The Hike: Memaloose Hills
We hit the Memaloose Hills Trail on a bright April afternoon, and the timing couldn’t have been better. The hills were lit with balsamroot: whole fields of golden blooms backed by Gorge views that made the climb worthwhile. It starts at an overlook point where you take in a stunning view of the gorge. We then hit the trail for a hike around Chatfield Hill, a mellow loop with a few uphill pushes, topping out around 2.25 miles and 550 feet of gain. Enough to feel like you did something, but not so much that you’re too nasty from the trail to head straight to a brewery.
The Bite: pFriem Family Brewers
After the hike, we drove 9 miles to Hood River to visit pFriem Family Brewers at 707 Portway. It’s right by the water, and the space has that ideal post-trail feel: polished but unfussy, with warm wood, big windows, and just the right hum of conversation. There’s a reason this place is always on people’s lists.
We kicked things off with the Sausage Sampler—half Italian, half bratwurst—served with kraut, warm Grand Central bread, spicy mustard, and a beer cheese sauce that paired well with just about everything else we ordered.
I’m a sucker for pimento cheese, so the the Pimento Cheeseburger was an easy choice, with house-made pimento cheese, sweet onions, pickles, and aioli on a soft potato bun. It came with a fresh garden salad that perfectly balanced the richness.
The other plate was the Mac & Cheese: Gemelli pasta in a cheddar-pilsner sauce topped with garlicky breadcrumbs and herbs. The pasta was spot-on al dente, and while the dish leaned a little dry, the extra beer cheese from the appetizer turned out to be the perfect fix. Pro tip: Hold onto that sauce.
As for drinks, the Japanese Lager was the standout—clean, crisp, and subtly floral, easily one of the best lagers we’ve had in a while. We also tried the house Lager, which was smooth, bready, and totally sessionable.
Why It Works: Wildflowers and Beer.
Big Gorge views, wildflowers for days, and a post-hike spot that delivers on food and beer. Memaloose to pFriem is an easy win, and one we’d happily add to our spring wildflower rotation.