Wayfinder Beer

Wayfinder BeerWayfinder Beer
Wayfinder BeerWayfinder Beer
Brewery, Bar, Eatery

304 SE 2nd Ave
Portland, Oregon, 97214
United States

(503) 718-2337 | map
wayfinder.beer
BEER STATS
Average:
4
Beers:
85
Ratings:
1,029
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.23
Reviews:
12
Ratings:
24
pDev:
5.67%
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Sir_Goatman:
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Rated by Sir_Goatman from Oregon

4.23/5  rDev 0%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.25 | food: 4.25

Jun 24, 2019
More User Ratings:
Photo of flagmantho
Reviewed by flagmantho from Washington

4.04/5  rDev -4.5%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.25 | service: 3.75 | selection: 4 | food: 4
I stopped by Wayfinder a few weeks back while visiting Portland with friends. They had 11 beers on tap when I was there, with 5 IPAs (including the original cold IPA!), festbier, grisette, Vienna lager, two Pilsners, and a helles. If you like lagers and big IPAs, this is clearly your place! I quite enjoyed the hazy IPA and original cold IPA, but the real standout for me was the grisette; their take on the style is a sour, but it was mild and refreshing and just plain good.

The taproom is a cool brick and wood space with a great big patio area. It feels like an old refurbished warehouse or something -- it probably is just that, in fact. Service at the bar is friendly but maybe not the promptest in the world. Still, a good place. We had various bar snacks and everything was tasty.
Oct 12, 2023
 
Rated: 4.36 by The_Kriek_Freak from Pennsylvania

Oct 08, 2023
 
Rated: 4.16 by Lucnifter from California

Sep 28, 2023
 
Rated: 3.82 by West_Chester_Ale_Tester from Ohio

May 01, 2023
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Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho

4.24/5  rDev +0.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3.75
Down amongst some warehouses, although it seems like the area is starting to turn over. Freshly scrubbed industrial vibe, large open spaces. Good crowd at lunch time. Food is also good. Small tap list, focusing on a few styles.
Apr 17, 2023
Photo of StonedTrippin
Reviewed by StonedTrippin from Colorado

4.29/5  rDev +1.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.25
this place is incredible, so worth driving from just about anywhere to visit it, ill probably come here for at least a few every time i come to portland. really neat space, not sure what was in here before, but the building seems industrial and old, very unique too. huge patio out front elevated above the street, fireplace, dog friendly, looks like it probably pops off out here when it isnt winter. inside is gorgeous, old brick, super funky art, and a cool and inviting atmosphere. we grabbed a booth to the right of the bar, but there is seating all over, a separate dining room sort of area in back to the left, the kitchen below on a slightly lower level, and the brewery in the back, visible from the walk to the restroom, just a fabulous space and layout and they have done a great job making a big space comfortable. known for their lagers, thats what we mostly drank, a killer rauchbier, a badass baltic porter, a snappy czech pils, a cool export or dortmunder type, downright killer beers across the board in here. i was mildly less impressed with their hazy ipa, but thats not really what you come here for i dont think. the quality is through the roof, and its obvious that pains are taken for authenticity in these styles from decoction mashing to ingredient sourcing, the beer is just dope! friendly service for a busy friday night, delicious looking food although we didnt partake, and overall a place i wanted to spend a whole lot more time than we had. looking forward to my next visit already, highly recommend them for ambiance and beer quality, among the best in a very beery city, not to be missed!
Feb 21, 2023
Photo of jmdrpi
Reviewed by jmdrpi from Pennsylvania

3.94/5  rDev -6.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.75 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Nice space in an old building near the river. Big deck out front with lots of outdoor tables. Inside is bar and other seating in the bar room and a side room. Exposed brick and old wooden beams. 11 beers on tap, Helles, a couple pilsners, altbier, Bock, "Cold" IPAs, WC IPA, hazy IPA, doppelbock. They've got a full food menu too, we only had the Asada Fries but they were tasty.
Apr 24, 2022
 
Rated: 4.21 by REVZEB from Illinois

Oct 09, 2021
Photo of slander
Reviewed by slander from New York

4.26/5  rDev +0.7%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.25 | food: 4.25
Out for tomorrow’s tomorrow’s Festival of Dark Arts on the coast, that will surely be trouble. But we’re now winding down our first day play (kind of). Annie had met up with us earlier but then ditched us as she's an early crasher, and we've got another two three in us yet, so what's next? We had parked a sweet slander spot at HotD, and then left the car there and walked over here and then halfway in, the fucking rain came because, Portland. Still, it was too good a spot to give up…

Some sort of wrapping exterior space maze that I suspect I will revisit, and then up and in at the bar; phat slab wood topped ‘L’ shaped with service space halfway through it, black panel base, & a light foot box. Seating for roughly a dozen on hightop chairs. Barback wall is black panel with a mirror over the taps on center; 2 barbell towers with logo handles 8 & 8. The beer list is printed on the wall to the left of the taps (curiously, it’s just the name of the beer, that’s it; no style, ABV, serving size, or pricing), alongside shelved crowls, glassware, medals, and obviously, a skull. Booze shelved to the right over glassware countered below. Mesh piece above the bar for the hiding of shit behind, drop slat glassware racking running the length over the bar, and a center 6 tap tower on the center service area bar from wherest they must reasonably pour something.

Big brick space with tall framed vertical center doors and then panel windows on the ends up front over the exterior space. Slat wood floors & rafter ceilings with drop pan lamps about the floor, and sunken spots over the bar & from the overhang. Shorty corner table & 3 booths on the far wall for the sitting at. Logo brewery prints framed, a corner can cooler, & through the arch to the side room for seating.

Two looooooong plank shared tables on double benchings, and then a pair of 2-seaters on the side wall and another pair on the rear wall. Light bar counter space down that little corridor to the rear there (me, pointing) overlooking the brewing equipment & swag displayed across the way. Brick walls with a bit of art here, concrete floors, and a slat wood ceiling with box lamps above.

Continue through down to the lower forward area fronting the kitchen & offering porch views. 10 tables, some on shared benchings for the push together. Strung ping pong ball lighting overhead across the room, and art pieces from old school posters on the far wall.

11 house beers (Hell, Lagerbier Hell, 4.7%; Panoply White, Blonde Hefeweizen, 5.1%; Czech AF, Decocted Pils, 4.9%; Export 66, Dortmunder, 5.6%; Devil’s Blend, Coffee Lager, 5.3%; UK Pale, British Pale Ale, 4.2%; Hidden Hand, Black Lager, 5.2%; Shamanic Whip 2: The Whip Returns, Hazy Pale Ale, 5.2%; Relapse IPA, Cold IPA, 7%; Flower in the Kettle, Hazy IPA, 6.5%; Weizenbock, Von Ebert collab, 7%), + 4 guest taps; 2 beers (Holy Mountain Demonteller, 5%; Chuckanut Baltic Porter, 8.2%), and 2 ciders (Tieton Dry Apple Cider, 6.9%; Son of Man Sagardo Basque style Cider, 6%).

I hit 4 of them on sampler (Hell, Lagerbier Hell; Czech AF, Decocted Pils; Export 66, Dortmunder; Von Ebert, Weizenbock). Dortmunder for the WIN, with the Helles & Weizenbock coming in not so far behind. The Pils was no slouch either, but in retrospect, I should have gone for the Black Lager as the 4th beer in the sampler. No, I take that back. I should have just added the Black Lager on.

Food, yeah, seriously, I could eat. Started with the elk chili (cheddar, crema, & green onion), and it was lovely. Followed by the smoked chicken wings (buffalo verde sauce & cotija cheese). I asked and was told “smoky more so than heat”. Well they were both and they was gooood. I’m not naming names (‘cause I can’t remember who it was), but one of the unusual suspects apparently commented ‘liking on my salmon fish & chips’.

Outside multi-angled section of crazy holds long picnic tables & benches closer in and then less than a dozen shortys on wraparound bench seating in the forward section out past the firepit, and then more seating on the wraparound dead-ending nook sections on the ends. It’s a bully exterior space, it is.

Excellent food & drink, really cool space. We like, a lot.
Jun 22, 2021
 
Rated: 3.63 by DOCRW from Kentucky

Apr 24, 2021
 
Rated: 4.5 by jheimbigner from Washington

Nov 10, 2020
Photo of chrisjws
Reviewed by chrisjws from California

4.36/5  rDev +3.1%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
Been here a few different times over the years.

The space is excellent, there's a massive patio area outside with adequate shade for those days when the sun comes out. Inside there's a bar area and ample seating.

The beer selection is outstanding if you're a lagerhead. Pilsners of every stripe. Helles beers and more. All of these are high quality and extremely tasty.

The food is underwhelming my last few visits, it barely grades above bar food. I'll keep that mark from going too low for now, as in years past I found it much better.

Worth seeking out, and worth a long chill on the patio with a pint of pils!
May 06, 2020
 
Rated: 4.39 by RiceOwls27 from Texas

Feb 14, 2020
 
Rated: 4.69 by mattmarka1 from Minnesota

Oct 21, 2019
 
Rated: 3.98 by Spaceman_Jer from Colorado

Jun 04, 2019
Photo of TerminalDegree
Reviewed by TerminalDegree from Oregon

4.56/5  rDev +7.8%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5
The vibe is perfect, spacious but homey deck on the east side of downtown. The Quality is exceptional, from the lagers, to the British best bitter, Märzen and Barleywine. Wayfinder is top shelf, effortless excellence that is hiding in an intentionally ego-less shell. I saw the owner clearing tables and chatting folks up and that approach is across the staff. Rarely on tap do you find such quality with a lack of holier-than-thou BS. The styles on tap match the vibe, approachable but spectacular like a well staffed national park without the tour busses. Did not try the food but folks looked happy. If you end up in PDX find a way to Wayfinder.
Apr 13, 2019
 
Rated: 4.15 by denver10 from New Mexico

Feb 23, 2019
Photo of elNopalero
Reviewed by elNopalero from Michigan

4.44/5  rDev +5%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
This place is enormous. That beer garden looks amazing. Service seemed pressed when I visited. Busy place. I’d love to go back and see how it is in the summertime.
Jan 04, 2019
Photo of Taybeh
Reviewed by Taybeh from Minnesota

4.14/5  rDev -2.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.25
This place is pretty new, and it's got a kind of up-scale squeaky-clean rustic vibe to it that I found a little affected, but...I'm sure it will pack 'em in. I was there on a January Saturday late afternoon and it was fairly quiet. Patio area looked like it would be nice during the summer. Great variety of German style beers, a few ipas, and a guest tap or two, also.
Jan 08, 2018
Photo of jjboesen
Reviewed by jjboesen from Maryland

4.23/5  rDev 0%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3.75
This was the last stop during my recent trip to Portland. Located in an industrial area, and a few blocks from several other Portland gems (including Hair of the Dog), Wayfinder beer is a recent entry to the city's incredible beer scene. The first thing you see is a comfy enclosed deck, sleek and woody; step inside into a rustic taproom with a large bar amid several communal tables. The beer styles run the gamut from ales to lagers, which includes 7 house beers and 9 guest beers. I enjoyed their "Party time Pils," "Downtown IPA," Oathbreaker Saisson," and a delicious Weiheinstephaner bock beer, a guest from Germany. A pleasant evening with some decent craft beer.
Nov 23, 2017
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Reviewed by devilmakesthree from Oregon

4.65/5  rDev +9.9%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.25 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5
I almost always enjoy going to a brewery, and this was no exception. Good food, nice vibe, great beer (some in under looked styles which we're quite nice), and truly fantastic service. I have not had this much fun since the Second Defenestration of Prague
Nov 18, 2017
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Reviewed by John_M from Washington

4.1/5  rDev -3.1%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.25 | selection: 3.75 | food: 4
Located in the rapidly becoming completely rejuvenated and gentrified SE industrial area, Wayfinder is a popular, high energy gastropub with a well thought out beer selection and above average food. The wife and I stopped by on a warm Friday afternoon around 6:30, and the place was jammed pack. It didn't appear that the place takes reservations, so even though this place is quite sizeable with a good size outside deck, there was a wait to get a table when we arrived (only 20 minutes if one wanted to be seated inside, but it sounded like the wait was well over an hour if you wanted to sit outside). This place has a modernistic, high energy vibe to it, with the staff and bartender going a mile a minute to make and serve food and drink orders. The wife and I ended up getting a seat at the bar, which ended up being a good thing, as bar service was excellent. I assume there is also table service, but I also saw a steady line of customers at the bar to order a drink (margaritas were very popular on this Friday - the Wayfinder has a very well stocked bar).

In terms of beer, there were 14 beers on taps, mostly consisting of German style lagers (pils, hellse, lager, hefeweizen, etc.). As this is Portland, of course there was an IPA, in this case the excellent Breakside wanderlust. They also had the Prairie Bomb on tap, for those who prefer something a bit darker (or who wanted to have a dessert beer).

In terms of food, while the menu selection isn't huge, everything that came out of the kitchen appeared to be well prepared. The dirty fries we got (dripping in cheese, bacon and onions) were quite good, the main courses we ordered were well made as well (my schnitzel was very enjoyable and my wife enjoyed her crab cakes along with my grilled asparagus). There's something of a German theme at Wayfinder, reflected in both the beer selection and food (spätzle, sauerkraut, various sausage plates, schnitzel, etc.).

Prices were fairly reasonable I thought. For instance, the half liter of Schneider Weisse I ordered was $5.50 a glass (the last time I ordered this beer in Baltimore, some years ago, I paid $7 for a glass), and I think that was the going rate for a half liter of most beers (served in a proper stein for the Schneider Weisse I ordered, but otherwise it appeared most lagers were served in a large glass mug).

All in all, we had a very good time at the Wayfinder, and I was impressed with the service, beer selection and food. Unfortunately, it's located a bit out of the way for the wife and I, so I'm not sure how often we'll be able to come back. Still, this is a place to keep in mind (if one happens to be in the area) for casual dining with well prepared food at fair prices. Parking is a bit of an issue around this part of town (just street parking, and it can sometimes be difficult to find), which is really the only downside I can think of to a visit here. I'm sure we'll be back at some point.

Eventually, the plan is for Wayfinder to brew and sell their own beer here, but that had not yet taken place as of our initial visit (think the brewery is in operation now, however - as of 11/17).

BTW. This is not one of those places that keeps their online taplist up to date. Plan accordingly.
May 27, 2017
 
Rated: 4.21 by MaximumYuks from Oregon

Nov 03, 2016
Wayfinder Beer in Portland, OR
Brewery rating: 4 out of 5 with 1029 ratings