The Brewers Association has proposed a change to the definition of “craft brewer” that poses an existential question. What does it mean when the largest member of an organization dedicated to beer mainly doesn’t make it?
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The state legislature appears to be gearing up to raise the Oregon beer tax. This isn’t the first time; decade ago, they attempted to do the same thing through misinformation, shaming, and bad faith. Based on initial reports, we should expect more of the same.
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Yesterday, Oregonians learned that three established breweries were calling it quits: Alameda Brewing, Seven Brides, and Two Kilts. Is this an anomaly and quirk of coincidence, or a warning of things to come?
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Valter Loverier is an understated brewer from Marentino, Italy, in the rolling wine country of Piedmont. He is one of the most interesting brewers I've encountered in my travels, and was the first to introduce me to the idea of "inoculation via fruit" (he uses wine grapes, of course).
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Bill Coors was an important and unusually successful corporate titan; he was also a plutocrat who sought absolute control over his workers and whose toxic racial politics sparked decades-long boycotts.
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Rogue’s Brett Joyce has decided to step down as president from the brewery his father founded. It suggests a pivot happening in Newport, and that caused me to wonder. There are five top-50 breweries in Oregon right now. What are they doing in this tightening market?
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All About Beer magazine was founded in 1979 and documented the entire history of craft brewing in America. Sadly, it looks like it will never reach its 40th anniversary.
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A micro-memoir and record-straightener.
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Cask ale is not just the most important symbol of British brewing, it’s also one of the hardest to make beers, the most hand-crafted of beers, and, when it’s made and served properly, the best beers on the planet. Why does no one see this?
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Craft Brew Alliance announced today that it was acquiring three smaller breweries with which it already had relationships. This is an example of the gravitational pull small connections between breweries can have. And CBA’s history is rife with them.
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The success of beers like Firestone Walker 805, Dogfish Head SeaQuench, and Ballast Point Grapefruit Sculpin seem to come out of nowhere. But success is not entirely random. It comes to breweries that have put the time in beforehand.
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It’s impossible to keep up with all the new breweries in Portland, but put West Coast Grocery on your short list. It’s got a great location, a great vibe, (an admittedly curious name), but most importantly, really fine beer.
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The Oregon Beer Awards has announced the winners of the best fresh hop beers in Oregon. The judging took place on Saturday, so there’s still plenty of time to track these down and try them yourself.
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This is where you can find a downloadable, sharable pdf copy of the brewer compensation survey that appeared on this site in three posts over the past month. So please download it and share it!
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