Where to Eat (and Drink) Right Now: Fort George Brewery in Astoria, Oregon
There are breweries, and then there’s Fort George.
Tucked into the heart of downtown Astoria, Fort George Brewery has become a cornerstone of the coastal food and drink scene. Since opening in 2007, they’ve grown from a tiny brew system in the back of a pub to an entire city block dedicated to craft beer, community, music, and damn good pizza. Whether you’re grabbing a pint in the taproom, watching the sun hit the Columbia River from their patio, or diving into a cheesy slice (vegan cheese if you’re a dairy-free girly like me), Fort George makes it feel like you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.
They’re family-owned, community-driven, and proudly rooted in the PNW—and it shows in everything they do.
If you’re anywhere near Astoria and you haven’t had a beer and a slice at Fort George yet, pause everything and go fix that. This place has been a go-to of mine for the last decade—and for good reason.
Fort George isn’t just a brewery. It’s a whole city block filled with energy: two restaurants, a taproom, multiple breweries (including R&D spaces!), live music, and some of the best beers in the Pacific Northwest. It’s where locals and travelers gather, where the pizza is piping hot, and where the beer lineup is always impressive. My personal favorite? Vortex IPA, every time.
And for my dairy-free people, good news: they’ve got vegan cheese. That alone is enough to earn my loyalty for life. The pizza is so good, and I never feel like I’m missing out. It’s one of the few places where I don’t have to ask a million questions—I can just enjoy.
But this post isn’t just about what’s on the menu.
This collaboration with Fort George was important to me. A few years ago, I wouldn’t have reached out to them. I wouldn’t have taken my camera out in their pub. I probably wouldn’t have stayed longer than it took to finish my beer.
I spent a long time battling social anxiety—convincing myself that staying small was safer. But somewhere in my thirties, I realized that fear was getting in the way of me actually living the life I wanted. So I made changes. I started saying yes to things that scared me. I began putting myself in new situations, reaching out, and connecting—especially through my work.
Working with small businesses has helped me break through that fear. I’m not just hiding behind my camera anymore. I’m showing up. I’m having real conversations, making real connections, and actually enjoying being around people. That’s what this job is about for me. Not just capturing the moment, but truly being part of it.
So yeah—this Fort George project meant a lot.
Not just because I love the beer (I do).
Not just because the food is amazing (it is).
But because I felt like myself the whole time—confident, open, connected.
That’s the energy I want to bring into every project. And Fort George? They made it easy.
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Know before you go:
📍 Astoria, OR
Vegan-friendly pizzas
Massive beer selection with rotating seasonal options
Live music + community events
Welcoming to locals, travelers, and creatives alike