Jobs, on-premise sales, and the number of operating craft breweries continue to grow Small and independent craft brewers trade group the Brewers Association announced their 2023 market report revealing the Top 50 Brewing Companies in the United States. Based on the 2023 annual production figures from American craft brewers, the Brewers Association report offered somewhat positive news that somewhat dispels or atleast softens the overall dim outlook that national media has cast over the craft beer industry as a whole over the last few years. According to the Brewers Association and their chie ..read more

The Oregon Beer Awards recognized industry veteran and influential brewmaster Darron Welch with the 2024 hall of fame award at the annual ceremony held on April 4th at Revolution Hall. If you were not at the ceremony, you may have missed the video presentation and tribute to his career which was produced by the New School in association with Zzeppelin Media and Willamette Week. Darron Welch became the head brewer at Pelican Brewing Company at age 26 with just a few months brewing experience under his belt. A true brewers brewer, Welch is a born and raised Oregonian who brings an analytical, p ..read more

Seattle, Washington’s Fremont Brewing company has been acquired by Seattle Hospitality Group (SHG), the parent company of Ethan Stowell Restaurants, Pike Brewing, and affiliate of the Space Needle, among other high profile attractions. SHG has announced today a definitive agreement to acquire a controlling interest in Fremont Brewing, one of Washington state’s largest breweries. More from a press release: The partnership marks a significant milestone in SHG’s ongoing commitment to supporting the craft beer community in Seattle, which began with its acquisition of Pike Brewing in 2021. Under ..read more

Old Town Brewing’s original Old Town Pizza location is celebrating their 50th anniversary on April 14th from 4-9pm with $2.50 pints, and discounted pizzas and on ‘Believe in Portland’ beer benefiting non-profit Word is Bond. Old Town Pizza opened in April of 1974 in one of Portland’s longest standing buildings in the former The Merchant Hotel, in the historic old town neighborhood. The building is famous partly because of its access to the famous Shanghai Tunnels built below its depths and running from the west hills to the waterfront, these mysterious tunnels have been buried or blocked off ..read more

As part of Earth Month this April, Hopworks Brewery is taking part in the national Earth To Beer campaign alongside nearly 40 other breweries across the country and hosting a showcase for 8 of them on April 19th from 4:30-7pm at their SE Portland pub. Earth To Beer is a national movement with a goal for participating breweries to create a packaged beer that’s better for the planet. The initiative seeks to affect change upstream of breweries by asking them to intentionally source environmentally responsible ingredients for their beer, as well as affecting downstream impact by donating a porti ..read more

The opening sketch video is always a highlight of the Oregon Beer Awards, and the 2024 ceremony opener featuring brewers reading their bad untappd reviews was no different. Though we are biased as to the quality of the video as the New School takes on a producer/director and creative role in the video in collaboration this year with Zzeppelin, and OBA MC’s Natalie Baldwin and Ben Love, and Willamette Week. Enjoy ..read more

Take this self-guided tour to explore some of the most delightful views and brews in Oregon  Explore Lincoln City has launched a Tap and Brew Trail for their section of the beautiful Oregon Coast. This self-guided adventure lets visitors explore Lincoln City's vibrant brewing scene at their own pace. Adventurous travelers can hop from brewery to pub, sampling delicious IPAs, stouts, and everything in between. This trail isn't just about the beer - along the way, travelers will encounter stunning views, like the breathtaking Siletz Bay from a brewery’s outdoor deck. Sunsets simply taste bett ..read more

Oregon craft beer’s prestigious Oregon Beer Awards were announced at another sold-out ceremony at Revolution Hall in Portland, Oregon on Thursday, April 4th 2024. This was the 9th annual Oregon Beer Awards, which started as a much smaller event first held at the Doug Fir Lounge before expanding into the double-blind judged competition that has inspired similar awards across the country with their high competition standards and gala awards show inspired by the Oscars. The 2024 Oregon Beer Awards succeeded despite the ongoing challenges the industry is facing and record recent closures. In the ..read more

Bauman’s Cider, an Oregon favorite of cider connoisseurs, is opening their new Portland tasting room, restaurant, and production facility - Bauman’s on Oak - this Saturday, April 6th, 2024. Much more than a new home for cider making or simply a place to taste their ciders, Bauman’s on Oak has brought in some real culinary talent in front of and behind the house. Bauman’s Farm in Gervais, Oregon is an institution, operating a year-round farmers market style general store, garden nursery, with sprawling fields, farm animals, and the current cider production headed up by Christine Bauman Walter ..read more

View fullsize View fullsize Nothing could have prepared Threshold Brewing for the challenges they faced this past year with their new Aqua river-aged beer line. The trailblazing SE Portland brewery first dropped anchor (in the form of 4-packs) in the Willamette River in April 2023, strategically placing their renowned stouts and porters up and down Portland’s main tributary. According to Threshold co-owner Sara Szymanski, the initial results were highly promising. “We took regular samples those first few months and the results were immediately impressive: nuanced riverbed coming through and ..read more