Buoy Beer Company

No longer known solely as that place where The Goonies was filmed, Astoria, Ore., is a relatively modest destination for those looking to escape to the coast, and in recent years it’s become a damn good beer town. While Astoria Brewing Co. has been there since 1997, it’s been the addition of the dominant Fort George Brewery in 2007 and Buoy Beer Company three years ago that have put the town of less than 10,000 people on the map. Buoy has grown in leaps and bounds since opening its doors in February of 2014, including a major expansion earlier this year. Visiting the brewery—with its glass-bottom viewing area, and stunning Columbia River view—is the best way to experience excellent regulars and seasonals on tap (the India Pale Lager and Premium Bitter are a couple of personal favorites). For the more adventurous, Buoy also offers a Strawberry Milkshake Hef and a Benedict Cumberbatch gose. And you’ll never go wrong with the brewery’s balanced IPA—also available in bombers and six-pack cans. Expect to see Buoy beers to make their way out of the Pacific Northwest in the coming years.