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- news
Norte Brewing and Food Hall opening in Wilsonville
Cerveceria Norte , a 2023 launched Hispanic beer brand, will open their first brick-and-mortar location in Wilsonville, Oregon as part of a mini food hall in a new apartments and mixed-use development. Norte Brewing launched in 2024 as the brainchild of Zoiglhaus brewer Nick Velasquez and brewmaster Alan Taylor. Norte was always intended to be it’s own thing, an expression of a community and a flavor sensibility quite separate from Zoiglhaus’s German and American beers. The creative direction largely came from Velasquez, who tapped into his Hispanic background to make beers that may fill a growing whole in local craft beer for the Latino community. But ultimately the relationship didn’t work out between Velasquez and Zoiglhaus, so they went back to the community for help and partnered with the Latino Network. “We are working on some stuff to keep it focused on the hispanic heritage behind the brand,” says Zoiglhaus brewmaster/co-owner Alan Taylor. “Getting a taproom and a place where w
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Highland Park Brewery opens pop-up Washington taproom
Highland Park , the popular and award-winning Los Angeles brewery, is opening a pop-up taproom on Orcas Island in Washington this summer. From July 1st through atleast August 31st, Highland Park owners Bob Kunz and his partner Tiff will be running a Highland Park beer garden at the Lone Pine Larder restaurant and market. “I’ve always dreamed of bringing my love of the Pacific Northwest together with my passion for Craft Beer. Well, we’re finally making it happen as we’ve put together plans with our friends at Lone Pine,” says Kunz. In 2024 Highland Park had one of the most impressive showings of all-time at the prestigious Great American Beer Festival where they won four gold medals in some of the most highly competitive categories: American-style IPA, contemporary American-style lager, American-style pale ale and juicy/hazy imperial IPA, and Brewery Group of the Year. But Highland Park is probably best known for their hoppy pilsner called Timbo Pils, the beer that is said to have orig
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Craft Brewers Conference and CiderCon® team-up in 2027
Brewers Association and American Cider Association Announce Co-Location of CiderCon® and the Craft Brewers Conference® in 2027 Independent Beverage Alcohol Communities to Gather Together in San Antonio, April 5–7, 2027 Boulder, Colo . (June 16, 2026) — The Brewers Association (BA) and the American Cider Association (ACA) today announced that CiderCon® and the Craft Brewers Conference® & BrewExpo America® (CBC ®) will co-locate in San Antonio, Texas, April 5–7, 2027. The collaboration brings together two leading gatherings for independent beverage alcohol producers while maintaining the distinct identities, communities, and educational experiences that attendees value most. “Independent beverage producers are navigating many of the same opportunities and challenges, from evolving consumer preferences to operational pressures and innovation across categories,” said Bart Watson, president and CEO of the Brewers Association. “By bringing these communities together under one roof, we can cr
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The New School’s New Breweries & Cideries 2026 Block Party
The New School’s annual New Breweries & Cideries Showcase is back this Saturday, June 20th after taking a one-year hiatus. This free to attend event will be an indoor/outdoor block party at Imperial Bottle Shop & Taproom featuring a one-day closure of the street outside the taproom from 2-10pm on Saturday. Come get your first taste of breweries and cideries and that have just launched in the Pacific Northwest, a chance to try their beverages and meet-the-brewers and owners in-person from 4-7pm. The New Breweries & Cideries Showcase is continuing our mission to highlight 12+ small brewe ries from all over Or egon and Washington. Each participant has a distinct creative vision and flavors, either creating new spaces in underserved areas or popular destinations, others reviving old spaces and defunct breweries to breath new life into them. Its an exciting lineup of newcomers coming to Portland, many of them for the first time outside of their hometowns and taprooms. The very first New Ore
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The Oral History of Barley Brown’s Brew Pub on their 28th Anniversary
When an anniversary comes around, you often hear people say, “I can’t believe it’s been that long,” or, “there is no way it’s been that long.” Barley Brown’s Beer falls into both categories. Imaging beer without them is impossible because of the impact Tyler Brown, the founder and every teammate he has had. The no fear attitude showed that balance in beer is good, but not a requirement because the hop forward beers Barley Brown’s present early on inspired others to do the same. Most people know Barley Brown’s for GABF gold medal winning Pallet Jack IPA, category defining Turmoil CDA, or criminally underappreciated Shredder’s Wheat. Or maybe it’s the outright refusal to open a taproom outside of Baker City or put any of their beer into cans or bottles. Barley Brown’s is founder Tyler Brown, and Brown is Baker City. The story of how Barley Brown’s got started is all over the internet. Auto breakdown, medals, dark IPAs, small system, expansion, and all that stuff has been docu
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Stoup Brewing and Métier Brewing’s new SeaTac bars open for FIFA World Cup celebrations
With the FIFA World Cup coming to N. America this year, Seattle has announced new partnerships for pop-up activations around SeaTac that includes taprooms and beer gardens operated by Stoup Brewing and Métier Brewing . Seattle will host six matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Lumen Field beginning June 15, including four group stage games, a Round of 32 match on July 1, and a Round of 16 match on July 6. The city of SeaTac plans to greet visitors and provide multiple hubs for gatherings. Stoup SeaTac City 18400 International Boulevard, SeaTac Located in the Old Bank Building at 18400 International Boulevard, Stoup Brewing SeaTac City will serve as a central gathering place throughout the tournament. The site will officially open June 11th at 10am for the Mexico vs S. Africa match, and operate daily through at least July 19, with the potential to extend operations through the end of 2026! The activation site, adjacent to the DoubleTree Hotel, will feature daily match viewings on a la
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Icicle Brewing sold to Yakima hop farmers
Leavenworth, Washington’s beloved Icicle Brewing Company has been sold after founders Pamela and Oliver Brulotte decided to retire. The new majority owners of Icicle Brewing are Shelley and Eric Desmarais of CLS Farms , a fifth-generation family-owned hop farm based in Yakima, Washington. The ownership transition marks the culmination of a thoughtful succession plan designed to preserve the culture, independence, and values that have defined Icicle Brewing Company since its founding. The brewery will continue to operate as an independent company under the leadership of CEO Joel Martinez, VP of Wholesale Operations Jason Leal, and VP of Sales & Marketing Chris Danforth, all of whom will maintain their ownership interests and continue leading day-to-day operations. “This is not a decision we came to lightly,” said Pamela Brulotte. “Icicle has never been just a business to us. It has been a purpose, a passion, a gathering place, and a shared labor of love. When we began thinking about ret
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Hop Valley Brewing returns to Eugene with a new pub
Hop Valley Brewing Co. will return to Eugene, Oregon with a new pub opening in the 5th Street Public Market Alley mall at 550 Pearl St Suite 150. Hop Valley Brewing was acquired by Miller-Coors in 2016, and was subsequently sold to Canadian based Tilray Beverage in 2024 . Tilray announced they would shut down the production facility in Eugene in July 2025 and then closed the taproom too in late 2025. Expected to open in early August 2026, the new Hop Valley Brewing location will take over the former Heritage Distilling space in one of the city’s busiest pedestrian shopping areas in the 5th Street Public Market Alley outside The Gordon Hotel. The pub will be a sports-forward brewpub and gathering spot, serving Hop Valley’s beers alongside a full food menu and plenty of screens for Ducks games. The tap list will feature fan favorites including Dang Green IPA, the official craft beer of University of Oregon Athletics. “We’re thrilled to be opening a new Hop Valley pub in suc
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Buoy Beer and Astoria Coffee commemorative releases celebrate 100th anniversary of the Astoria Column
Buoy Beer and Astoria Coffee Launch Centennial Blends to Honor The 100th Birthday of the Astoria Column Two of Astoria, Oregon’s favorite brands have created special beverages to celebrate the centennial anniversary of the historic Astoria Column this July. Buoy Beer Co. has crafted a limited-edition Czech Pilsner in commemorative cans, and Astoria Coffee Company a Column Centennial Blend. This is just a few of the ways that the city is paying tribute to the landmark's 100-year legacy of guarding regional history and providing breathtaking views of the Columbia River. The iconic Astoria Column is one of the Pacific Northwest’s most recognizable landmarks, will celebrate its centennial in July, 2026, marking 100 years since its dedication in 1926. Rising high above the Columbia River and the city of Astoria, the Column has stood for a century as a monument to the region’s rich and layered history. Completed in 1926, the Astoria Column was inspired by Rome’s Trajan Column and built
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Prost! & Breakside debut Schwüsch Pils for “Summer of Soccer” events with Nike
Prost! German tavern and Nike have teamed up for the Prost Soccer Haus debuting this Saturday 6/6/26 with official beer Schwüsch Pils from Breakside Brewery . The beer, and the games, will be taking over Prost! at 4237 N Mississippi Ave, Portland, OR 97217. “With World Cup around the corner and happening in our backyard, we are ready to set the tone making Prost headquarters for soccer all summer long. Prost has become a hub for international soccer over the years with this marking our 5th World Cup serving the Portland community,” says Prost! co-owner Dan Hart. View fullsize View fullsize Prost! has partnered with legendary Portland brand NIKE for the “Summer of Soccer” showing all matches all summer long on massive TV’s including a 10’x16’ ft. screen. The pop-up begins this Saturday, June 6th at 10:30am with the USA vs Germany match. The celebration will include Tursi Soccer selling custom Nike kits, and the debut of Breakside Schwüsch Pils which will be pouring exclusively from Pros
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30-year-old Pelican Brewing looks to non-alcoholic beverages and new locations for expansion
Pelican Brewing owners Jeff Schons (left) and Mary Jones (right) with brewmaster Darron Welch (center) Pelican Brewing is betting on craft soda and variety to boost grocery store sales, and in-person experiencing taprooms to carry the good vibes and Oregon coast centered brands draft beer into their fourth decade. The iconic Oregon Coast craft brewery that started as a brewpub in sleepy Pacific City has been one of the most award-winning breweries in the world and inspired a generation of brewers and that legacy is at the forefront as they celebrate their 30th anniversary this year. As a fan and observer of Pelican Brewing’s legacy since 1996, it has been fascinating to watch the brand go from hard to get destination location, to widely available grocery store best-seller. Pelican’s classic Kiwanda Cream Ale ( now called just Kiwanda ), Pilsner, mixed packs, and the extremely popular Beak Breaker Double IPA is often the best price to quality ratio deal in the store. Pelican husband and
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In the kitchen with Pelican Brewing chef Sabrina Chapman
The New School’s new ongoing series ‘The Brewers Kitchen’ investigates how breweries approach food, embracing creativity both in their offerings and in their business models. Today’s beer landscape sees everything from high-end gastropub-style brewpubs to food carts, pop-ups, and outsourcing the kitchen to third-party food vendors. Keeping the public as interested in the food is often as much of a draw as the beer itself, and is therefore an essential element of business for many breweries. This culinary world is often inhabited by chefs and brewers who are as passionate about their food as they are about the beer. In The Brewers Kitchen, we highlight the people making some of the most delicious and creative food to pair with our brews. 30 years ago, Mary Jones and Jeff Schons decided to purchase a scrappy building that sat practically right on the beach in the sleepy Oregon coast town of Pacific City. There wasn’t much going on in the town other than the dory fishing that culmin
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Major Revisions to the Brewers Association’s 2025 Industry Production Report
Industry trade organization the Brewers Association has issued a rare correction to the results of their 2025 beer industry production survey that tracked the ups and downs of the small craft brewing industry. The BA has revised their production figures with post-release revisions on their April 14th 2026 report that are more extensive than usual, and are overall much more positive signs for craft beer. These updates affect several key metrics, including overall craft beer production and its year-over-year change, regional segment production and year-over-year change, craft market share, craft retail value, jobs estimates, production volumes in four states (PA, TX, CA, and VA), and modeled economic impact figures for all states. 4/14/26: Total craft beer production declined 5.1% from 2024 to 2025 to 21,856,000 barrels. 6/2/26 Correction: Total craft production (22,034,000 bbls) fell 4% in 2025, with 60% of breweries reporting declines, 39% reporting growth, and 1% holding steady.&
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Columbia Distributing buys stake in Hayden Beverage following acquisition of Republic National Distributing and Point Blank
Oregon’s Columbia Distributing is on a spending spree, taking advantage of the shake-up in the hard beverage industry post COVID to snap up Point Blank Distributing in January 2026 , and RNDC wine distributor in April, and today announced an investment in Hayden Beverage Company. Hayden Beverage Company is a family-owned beverage distributor based in Idaho. Previously, Columbia Distributing held a major stake in Idaho’s Scout Beverage distributor, which they sold to Hayden Beverage in summer 2025. This movie essentially foreshadowed the investment in Hayden Beverage announced today. As part of the proposed transaction, the Hayden ownership group will also take an indirect ownership interest in Columbia, aligning long-term priorities and supporting continued regional growth. The investment follows a series of strategic moves by both companies. In addition to acquiring 3 wine distributors over the past two years, on May 8, Hayden completed the purchase of RNDC’s equity interest in
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Function partners with Western Collective
Function and Western Collective Announce Garden City Taproom Collaboration, Launching June 2 with Fort George Brewery Function, the Portland-born rotating brewery pop-up taproom concept revealed plans to expand to the Boise, Idaho area to the New School in March after announcing the closure of their original northwest Portland location . Leading up to the planned build-out of a new taproom, food hall, and lodging next to the river in Garden City, Idaho, Function is partnering with local brewery Western Collective to host 6 months of rotating guest brewery pop-ups. The first featured brewery partner will be Fort George Brewery out of Astoria, Oregon, with the launch beginning Tuesday, June 2. The Fort George lineup will be featured alongside Western Collective’s house beers, ciders, slush, and taproom staples. “This is exactly the kind of thing we wanted to start building before our own doors open in Garden City,” said Function Owner Casey Armstrong. “
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Wild Salmon Festival brings together beer, cider, food, & farms for Salmon-Safe
Alchemy Cider to Host Wild Salmon Festival on May 31 Featuring Cideries and Breweries Sourcing Salmon-Safe Certified Apples, Hops and Barley In honor of International Wild Salmon Day, Alchemy Cider Co. is hosting cidermakers, brewers and farmers to present the Wild Salmon Festival on May 31 from 1 PM to 5 PM in the parking lot of Alchemy Cider Co.’s tasting room in Southeast Portland. The fest is part brewfest’ and part farmers market, with something for everyone big or small. “The beer, wine and cider at the Wild Salmon Festival was all made with purpose,” says Michelle McGrath the Columbia Basin Program Directo r for Salmon-Safe. “These makers have sourced the finest ingredients, and you can taste the difference. These ingredients are Salmon-Safe certified meaning they were grown by farmers passionate about the land and the water that both farmers and fish need to thrive. These farmers model their practices around protecting the soil, pollinators and water, and by choosing thei
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Trading Brew Decks
Within the beer industry its not uncommon to see blue collar brewers trading places regionally, across the country, or even internationally. On a micro scale, even Portland’s tight-knit beer industry see’s fairly frequent change of Brewers between local companies, but as of late there has been more notable brewing position shifts than usual resulting in an interesting and exciting shuffling of the deck. Nate Rajski at the 2026 Oregon Beer Awards Nate Rajski , was head brewer at StormBreaker Brewing where he has worked for the past 7 years, has accepted a newly created head brewer role at St. Helens, Oregon’s Crooked Creek Brewery . Rajski decided to make the move to be closer to his home in Scappoose and a change of pace. Crooked Creek owner and brewer Dave Lauridsen is handling the growing business as their restaurant and taproom gets busier and St. Helens becomes more popular and needed some help in the brewery. “Crooked Creek keeps a very well rounded taplist these days, always havi
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Kachka & New Orleans' famed sandwich shop Turkey & The Wolf present “The Summer of Sandwich”
Kachka Spirits is throwing an outdoor sandwich-centric party to celebrate the release of their Caraway Rye Toast Vodka collaboration with some of Portland’s favorite sandwich makers Turkey and The Wolf’s famous Soft-Shell Crab Sandwich Kachka, Portland’s own famed Russian restaurant, bar and distillery, is welcoming New Orleans' famed sandwich shop Turkey and the Wolf for “ The Summer of Sandwich ” parking lot party. On June 14th, Kachka Fabrika , the new distillery location next to Rosenstadt Brewery (formerly Culmination Brewing) will welcome special guest Mason Hereford from New Orleans' famed sandwich shop, Turkey and the Wolf . Kachka’s Executive Chef/Co-Owner Bonnie Morales crossed paths with Hereford participating in food festivals over the years, and since inviting him to Portland for a mash up dinner at Kachka for the restaurant’s INTERWOVEN dinner series in 2019, the Kachka team has been looking for a way to collaborate ever since. The opening of Kachka’s own distillery last
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Von Ebert + Grand Fir Brewing host BBQ for the release of ‘Sacred Stone’ experimental lager
Von Ebert Brew ing, Grand Fir Brewi ng teamed up on an American Lager and celebrate with a collaboration BBQ together on May 30. View fullsize View fullsize Grand Fir Brewing and Von Ebert Brewing have collaborated on an American Lager, but this isn’t your normal light crackery lawnmower beer because ‘Sacred Stone’ weaves in elements from New Zealand and Japan. Your first chance to try it and pick up cans of Sacred Stone is Thursday, May 28th, but on Saturday, May 30th, Von Ebert Brewing is hosting Grand Fir and The Bitter Root Club owner/chef Doug Adams for a cookout Collab with BBQ truck HarBQ for the official release party. “This isn’t our first collaboration with Grand Fir Brewing, but it’s definitely our most exciting! Coming off a couple of big American Light Lager medal wins, we wanted to find a partner this year to push the boundaries on what that style can be,” said Sam Pecoraro, brewmaster of Von Ebert Brewing. “Grand Fir is known for wielding a hammer and a feather interchan
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Oak Union Brewing’s vision for dark folkloric new taproom & restaurant
Another craft brewery is coming to Milwaukie, Oregon’s already bustling downtown corridor Rendering and concept images courtesy of Oak Union Brewing Portland-brewed Oak Union Brewing has always had their heart in Milwaukie, now they will have a taproom there too. More than three years after launching Oak Union Brewing , owner Trevor Lauman has found a permanent home in downtown Milwaukie for his mystical dark folkloric European and West Coast inspired beers and vision. The future taproom and restaurant will open at 10909 SE Main Street, the former Collector’s Mall, putting Oak Union in the middle of Milwaukie's growing downtown scene that includes beer destinations like pFriem , Beer Store Milwaukie and the recently opened 1847 Food Park that’s anchored by Migration Brewing, with Breakside Brewery’s main brewery not far away either. “We're the new up-and-coming brewery with something to prove. The hope is that when people think of Oregon beer, they also think of Milwaukie,” says Lauman
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Spring-Summer 2026 Cider News
Spring has sprung and is already starting to give way to summer in the Pacific Northwest. Cider news is abundant, arguably this being ciders biggest time to shine as last year’s harvest and winter slumber begins to show it’s bounty. Sadly the latest fresh pressing of cider news is is a good news and bad news story, with some exciting flavors, partnerships, and events coming up, but also a series of closures and consolidations. La Familia Cider closes Portland taproom La Familia Cider was founded in 2017 by the Gonzalez family, first-generation Mexican immigrants. La Familia offers distinctive hard ciders inspired by aguas frescas—fresh fruit beverages popular in Latin America. In June 2024 La Familia took over the former Portland Cider House location at 3638 SE Hawthorne Blvd operated by Portland Cider Co. and made it into their Portland satellite location. As of March 31st, La Familia closed this location as they shift the business teasing something new to come. Portland Cider Co. Tap
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How Craft Brewers Approach Zero-Alcohol Options
Craft brewing has expanded well beyond traditional beer, with a growing number of breweries dedicating production lines to zero-alcohol recipes. For Canadian consumers exploring mindful drinking, understanding how brewers develop flavour without fermentation helps identify better products on the shelf. This guide covers the brewing techniques, ingredient strategies, and quality benchmarks behind today's best non-alcoholic craft beers. How Craft Breweries Develop Zero-Alcohol Beer Recipes Producing a convincing zero-alcohol craft beer requires more than removing ethanol from a finished product. Brewers balance recipe design, equipment selection, and sensory testing to deliver a drinking experience that holds up against traditional options. Retailers like Upside Drinks carry a curated selection of non-alcoholic beer from breweries that invest in these production methods, giving Canadian consumers direct access to the results of this craft evolution. What Brewing Methods Do Craft Brewers
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Arch Bridge Taphouse 11th Archiversary of the Oregon City craft beer renaissance
Arch Bridge Taphouse that helped revive Oregon City’s craft beer scene, is turning 11. Beer bars and bottle shops can be found pretty much everywhere around the Pacific Northwest, but it takes a certain level of comfort, curation, community, and culture to make a truly great one. You could call this the 4-C formula of a great beer bar and bottle shop. There are loads of places that possess one or more of these. However, only a select handful truly exemplify all of four Since opening in 2015, the little beer bar and bottle shop named after the signature bridge that crosses over the mighty Willamette River just feet from its door has brought all of the Cs together. Beer lover Gene Gilgorea established Arch Bridge Taphouse in Oregon City’s historic Bank of Commerce building with the intention of bringing some of their favorite beers to their small town in Portland’s backyard and hopefully making it past the one-year mark. “We were so new to this, I think we were just hoping to make
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Oregon Wins 29 Medals and Washington 25 Medals at 2026 World Beer Cup
The World Beer Cup is the most prestigious beer and cider competition in the world, held annually in conjunction with the Craft Brewers Conference® & BrewExpo America®. The 2026 awards ceremony was held on April 22nd in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A total of 353 medals awarded to 273 producers worldwide Philadelphia, PA. • April 22, 2026 —The World Beer Cup® (WBC) today celebrated three decades of brewing excellence by awarding 353* medals to breweries and cideries across the globe. Organized by the Brewers Association (BA)—the not-for-profit trade association representing small and independent American craft brewers—the 2026 World Beer Cup, now in its 30th year, recognized the very best in beer and cider across 118 categories, while continuing to set the global standard for technical excellence, innovation, and creativity rooted in both tradition and progress. “Thirty years in, the World Beer Cup remains a powerful re