Ecliptic Brewing

"What's this brewery like? The bustling Ecliptic Brewing, set in a well-renovated garage space, features a wide patio and a roomy, modern interior. Unlike a more casual pub, the busy brewery has a host on-hand who escorts guests to their table when it's ready. Sometimes, if you're lucky, you might snag a glimpse of John Harris, the brewery's bearded owner and a luminary in the Oregon beer scene. So what's the vibe? Ecliptic is the Mississippi district's most family-friendly brewery, and the tables are usually filled with parents and kids. The bar is reserved for adults: mostly folks coming in to sample Harris' famous astronomy-themed beers. Can you tell us a little more about what's brewing? Owner John Harris is an icon in the Oregon beer industry, having helped found some of the most influential breweries before taking on a 20-some-year stint as head brewer at Full Sail. After decades in the industry, he finally has his own brewery, and with Ecliptic he went about making pitch-perfect Northwestern beers, including fun fruit ales, and bright, vivid IPAs. The brewery distinguishes itself from other spots in town by offering a respectable cocktail menu, but you really should be drinking the beers. Is the food menu worth checking out, too? Ecliptic offers standard pub grub and then some. Besides the (admittedly expensive) burgers and sandwiches, you'll also find more robust dishes like lamb pasta, flat-iron steak, and a fish of the day. There are also plenty of lighter bar snacks, from nuts to deviled eggs, and even a kids' menu. How's the service? The staff here operates like a crew for a busy restaurant; everyone is attentive, friendly, efficient, and well versed in what they're serving. Why would you recommend it? Whether you're coming in for a family dinner, a quick lunch, or just to sample the entire plethora of Harris' iconic ales, there's never a bad time to visit Ecliptic."

"Ecliptic Brewing, known for its cosmic-themed beers and led by renowned brewer John Harris, will close its brewpub following the sale of the company to Great Frontier Holdings. Despite challenges such as the pandemic and economic issues, the brand will continue to be available in grocery stores and restaurants, with Harris still involved in beer development. The North Cook Street taproom and restaurant will shutter on November 18." - Brooke Jackson-Glidden

"Found in Space Celestial is the vibe at Ecliptic. And with a sky's-the-limit attitude, NoPo's busy brewhouse delivers on a number of innovative fronts. There's nothing special about the tilt-up concrete warehouse where Ecliptic does its magic. It's all about what goes on inside. Brewmaster/owner John Harris has an elder statesman level of integrity in the NW craft brewing world. Carving out a new brand in the Beervana universe is not for the faint of heart, and differentiators start with a brewing calendar that has twice the number of seasonals. The beers rotate through the brewpub at an interstellar clip compared to the competition. Another big "what?" on the traditional PDX pub concept is offering cocktails, making Ecliptic a bar in pub's clothing. It's an option that's a bit of a heresy in some beer circles, but it's a bold statement about being unique. The food menu is focused and functional. Specialties like cauliflower escabeche, the Farro burger, a trout po'boy and porcini kebbeh pair nicely with the mix of pale ales, IPAs, and porters, by design. The space and decor are on the sterile side, but the bar is friendly and service snappy. There's both kid-friendly and adult space in the restaurant and on the menu. Happy hour hops, so early arrivals get the best seats. Start light and go dark on your beer rotation. Keep an order of fries handy for their excellent alcohol-absorption abilities. You'll find it becomes very easy to make an evening out of your visit to Ecliptic."

"The bustling Ecliptic Brewing, set in a well-renovated garage space in the city's Mississippi district, had cachet before it even opened its doors: Owner John Harris is an icon in the Oregon beer industry, having helped found some of the most influential breweries before taking on a 20-some-year stint as head brewer at Full Sail. After decades in the industry, he finally has his own brewery—and he's using it to make pitch-perfect Northwestern beers, including fun fruit ales, and bright, vivid IPAs. The brewery distinguishes itself from other spots in town by offering a respectable cocktail menu, too (but you really should be drinking the beers)." - Alexander Frane

"What sets Ecliptic Brewing apart from the rest in Portland isn’t just the astronomy theme, or the giant patio: What really puts it on the map is the food menu. While patrons here have the option of multiple favorites and flagships — like the well made and balanced Phaser Hazy IPA or the tart and fruity Carina Peach Sour — they can also chow down on some exceptional dishes like broiled oysters served with a bacon and shrimp bechamel or pan-roasted chicken in hot and sour egg drop soup. Ecliptic has a truly elevated brewery menu, and customers here can work their way through it while soaking in the sun through large windows all around the building, or outside on the large, dog-friendly patio." - Ron Scott