Ale Festival, etc posted near the bathrooms (one marked "dreamers", the other one "readers") and the entrance to a small brewery you can view through the glass door.

As we had brunched just before heading out here, we didn't eat, but I had a quick look at the menu just the same. Nearly a dozen apps and salads and 9 pizza options. No, I was really needing to deal with a beer sampler just now.

The sampler included all 10 beers on tap. The Walking Stick Stout, an oatmeal, nice roastiness; the Saaz Quatch Pils was a big pils at 7%, spicy, with an excellent hoppy bite; the Black Cherry Stout was like a good black cherry soda with a coffee finish, just excellent; the Pale Strider APA was pleasant, not too big a bite; the Homo Erectus Impy IPA was real big at 9%; the Lightfoot Lager, a Helles, was light and crisp; the Walking Man IPA was a good northwest style IPA; the Knuckle Dragger was a strong pale ale at 6.5%, the Crosswalk Wheat done with orange blossom honey, filtered, and strangely nice; the Ramblin' Raspberry was filtered and sweet. The standouts were the Black Cherry Stout, Walking Stick Stout, Crosswalk Wheat, and the Walking Man IPA. Drafts are available in 12 oz, 16 oz, 20 oz glasses and 60 oz pitchers.

Well worth the ride out to Washington.
Oct 23, 2006
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Reviewed by oggg from California

3.95/5  rDev -4.6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 3
April 06

I drove the Columbia River on the Oregon side and it was nice and sunny and full of lush greenery, hit Full Sail for some heavy pub grub, and then drove back on the Washington side with breathtaking views of Oregon including Mt Hood. I stopped at Stevenson to try out this highly acclaimed brewpub.

There's a sign for Walking Man but the building looks derelict as you approach it from the street. You take the stairs down and there's a nice little courtyard with about a dozen outdoor tables and chairs. No water view but it's really quiet and happy on a sunny day. Inside, the brewpub is dark but cozy. Specially welded metal logos adorn the barstools. People at the bar on both sides are friendly and eager to strike up conversation.

Unfortunately, they were out of the IPA when I got there. Huge disappointment. I had their super sampler, of which the Knuckle Dragger was probably my favorite. The brewer attempts many many different styles and does well at them all, although I have to admit that nothing really made me drop to the floor and thank the beer gods.

Food: We had a sundried tomato pizza with cheddar and mozzarella. Heavy and greasy, the thin crust style, it just didn't float my boat.

The logo of the walking man and all the walking related beer names is genius. I ended up taking a pint glass home

Overall: I need to try the IPA, but hopefully I can get it next time I'm in Portland. If you're doing the Columbia River, you HAVE to come back on the Washington side for great views, and the Walking Man makes a nice break from the drive.
May 10, 2006
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Reviewed by charlatan from Scotland

4.33/5  rDev +4.6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
I was very impressed with this place. It took a while to coordinate an arrival when Walking Man was actually open (it only deigns to sell beer for around 24 hours a week), but this trip made an earlier failure to find the brewpub open seem worthwhile.

The setting is second only to the Pelican Brewery on the Oregon coast in terms of beauty in my humble experience. Walking Man is in a pleasant small town in the midst of the grand Columbia Gorge, and we were fortunate enough to find a sunny evening on the patio. The small beer garden was full of regulars (not surprising when you study the other bars in the town), the bar was very tastefully decorated and even the bathroom was clean.

Service was friendly. I had a little of my friend's pizza which I enjoyed and some spicy cajun fries which were fine too.

Of course I was more interested in the beer. I shared the sampler tray with my companions, and followed it up with a pint of Homo Erectus (positive review!). I couldn't find a poor beer among the ten in the sampler. Most of their beers seem more potent than average, and some of the stronger ones are very sweet, but they seem to do a good job in every style they attempt.

Consider me very impressed. I'll likely come back to see how the place shapes up in winter.
Jul 14, 2005
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Reviewed by RedDiamond from Oregon

4.5/5  rDev +8.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
I like the slowness inherent in the name. Walking Man suggests a certain deliberateness consistent with the art of craft brewing. It also makes an inviting icon for the outdoor recreational opportunities afforded by the Columbia Gorge.

Walking Man may have a few draught accounts in Portland and beyond, but Stevenson’s only brewpub is built to serve the clientele of a small town. There’s four booths and two freestanding tables here. Everything is Irish green. A few wall tables and the six-seater bar round out the inner dimensions, though in sunny weather, no one sits indoors. The furnishings and artifacts were all built by local craftsmen. The barstools are welded of rebar. The floor and bartop are acid-etched concrete. Even the doorhandle is handcrafted ironwork. Rest assured, the same commitment to handcrafted detail that makes Walking Man a fine place to sit down, extends to the house beers. And the pizza.

First, the pizza. This is honestly some of the best pizza you’ll find in Cascadia. It’s fresh, artistic, original, and delicious. You won’t have to settle for mere pub fare at Walking Man. Along with the award winning beers, the pizza provides an equally compelling reason to visit. Last time I had the salmon pizza with dill cream cheese and capers on it. That may sound like a strange combination to some, but believe me, it was fabulous.

Ten taps are usually flowing; all house beers, no guests, no cask, and no nitro. The beers tend to be aromatic, strong, and fortified with locally grown hops. Some folks claim Walking Man’s IPA is among the best in the state. I’m not ready to concur with that, but their imperial IPA and their Scotch ale are rock solid. Enjoy them at one of the outdoors tables if you can. The brewpub is just a few hundred meters from the Columbia River, and while the river itself is obstructed, the manicured garden and views of the gorge will enhance your Walking Man experience. It’s also a great place to watch the trains roll by.

The WM brewpub sits somewhat below street level and its interior doesn’t optimize the local scenery. I wish it did, but then again, this isn’t a tourist draw. It’s a local watering hole full of loyal regulars. The brew house sits to your right as you walk through the front door. It is immaculate and accented with lots of copper and stainless steel. Bring a growler or expect to purchase one at the bar. A visit to Walking Man is a rare treat and you’ll want to take something home with you.
May 09, 2005
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Reviewed by beercollector from Oregon

3.83/5  rDev -7.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5
This time of year they do not open until 4 PM. I was at the nearby Skamania Lodge for a conference and got a chance to break away and do their tastings. The brew pub is downstairs down the street from the post office.

There is a small bar with heavy stools. Then there are several booths. Tastings are most fun at the bar. The server knows her stuff and gave me a second taste of one that I thought was not too hoppy and they said was 100 IBU's. I still could not taste the hops. Probably too many beers in the sequence.

The server welcomed us and setup the 10 beer 4 oz. tasting. A bit much for one person. Good thing we had a driver. 40 oz. of high ABV beers. These were some really special beers.

Had their appetizers. These were really good and need to clean out between beers.
Mar 27, 2005
Photo of sinistersteve
Reviewed by sinistersteve from Washington

3.53/5  rDev -14.7%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3 | food: 3.5
Don't bother getting here early, well, in the summer anyway. Summer hours are 4-9 W-F and 3-8 sat. and sun. Upon reading some of the literature around the bar I found out that one of the FAQ’s is the fact that why there is no men’s room. I found out these unisex restrooms are designated for "readers" and "dreamers".

Beer selection is limited to their own beers only. 10 different flavors were available when I visited. Growlers are available to go, roughly 10 bucks to refill (refills are poured directly off the tap into the bottle, much like one would fill a water bottle from the kitchen sink. Growlers were then topped off from a beer pitcher). I had a taster platter to see which ones were going to go home with me in the growlers. Most beers were tame, but the big ones were defiantly not for the timid. Homo Erectus and the Knuckle Dragger were my two favorites. They also introduced a pilsner the weekend I was there and it was very tasty as well. Perfectly refreshing on a hot afternoon out in the beautiful Columbia River Gorge.

Food was decent, selection not great though. Several different flavors of pizza and some appetizers appear on the menu. As I was enjoying my pizza the air-raid sirens started going off. As I performed the "duck and cover" move under one of the tables in the bar I was told that it was meant for the volunteer firefighters in this small town. I dusted myself off and continued to enjoy my meal.

Service was very “small town” friendly. Any question you asked got a pleasant answer. The locals seemed fun too.

Nice place to come visit.
Jun 21, 2004
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Reviewed by weefisheads from Oregon

4.53/5  rDev +9.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
Knowing this only as the home of Homo Erectus - an Imperial IPA that has won a boatload of awards and accolates - I really didn't know what I was headed for when I set out on the 45 minute trip from Portland. But I couldn't wait to get there!

Except for the large Walking Man logo on the side of the building, you wouldn't guess this is a brewery/brewpub as from street level it just looks like a house. However, the fact that it occupies no more than what amounts to the downstairs of a house really captures the essence of what this place is all about - a neighborhood bar that is all about beer.

Not to say we didn't enjoy everything else about Walking man - au contrair! The quatro formage pizza I had (well, tres formage really since I asked 'em to hold the bleu cheese) was outstanding, and the menu seemed to have many promising options. I also loved the atmosphere - despite being somewhat simple, the homey-ness made it a comfortable place to spend time. In addition, the folks working there were all very enthusiastic about their beer and eager to answer questions. I also had a pleasant chat with some random bloke at the bar whilst waiting for me wife to return.

Friendly folks!

But as mentioned previously, it's the beer that keeps bringing folks in from near and far. In step with my usual MO, I ordered the sampler to maximize what I could try. While I knew what to expect with the Homo Erectus, I was very pleased with all 10 of the beers on the sampler tray. And in my very humble opinion, there were several beers that were better than the highly flaunted HE.

In summery, even if you aren't headed to Stevenson, WA, to enjoy some pretty impressive Mountain & River scenery, this is the kind of brewpub that puts a place on the map. I loved every minute of my first visit and can't wait to go back.
May 24, 2004
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Reviewed by Thrasher from Oregon

4.6/5  rDev +11.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
On the north side of the Columbia River Gorge, Walking Man is an excellent brewpub with the emphasis entirely on beer. Stevenson is a pretty small town surrounded by awe-inspiring hills, and the nearby train tracks provide some real Northwest atmosphere. It's a small, unfussy place currently in the basement of a building, with a medium-sized beer garden outside. I got the impression that they might expand upstairs, since the storefront was vacant. Plan ahead when you go, since the winter hours are very selective: 4-9 Wed-Sat. They will expand their hours after Memorial Day.

As far as the beer goes, it is fantastic. Walking Man is easily one of the best breweries in the Northwest. The Homo Erectus Imperial IPA is their most famous beer, and the one available on draft around the Portland area, but I actually liked it the least of all the beers I tried there. I should point out, though, that the Homo Erectus DOES taste better at the source than it does in Portland bars. In addition to HE, there were 9 other beers available, and they are all excellent. In particular, the Pale Strider pale ale, High Road strong Scottish ale, and a damn fine IPA, one of the best IPAs I've ever tried. I got a growler of that one.

The food is a selection of bar appetizers and pizza. We tried some tasty jalapeno poppers. Service was entirely friendly and helpful, and did not get annoyed as we waffled endlessly about which beer we wanted to try next. They were a little suspicious of our note-taking, though.

Go to Walking Man! I am ashamed it took me as long to get out there as it did. Bring your empty growlers, and be certain to check out the restrooms.
Apr 27, 2004
Walking Man Brewing Co. in Stevenson, WA
Brewery rating: 3.92 out of 5 with 405 ratings