Gigantic Brewing Company

A rather unassuming presence in the craft-beer mecca of Portland, Ore., Gigantic Brewing Company makes its home in a small warehouse among metal fabricators and powder-coating shops in the deep southeast part of the city. But the beer this small operation cranks out is bold and delicious as its name implies. Ben Love and Van Havig—both of whom have worked at some of Portland’s best breweries—started this operation in May of 2012, bringing with them a little punk rock ’tude. In a short amount of time, Gigantic has emerged as one of the better breweries in Portland, packing decent-sized crowds into its cozy taproom on any given day. And they’re beginning to make a name for themselves outside Oregon as well, shipping their brews throughout the Pacific Northwest, and soon to California. The Gigantic IPA is absolutely terrific—hoppy, but not overpowering, with a clean finish that makes ordering a second round a no-brainer. Gigantic also does a handful of seasonal ales, including a black saison called The City Never Sleeps, and The Royale, a lighter Belgian-style pale ale. Adding to the experience are the fun labels, which are done by a range of artists known for their album-cover artwork and animation.