New School Beer + Cider

What is Beer Soda? Sierra Nevada Brewing introduces new low ABV innovations

Ezra Johnson-Greenough — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 18:30:58 +0000

One of the more surprising developments in the craft beer industry is the re-introduction of low ABV “session” beer category that seemed dead after the rise of craft Non-Alcoholic beers. Sierra Nevada Brewing is jumping into this space that exists somewhere in-between sober and full-strength beers with Go-Two IPA, and Shred Beer Sodas.

California breweries helped pioneer the low abv category starting in 2006 with 21st Amendment Brewery's Bitter American, a 4.4% ABV "hop session ale." In 2010 Founders Brewing introduced All-Day Session IPA as the first widely marketed and branded session IPA. By 2011 the 21st Amendment Bitter American followed suit in 12oz cans.

In 2020 the category evolved into low-calorie, low-gluten, active lifestyle beers with entries like Stone Brewing’s 4% abv Features & Benefits IPA, and Firestone Walker Brewing released Flyjack, a low-calorie, low-alcohol hazy session IPA. In Oregon, Deschutes Brewery had WOWZA!, a hazy pale ale with only 100-calories, and Da Shootz! a 4% abv Pilsner.

The Conneticut founded and San Diego, California-based Athletic Brewing changed the game with the first widely available packaged non-alcoholic craft beers and all but killed the low-abv category, atleast in terms of growth and expansion. Athletic Brewing was born in 2018, but it wasn’t until the pandemic kick-started the trend of sobriety and fueled the Dry January trend that the brand really took off. In 2022 Athletic Brewing was responsible for half the N/A craft beer sold in the U.S.

Frankly, I thought the low-alcohol “light” craft beer lifestyle beers were all but dead, but perhaps should have seen the backlash to going alcohol-free was inevitable. Welcome back small beers, micro IPA, radlers, and tiny format beers for those who want to partake responsibly.

Go-Two IPA 2.8% Launches in Select Markets

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. is releasing an innovation beer, Go-Two IPA, to select markets starting in August 2026. The new, full-flavored IPA is just 2.8% ABV and will release in 6-packs of 12-ounce cans (MSRP $12.99). Drinkers can expect classic IPA flavors and aromas of Cascade, Chinook, and Mosaic hops balanced with smooth malt character – exactly the type of high-quality beer experience Sierra Nevada beers are known for, just at a new ABV.

“Go-Two is designed for craft beer drinkers who, above all, want a full-flavored IPA and at the same time want more control in how they moderate,” says Ellie Preslar, Chief Growth Officer at Sierra Nevada. “It broadens the field of occasions for craft beer, and no compromises have to be made in the process.”

Select markets that will see Go-Two in late summer include: AZ, CA, CO, GA, IL, KS, MA, MD, MI, NC, NY, OR, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA

Shred Beer Soda Variety Pack Launches in Very Select Markets

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.’s new innovation, Shred Beer Soda, will begin appearing in a four-flavor variety pack of 12-ounce cans (MSRP $21.99) in very limited markets in California and North Carolina, shipping from the brewery this week. New flavors being introduced in this pack include Lemon, Orange, and Lime Ginger, alongside the original Grapefruit which launched exclusively at Sierra Nevada brewery locations earlier this summer.

What is Beer Soda? Shred Beer Soda is beer brewed for a new generation of flavor-first drinkers, with bright, citrus-forward taste, low bitterness and easy-going 4.5% ABV. It is a modern take on a classic beer-soda-fruit combination, akin to a Radler.

“Shred is an entirely new drinking experience,” says Ellie Preslar, Chief Growth Officer at Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. “It’s bold, it’s flavor-forward, it drinks like a beer, yet tastes like a soda – and we know it’s going to turn heads in the aisle. This is why we’re being thoughtful with how we introduce it and look forward to taking feedback from drinkers.”

This latest distribution expansion and introduction of a variety 12-pack will take place only in limited markets in parts of California and North Carolina, including:

Chico, CA
Metro markets in Southern CA
Greater Asheville area in NC
Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area in NC

The Hop Breeding Co. announces Terra Alpha Hops series

Ezra Johnson-Greenough — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 17:11:45 +0000

Hop Breeding Company (HBC), together with partners John I. Haas and Yakima Chief Ranches, today announced the launch of Terra Alpha Hops, a new series of high-alpha hop varieties bred for reliable performance in both the field and the brewhouse.

Terra Alpha Hops represent HBC’s long-term platform for high-alpha hop innovation. Inspired by the foundational role alpha hops play in Brewing, the Terra line is build around sustainability, performance, and consistent, quality bitterness.

HBC is best known for flavor-forward varieties such as Citra HBC 394, Mosaic HBC 369, and Krush HBC 586. With Terra Alpha, HBC is showcasing two premier high-alpha bittering hops: TerraSurge HBC 1325 and TerraLux HBC 682.

TerraSurge is HBC’s newest high-alpha variety, combining exceptionally high yield with powdery mildew resistance and a late harvest window. Together, these agronomic advantages give growers greater flexibility and offer the potential for more efficient, sustainable hop production.

“TerraSurge encompasses every innovation we’ve developed over the last seven years. It’s a breakthrough,” says Michael Ferguson, Director of Hop Breeding at John I. Haas. “That’s what we want a hop to look like.”

Dean Monshing, Chief Sales Officer at Yakima Chief Hops, agrees: “The future of alpha depends on varieties that consistently perform in the field as well as the brewhouse. TerraSurge was bred for exactly that: a vigorous, high-yielding cultivar grown in the Pacific Northwest and designed to deliver dependable performance year after year. As Brewers look to diversify their alpha sourcing and build resilience in to their supply chains, TerraSurge gives them a foundation they can rely on.”

Meanwhile, the TerraFlux name brings a new identity to the established variety HBC 682, commercially grown since 2018. With more than 36 million pounds produced to date, its impressive history makes TerraFlux a natural complement to the newly introduced TerraSurge.

“HBC is well known for our intense flavor-forward hops, but innovation in alpha has also been an important part of our breeding program,” says Jennifer Burns, Executive Director of Hop Breeding Company. “TerraFlux has already proven itself at commercial scale, and TerraSurge represents the next generation of that work. With our Terra Alpha series, we’re giving that part of our portfolio an identity of its own.”

TerraSurge and TerraFlux are now available through Yakima Chief Hops and John I. Haas. For brewers seeking consistent, high-quality bitterness from hops grown in the United States, Terra Alpha Hops offer a new generation of sustainable high-alpha varieties built for performance.

Hop Breeding Company, LLC is a leader in hop breeding and research, dedicated to developing innovative hop varieties that meet the evolving needs of the brewing industry. Through rigorous testing and collaboration with brewers worldwide, HBC continues to advance hop cultivation, performance, and quality. HBC is ajoing venture between John I. Haas, Inc. and Yakima Chief Ranches, LLC.

Fort George Brewing introduces new year-round beer ‘Island Towns’ tropical IPA

Ezra Johnson-Greenough — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 10:30:06 +0000

Astoria, Oregon’s Fort George Brewery is introducing a new year-round beer to their core lineup - Island Towns. It’s a bright and aromatic tropical West Coast IPA available in 12oz cans/6-packs and draft, but not to be confused with an earlier iteration of the beer with the same name and label.

Astoria might not technically be an island but it sure can feel like an island sometimes. Not the lonely, isolated John Donne sort of island (that no man is), but a cheerful, welcoming, community-rich island. Astoria is surrounded by water on three sides, diverse and ecologically unique with their own culture and custom.

Like the town it was brewed in, Island Towns isn’t just a summer destination. This Tropical West Coast IPA is lush, a little sweet, and perfect for activities in any season.

If the name of the beer and the label art by Jesse LeDoux seem familiar, it’s because a similar beer with the same name and art was first released in September 2025 as a one-off in 16oz cans. However, that earlier version of Island Towns was a collaboration with Seattle Indie Rock Band, Minus the Bear, for the 20th anniversary of their album Menos el Oso. That version of Island Times wasn’t tropical, had a different recipe formulation, and included spruce tips.

The new Island Towns is brewed with a mix of cutting edge, fruit-forward hops like Superdelic and the bold, citrus-y West Coast flavor of Citra and Chinook. Modern brewing science and warm Sandy beaches, ripe tropical fruit on the breeze and a refreshing citrus breeze off the Pacific - it’s a brand new, year-round Tropical West Coast IPA from Fort George.

Hops: Superdelic, Citra, Chinook, Mosaic, Citra Cryo

Malts: Rahr to Thee, 2-Row, Dextrin, Acidulated

ABV: 6.5%

Island Towns release parties all over the Pacific Northwest:

8/21 in Portland at Asylum Spirits (inside the Hawthorne Asylum Food Truck Pod), 1080 SE Madison St, Portland, OR 97214

8/25 in Hillsboro at the Noble Hop, 370 E Main St, Hillsboro, Oregon 97123

8/27 - Red Hot in Tacoma 2914 6th Ave, Tacoma, Washington 98406

9/9 - The Barn at Hickory Station, 640 Hickory St NW, Albany, OR, United States, 97321

Fresh Hop Season Begins in Oregon

Ezra Johnson-Greenough — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 09:24:04 +0000

The North American 2026 hop harvest has started in Oregon and farmers say this year’s crop is promising. Fresh Hop beers will soon hit the taps and get packaged up in cans for distribution - this is when you can expect them to arrive.

Farm workers have sharpened their machetes and fueled up their bottomcutters to begin cutting the base of the suspended growing lines to make way for topcutter tractors and trucks to load up the 10ft bines bursting with hop flowers. Then the hop picker heavy machinery gets to work, stripping the hop cones from the leaves with a series of fans and dribble belts that shake out the excess parts of the plant for composting. Most of the still “wet” hop cones then go to drying beds before they get baled or pelletized. But here in Oregon (and a few other parts of the world) most breweries intervene in the process to collect undried hops for use in seasonal fresh hop brews that attempt to capture the potent but fragile lupulin oils and aromas during a very brief window before they begin to dry out and oxidize or mold.

Fresh Hop beers are made almost exclusively in the Pacific Northwest where the hop growing industry of the United States is concentrated in Washington, Oregon and Idaho, and only rivaled by the hop growing region of Germany. Since the long accepted standard for brewing with fresh picked hops is 24 hours from bine to brew, most breweries don’t even have an opportunity to make fresh hop beers. However, with the more recent advancements and obsession with hop utilization via proprietary breeding and extraction technology have meant the latest hop crops are more available in processed cryogenically frozen or extracted forms that can be used and shipped over extended periods. Still, the true fresh hop beers using undried whole cone hops are the gold standard and probably no one in the world takes more advantage of that limited access than Oregon breweries.

The hop harvest got started in Oregon this week at a few select growers like Goschie Farms, with additional farms like Coleman Agriculture and Crosby Hops beginning next week ahead of the rest of the world.

Many of Oregon’s signature hop varieties such as Strata and Centennial are ready to be picked early which means our harvest gets started roughly 2 weeks before Washington’s. Specific hops like Tettnang and Willamette will also show up early from Oregon farms, followed by Simcoe, and Lorien, later Cascade, Sterling, Amarillo, etc. Many of the trendier or newer developed hops like Citra, Mosaic, Krush, and Thora, won’t even be picked until mid September which means fresh hop beers will still be getting released until the first week of October.

StormBreaker Brewing

First fresh hop beer drops Friday August 14th

StormBreaker Brewing is one of the most prolific brewers of fresh hop beers, almost always dropping double digit numbers and winning a medal or two along the way. So far they have 8 releases planned this year, but brewer/co-owner Rob Lutz says “The number we do always seems to surpass what we plan, but this is what we have for now.”

StormBreaker gets their Fresh hop beers releases rolling this Friday August 14th with Fresh Hop Total ReKolsch with a boost of fresh Centennial hops from Goschie Farms.

Next Tuesday or Wednesday will mark the second Stormbreaker fresh hop release with ‘Handfuls of Fresh Hops’ featuring Centennial hops on August 18th or 19th. Next up: FH Safety Meeting IPA w/ fresh Strata (ETA 08/25-08/29), FH StormBreaker IPA w/ fresh hop TBD (ETA 08/27-09/05), The Fresh Hop Is Strong With This One w/ fresh hop TBD (ETA 8/27-9/5), Fresh Hop Oregon IPA w/ fresh hop TBD (ETA 8/27-9/11), and Set Freshies To Haze w/ fresh hop TBD (ETA 8/31-9/11)

Level Beer

First fresh hops drop August 14th or 15th!

Portland’s purveyors of retro gaming themed and socially conscious northwest ales and lagers are always the first to pour freshies. Level Beer is coming out of the gate hot with three different fresh hop beers dropping this weekend and up to 13 total (including one fresh hop water.) Level Beer adds all of their fresh hops on the cold side to get them out early.

Fresh Hop Game On! American IPA, West Coast IPA, and an Oktoberfest, are all getting the fresh hop treatment and released in 16oz cans and on-draft. Which fresh hop varieties will be used in each was unclear at the time of publishing, but we hear the Fuggle, Tettnang, and Centennial were picking from Goschie farms yesterday…

Both the Level Beer fresh hop IPAs have some Crosby CGX Nuvo hops in both the whirlpool and the dry-hop on the hot side of the Brew. The fresh hops from Goschie Farms are added on the cold side for a real fresh and aromatic finish.

Also coming from Level Beer but undated with fresh hop varieties TBD:

FH Press Pause Pale Ale - Fresh hops in hop back and cold side.
FH Daylight Cravings CDA - Fresh hops cold side.
FH Roadkill Red - Fresh hops cold side.
FH Stay Gold Ponyboy - Golden/ Summer Ale - Fresh hop cold side.
FH Hazy IPA (TBD) - may or may not happen.
FH Pilsner/ Lager (TBD) - may or may not happen.
FH Collab with Crosby and Loyal Legion (TBD)
FH Collab with Roy Farms/ Crosby Farms (TBD)
FH Jay-Z Goes Fresh WC IPA “We brew a Fresh hop beer with our long time regular Jay. This one we've been doing CGX Nuvo in the boil, fresh hops in the hop back and more CGX Nuvo in the dry hop, and maybe some cold side as well,” says Level Beer co-owner/brewer Shane Watterson.
FH Level Clear (Fresh Hop Water” - “We made some last year and it was delicious!” says Watterson.

Occidental Brewing

First fresh hop beers drops August 19th

Occidental Brewing and their fresh hop Pilsner reliably kickoff the season each year and is a beloved favorite. This year is no different, but they are also adding some new fresh hop beers into the mix. Occidental brews all of their fresh hops cold-side, meaning the beer is already fermented out by the time the fresh hops are added. They also use the “weed whacker” approach to processing fresh hops, this method of chopping up the fresh hops to unlock the oil and lupulin glands is an increasingly popular technique.

Occidental’s Fresh Hop Pilsner using Tettnang fresh hops from Goschie Farms will be released at the brewery’s taproom in St. Johns neighborhood of N. Portland on August 19th. Their distributor, Maletis Beverage, will also be picking up draft and 16oz cans that same day and the beer should hit beer bars and bottle shops over the course of that week.

Next up will be a new one for Occidental - Fresh Hop Kolsch with Hallertau fresh hops from Goschie Farms. This will be available at the Occidental taproom on August 26th, with Maletis Beverage also bringing this one out to market the following days/week.

Last but not least is Fresh Hop Occidental IPA dropping on August 27th. Occidental Brewing began broadening their horizons outside of strictly German beers in early 2025 and last Fall debuted a fresh hop IPA. This year they are using Centennial hops from Crosby.

Zoiglhaus Brewery + Norte Brewing and Spotlight Brewing

First fresh hop beers drops August 28th

Zoiglhaus Brewery is always among the first to drop fresh hop beers, and consistently they are award winners too.

Fresh Hop Zoigl-Kolsch kicks things off on August 28th, arriving slightly late compared to the usual mid-August drop date. This Oregon Beer Awards silver and bronze medal winner is brewed just like in Cologne with all-German ingredients, then fermented slow and cool with an authentic Kölsch yeast strain brought back from brewer/ owner Alan Taylor’s studies in Germany. Fresh Hop Zoigl-Kölsch is the standard base beer but with 300 lbs of fresh, local Tettnanger hops added in the whirlpool. 4.8% abv 16oz cans and kegs are available now for pre-order.

Following FH Kolsch, Zoiglhaus has a new beer - Fresh Hop Cold IPA - dropping September 4th.This might be Zoiglhaus first ever take on the Cold IPA-style beer, which is essentially a West Coast IPA that uses rice to lighten the body and add a crispness, and fermented with a lager years instead of an ale yeast. Zoiglhaus FH Cold IPA is brewed with fresh harvested Centennial hops from Goschie Farms. The 7% abv beer drops in 16oz cans and kegs on September 4th.

September 11th is a big drop date for Zoiglhaus and their sister brands Spotlight Brewing, and Norte Brewing (new taproom opening soon.) Zoiglhaus big award-winner Oktoberfresh (OBA gold medal winner) fresh hop Oktoberfest lager fresh hopped with Hallertauer will be released in cans and draft. The same day will see the release of Spotlight Brewing’s 7% abv Fresh Hop West Coast IPA focusing on the glory of Strata hops (draft only.) Also coinciding on 9/11 is Norte Brewing’s Fresh Hop Mexican-Style Lager 4.7% with Lorien fresh hops (in 16oz cans and on draft), and Fresh Hop Gatito Pale Ale 5.5% abv with Strata fresh hops and Krush Cryo hops dry-hop (in 16oz cans and on draft).

Sunriver Brewing

First fresh hop beers drop September 7th.

The Bend, Oregon based multiple-time brewery of the year winner Sunriver Brewing is planning to package more widely their fresh hop beers in 2026. Expect the usual fresh draft beer, but way more 16oz cans in the market.

Sunriver Brewing’s first release is a fresh hop version of their flagship Vicious Mosquitio IPA brewed with Crosby Hops brand new hop product CGX Nuvo. Introduced in 2025, CGX® NUVO™ is a flowable, high-density lupulin powder made from fresh hops using Crosby Hops’ patented cryogenic technology. We can debate (and will debate) whether processed and powderized hop cones can or should ever be considered “fresh” hop, but regardless the word-of-mouth on this product is very good. The fresh hop extract is made only during the harvest season by immediately flash-freezing and concentrating 100% of the essential oils from whole cones.

Fresh Hop Vicious Mosquito with Warrior, Columbus, Simcoe, Fresh Centennial NUVO CGX drops on or around September 7th in 16oz cans and on draft.These wet wonders deliver big notes of grapefruit juice, lime blossom, and pine needles

Fresh Hop Stomp is next up on September 11th in cans and on draft. This modern IPA is lean, mean, and precise, stomping on traditions, and blazing a new trail. A skinny malt bill of Idaho-grown pale barley creates a clean, lightly sweet base for a blend of hand selected PNW hops. Citra, Krush, and a massive amount of Fresh Strata hops deliver reliably tropical and citrus notes, while the Mosaic hits with supporting diesel, woodsy, and berry character.

September 12th ish:

FH Something Dank w/ Simcoe

September 15th:

Fresh Hop Fuzztail Hefeweizen w/ Luminosa

September 19th:

FH Burlington w/ Dolcita (16oz cans)

September 22nd:

FH Rippin w/ Amarillo (16oz cans)
FH West Coast Hospitality w/ Citra
FH Che Figata- Lorien (16oz cans)

September 26th:

FH No Whammies w/ Mosaic (16oz cans)

Ruse Brewing

First fresh hop beers drop September 15th

Ruse Brewing has been ratcheting up their fresh hop releases over the past few years and plans to release 10 this year. As big believers of using fresh hops “hot side” at the beginning of the brewing process, their beers tend to be released slightly later in the season. Ruse Brewing kicks their hop harvest releases off on September 15th with two Strata fresh hopped beers.

Mystic Visions is a Hazy IPA using oat and spelts for body and mouth feel, with eldorado and mosaic hops, and a big pop of fresh strata hops to add a combo of fruit and dankness. Alien Plant Farm is a West Coast IPA collaboration with Human People Beer out of Seattle, WA, and Riip Beer from Hungington Beach, CA. This 6.6% abv westie has a plethora of hops additions from flaked adjuncts to Simcoe hop extract, and fresh frozen Cryo Mosaic hops. The big boost comes from Strata fresh hops. Both Mystic Visions and Alien Plant Farm drop on draft and in 16oz cans on September 15th, but a separate Citra fresh hop variant of Alien Plant Farm will be released on draft-only on September 22nd.

Next up on September 22nd: Green Mountain Green, a Hazy IPA collaboration with Other Half Brewing out of New York with fresh Simcoe hops on tap and in cans with a Mosaic variant dropping draft-only on September 30th. Red Rain, a fresh hop NW Red ale collaboration with Slice Beer Co. from Lincoln, CA with fresh Chinook hops in cans and on draft. Deception Test, a West Coast IPA collaboration with Ism Brewing out of Long Beach, CA with fresh Simcoe hops. The draft-only variant of Alien Plant Farm with citra hops will also be released this day. All four beers are kegging on September 22nd and should be available at the brewery that day and from the distributor Day One the following days/week.

September 29th and 30th marks the final few releases in Ruse’s fresh hop schedule: Wolves in the Rain, a West Coast IPA with Citra fresh hops: Shade Garden, a Hazy IPA with fresh Citra hops; and, Songspire, a West Coast IPA with fresh Citra hops, all drop on September 29th at the brewery with the distributor to follow. The Mosaic fresh hop variant of Green Mountain Green hazy IPA will also drop the following day on 9/30 on draft-only.

National Asian food & culture festival arrives at Portland Waterfront Park

Ezra Johnson-Greenough — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 17:39:14 +0000

Portland goes to the pandas! Portland Cider Co. debuts Red Panda Cider, and national touring Asian food & drink festival Panda Fest takes over the waterfront September 11-13th.

Portland has one more month to get ready for Panda Fest, an Asian food and culture festival making its Oregon debut September 11-13 at Tom McCall Waterfront Park. The three-day festival will bring together local Portland-area food vendors and national food purveyors offering visitors a chance to taste everything from viral food trends to hard-to-find Asian street foods.

WHAT: Panda Fest — Asian Food & Culture Festival

Local restaurant spotlight: Yoonique Pho & Grill: Co-owner Cindy Phan serves family recipes and cuisine from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. This is the sister restaurant to Yoonique Tea pairing street food with tea drinks (dishes like bun nem chua, or cured sour beef)
Festival food must-haves: Flintstone-sized roasted bone marrow served with toast, from Project Bone Marrow from Washington, King Squid’s whole giant grilled squid on a stick, TJ Big Pan’s Omurice (Japanese Fried Rice) and other Asian street foods.

WHEN:

Friday, September 11 from 4p.m. to 10 p.m.
Saturday, September 12 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday, September 13 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

WHERE: Tom McCall Waterfront Park (98 SW Naito Pkwy, Portland, OR 97204)

TICKETS ON-SALE: Visit www.pandafests.com.

ABOUT PANDA FEST

Launched in 2024, Panda Fest is one of the largest outdoor Asian food and culture festivals in the United States. In its first year alone, the festival produced 13 events across 11 cities, welcoming over 500,000 attendees, with attendance continuing to grow. Featuring experiential activities, tastings, market fairs, and live performances, Panda Fest brings communities together to celebrate the richness of Asian American and Pacific Islander cultures.

Portland Cider Co . is welcoming the Oregon Zoo’s two new red pandas with a special-edition release of Pacific Berry featuring playful red panda artwork. The limited release is part of the cidery’s fourth annual summer partnership with the Oregon Zoo Foundation , giving cider fans a delicious way to support wildlife throughout July and August.

Pacific Berry is a luscious blend of Northwest-grown marionberries, raspberries, and apples. Jam-packed with juicy berry flavor and vibrant aromatics, the 6.5% ABV cider is refreshing and balanced, with just the right combination of sweet and tart.

During the two-month campaign, a portion of proceeds from every Portland Cider 4- or 6-pack sold at participating retailers across Oregon and Southwest Washington will be donated to the Oregon Zoo Foundation. The funds will help provide extraordinary daily care for animals at the zoo while supporting species-saving conservation efforts in the Pacific Northwest and around the world.

The special-edition Pacific Berry is available in four-packs of 16-ounce cans at the Oregon Zoo and select retailers throughout the Portland Metro area, while supplies last. A portion of proceeds from Pacific Berry supports animals at the Oregon Zoo and in the wild.

Double Mountain releases Devil’s Cuvee Kriek and Peche Mode

Ezra Johnson-Greenough — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 07:18:18 +0000

Double Mountain Brewery & Cidery has announced the release of Devil’s Cuvee Kriek and Peche Mode in their Brewers Reserve Sour Program. Double Mountain’s Devil’s Kriek was one of the first true wild ales inspired by Belgian Lambic brewed in the Pacific Northwest when they first introduced it in 2010.

At Double Mountain Brewery & Cidery, the Brewer’s Reserve Sour Program isn’t just another lineup of specialty beers, it’s a long-term labor of love. Crafted in small batches, fermented with wild cultures, and aged patiently for months (and sometimes years), these beers showcase the remarkable fruit of the Hood River Valley alongside the beauty of time.

Each year, Double Mountain produces a limited collection of Belgian-style sour ales using locally grown fruit, house yeast cultures, and Brettanomyces. The beers rest on whole fruit for months before the brewers decide they’re ready. Some are bottled straight from the fruit, while others continue their journey in oak barrels, developing even greater depth and complexity over another year or more.

This year, Double Mountain is proud to release two exceptional additions to the Brewer’s Reserve lineup: 2025 Pêche Mode Belgian Style Sour Ale Aged on Peaches and 2024 Devil’s Cuvée Kriek Barrel-aged Belgian Style Sour Ale with Cherries. While both beers may make limited appearances on draft in the taprooms, they are primarily available in 375mL bottles, which are perfect for sharing, cellaring, or pairing with a special meal.

For Head Brewer Greg Balch and the brewing team, patience extends well beyond the aging process. Brewing with Brettanomyces requires meticulous planning and an enormous amount of cleaning. “When these beers are finished, we practically take the brewery apart and scrub everything down,” says Balch. “It’s days of work, but that’s the price of making beers like these. They’re unlike anything else we brew, and they’re absolutely worth the effort.”

The 2025 Pêche Mode also marks the beginning of another chapter. A portion of this year’s batch has already been transferred into freshly emptied oak barrels from Devil’s Cuvée, where it will continue aging for the next year before emerging as Pêche Cuvée in late summer 2027.

These beers represent some of the longest projects in Double Mountain’s cellar and some of its most rewarding. Quantities are extremely limited, and once they’re gone, they’re gone.

2025 Pêche Mode | Belgian Style Sour Ale Aged on Peaches | 6.6% ABV | 9 BU

Made with nearly 500 pounds of locally grown Hood River peaches, Pêche Mode spends almost a year resting on the fruit with Double Mountain’s house yeast and Brettanomyces Claussenii. Bright peach aromatics mingle with lively citrus and delicate farmhouse character, finishing crisp, dry, and refreshingly tart.

2024 Devil’s Cuvée Kriek | Barrel-aged Belgian Style Sour Ale with Cherries | 9.9% ABV | 11 BU

Crafted from Devil’s Kriek aged on Hood River Van and Bing cherries before spending an additional year in American oak barrels, Devil’s Cuvée is rich, layered, and deeply expressive. Notes of black cherry, blackberry, currant, vanilla, and oak unfold into a dry, tannic finish that drinks more like a bold red wine than a traditional sour ale.

Both Pêche Mode 2025 and Devil’s Cuvée Kriek 2024 are available in 375mL bottles at all Double Mountain Brewery & Cidery locations. Draft appearances will be limited while supplies last.

P.S…..

Double Mountain’s famous Heirloom Pie returns Friday, August 14th.

Washington Brewers Guild’s new Harvest Fest

Ezra Johnson-Greenough — Thu, 06 Aug 2026 19:52:17 +0000

The Washington Brewers Guild is bringing back thoughtfully themed and organized beer festivals. The latest new event to mark on your calendars is the 1st annual Harvest Fest on Saturday, September 26th at Stoup Brewing Capitol Hill location. All inclusive tickets are on sale now.

Since relaunching the Washington Brewers Festival from pre-pandemic times at Marymoor Park in Redmond, to Seattle Center near the Space Needle in 2024, the WBG has been pushing forward with events like the Winter Beer Fest, the Washington Craft Beer Summit, and the upcoming trip to Belgium.

The Harvest Fest is a celebration of the bounty of Washington agriculture: fresh hop beers, seasonal lagers, and included food & beer pairings with eclectic and diverse offerings from Project Feast. WBG is also smartly not passing up a chance for a little fun educational experience with sensory activities on malt and hops from CLS Hop Farm, LINC Malt, and Cold Stream Malt & Grain.

A full food menu is yet to be finalized, but a sampling of what to expect is below:

Malay Chicken Satay
- Marinated chicken thigh skewers with traditional spicy peanut sauce
Trini Aloo
- Trinidadian potato hand pie with green chutney. Vegan.
Beef Kofta
- Tender beef meatballs with garlic, onion, and warm spices served with tzatsiki sauce
Cold Chili Garlic Noodles
- Noodles, garlic, ginger, green onions, and spices. Vegetarian.
Baklava
- Buttery layers of phyllo pastry filled with walnuts and spices topped with cardomom lemon syrup. Vegetarian.

Stoup Brewing - Capitol Hill © photo by New School Beer

Harvest Fest will be held at Stoup Brewing’s expansive Capitol Hill location, formerly Optimism Brewing. The huge and open space has an outdoor area and big wide indoors with plenty of natural light and high ceilings for an airy and bright feeling perfect for a smallish beer event like Harvest Fest.

Full brewery list:

7 Seas Brewing Co

Aslan Brewing Co

Bizarre Brewing

Chuckanut Brewery

Dru Bru

Fremont Brewing

Garden Path Fermentation

Georgetown Brewing

Human People Beer

Icicle Brewing Company

ilk beer

Kulshan Brewing Co.

Ladd & Lass Brewing

Logan Brewing Company

Lucky Envelope

Machine House

Single Hill Brewing

Stoup Brewing

Trap Door Brewing

Valholl Brewing

Yonder Cider

HARVEST FEST

Sat, Sep 26, 2026 from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Stoup Brewing - Capitol Hill
1158 Broadway, Seattle, WA 98122

Only 250 tickets, so grab them while you can!

The Pacific Northwest’s largest Oktoberfest returns

Ezra Johnson-Greenough — Thu, 06 Aug 2026 17:13:11 +0000

One of the west coast’s largest Oktoberfest celebrations returns to Leavenworth, Washington for three weekends: Oct. 2-3, 9-10, and 16-17th in 2026.

The Bavarian-style celebration takes over the Leavenworth Festhalle and Front Street Park with beer gardens and three lively stages packed with nonstop entertainment. Tickets are on sale now, and festivalgoers can explore the full entertainment lineup, purchase tickets, and order official Oktoberfest merchandise.

This year’s lineup features two headlining acts straight from Europe alongside a full roster of returning favorites:

WEEKEND 1 HEADLINERS — OCT. 2-3

Oesch’s die Dritten — This high-energy Swiss family yodeling band from the Bernese Oberland brings more than 25 years of touring experience across Switzerland, Germany, and Austria, delivering harmonized yodeling and an accordion-driven Alpine sound.
West Coast Prost — California’s premier polka variety band brings youthful energy to traditional favorites, playing everything from polkas and waltzes to Dixieland, swing, and country-western classics.

WEEKEND 2 HEADLINERS — OCT. 9-10

West Coast Prost — California’s premier polka variety band brings youthful energy to traditional favorites, playing everything from polkas and waltzes to Dixieland, swing, and country-western classics.
European Take-Out — This Pacific Northwest polka favorite brings more than a decade of Oktoberfest experience and a genre-spanning setlist to the celebration.

WEEKEND 3 HEADLINERS — OCT. 16-17

Freddy Pfister Band — Straight from Austria’s Zillertal region, this Volksmusik and Schlager group, led by former Schürzenjäger member Manfred “Freddy” Pfister, blends traditional Alpine melodies with upbeat party hits.
Manuela Horn — The one and only Yodelin’ Queen returns with her crowd-favorite, high-energy performances.

ALL FESTIVAL WEEKENDS

S-Bahn — This Canadian polka variety powerhouse has a devoted fan base and serves up high-octane performances perfect for Oktoberfest revelry.
Michael Stoessl — A renowned folk singer and world-touring professional yodeler from Germany, Stoessl shares his classic Bavarian flair throughout the festival.
Fan Favorites — Beloved acts including Smilin’ Scandinavians, AlpenFolk, Max Kyllonen, the Leavenworth Alphorns, and the Ted Lunka Polka Band provide the foundation for the traditional Oktoberfest sound attendees know and love.
Enzian Schuhplattler Dancers, Edelweiss Dance Academie, and the Tirolean Dancers of Portland — These traditional dance and music groups from Seattle, Leavenworth, and Portland dazzle audiences with energetic German folk dances and ornate costumes.

Festivalgoers can look forward to more vendors, delicious food, and an expanded lineup of local and imported beers, featuring Paulaner, Weihenstephaner, Ayinger, Hofbräu, and Spaten from Germany, alongside the locally brewed Leavenworth Festbier and other local craft selections.

Kinderplatz offers 10,000 square feet of adventure for all ages. Guests can soar above the festival on the 62-foot Ferris wheel, try their luck at classic carnival games, cool down in the root beer garden, enjoy festive face painting, and discover even more surprises throughout the space. Admission is included with each festival ticket. Kinderplatz hours are 6-9 p.m. Fridays, and noon-9 p.m. Saturdays. Some activities and treats, including carnival games and root beer floats, may require a small fee.

New this year, a clear bag policy and reusable tap-to-pay festival wristbands will help keep lines moving so guests can spend more time celebrating.

Attendees are encouraged to pull out their best Trachten, or traditional Bavarian attire, and celebrate Oktoberfest in Leavenworth — Prost!

For tickets, merchandise, and full event details visit leavenworth.org/oktoberfest.

About Oktoberfest in Leavenworth

Oktoberfest in Leavenworth is proudly presented by the Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce, producers of Christmastown, Winter Karneval, Love from Leavenworth, and Maifest.

Prost! To Freund — Hotel Leavenworth, Colchucks, Stein, The Springs, and Lionheart Concrete.

2026 Oregon Hop Harvest Looks Promising For Farmers & Brewers

Ezra Johnson-Greenough — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 10:13:18 +0000

Its too early to know if Oregon Hop growers can retain the #2 ranking for hop production in the U.S. after narrowly beating Idaho in 2025. But, Oregon growers and brewers are excited about the quality of this year’s harvest and expect the volume to remain roughly the same.

Next week, many of Oregon’s hop growers will begin the first round of harvest, with fresh hop beer season soon to follow as brewers pick up fresh hops from local farms for a once-a-year beer experience unique to the Pacific Northwest. Growers and brewers say Oregon beer drinkers should be especially excited about this year’s batch, as favorable weather yielded high-quality hops.

“After a few tough years with hop acreages declining as beer sales dipped, Oregon hop growers are especially excited about this year’s hop harvest. The mild spring resulted in ideal growing conditions for the hops, meaning we’re expecting great flavor and aroma,” said Michelle Palacios, executive director of the Oregon Hop Growers Association. “The Willamette Valley’s unique terroir allows us to produce hops specifically for craft brewers. And with our proximity to major brewing cities, like Portland, aka Beervana, it means our hops hit brewers’ tanks within hours of harvest. Our fresh hop beer season is unlike anywhere else in America.”

According to U.S. Department of Agriculture, Oregon hop growers strung 5,443 acres in 2026, a slight increase of 1.6% from last year, putting it in third place in hop production, behind Washington state, which grew 30,301, a 2.8% decrease, and Idaho with 5,898 acres.

Photo from Brewers Select visit to Oregon Hop Harvest

“Beer is usually only four ingredients – water, malt, yeast and hops, which makes the quality of those ingredients all the more important,” said Sam Pecoraro, brewmaster at Von Ebert Brewing and Oregon Grower Relations Ambassador of the Hop Quality Group. “We’re lucky to be in the Northwest where nearly all of America’s hops are grown. Fresh hop beer season is the perfect time to celebrate and support our local brewers and growers.”

Depending on the hop variety, some will begin harvest as soon as next week, while others will continue through mid-September. Over the past few years, hop production had seen double digit declines as beer sales are down -4% for a second year in a row.

According to Beer Serves America data, Oregon is home to 300 breweries, brewpubs and taprooms generating more than $8.9 billion in economic output, $2.8 billion in wages, creating 46,700 jobs in the state. It’s so important to the local economy, Oregon is the fifth most beer-job reliant state, accounting for 1 out of every 633 jobs in Oregon.

Summer Supper foodie festival tackles waste and food insecurity

Ezra Johnson-Greenough — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 10:04:37 +0000

Photo by Leesa Morales

Portland, Oregon is host to dozens and dozens of food festivals annually, but among the most unique and impactful is Urban Gleaners Summer Supper on Sunday, September 13th - tickets are on sale now.

Summer Supper will feature over a dozen of Portland's most revered chefs, serving dishes made from almost entirely gleaned ingredients, all while raising money to tackle food insecurity in Oregon.

This year also marks the 20th anniversary of Urban Gleaners. For two decades, this non-profit organization has provided the vital, ongoing service of eliminating hunger and food waste in the Portland metro, all while celebrating the amazing food community that defines this city. Urban Gleaners rescues nearly 1.2 million pounds of food from the landfill every year, and distributes nourishing meals to over 8,000 food-insecure families in the Portland metro every week, with no questions asked.

Some of Portland’s brightest stars have participated in the past Summer Suppers, like chefs Bonnie Morales, Tyler Malek, Lalo Camarena, and Urban Gleaners board member Gregory Gourdet. Many are excited to return this year.

“Zero-waste cooking is in my roots,” shared Fatou Ouattara, chef and owner of Akadi PDX, “Growing up in Côte d’Ivoire, with family from Mali and Burkina Faso, nothing good ever went to waste. That’s exactly why we love working with Urban Gleaners: rescuing good food and turning it toward fighting hunger in our community. The event is such a joy from start to finish, and we can’t wait to come back and do it again.”

Summer Supper 2026 Chef Partners:

Tyler Malek – Salt & Straw
Emily Cafazzo & Ryan Domingo – Sugarpine Drive-In
Jason Howd – Urban Gleaners
Jewan Manuel – Plant Based Papi
Lalo Camarena – The Malarkey
Fatou Ouattara – Akadi
Bonnie Morales – Kachka
Alexa Numkena-Anderson – Javelina
Mel McMillan – Sammich
Althea Grey Potter – Bar Nouveau
Liz Serrone – Gabbiano's
Dan & Elise Gold – Sebastiano’s
Ryan Roadhouse – Nodoguro
Darby Aldaco – Pizza Thief
Mika Paredes – L'Echelle

Summer Supper 2026 Beverage Partners:

Straightaway Cocktails
Bauman’s Cider
Post Familiar
Commensal
Dappled Tonic
More to be announced

What: Summer Supper from Urban Gleaners

When: Sunday, September 13th from 5pm to 8pm

Where: The Redd on Salmon

Photo by AJ Meeker

Ticket Info

GA : $100, includes 1 drink token, Summer Supper reusable cup

VIP : $150, includes 30 min early entry, 2 drink tokens, custom event tote bag with goodies, Summer Supper reusable cup

https://secure.qgiv.com/for/testsummersupper2026/event/summersupper2026/

More on Summer Supper 2026:

Join us for Urban Gleaners' Third Annual Summer Supper, a one-of-a-kind walk-around tasting experience that celebrates Portland’s vibrant food scene, highlights the power of upcycled ingredients, and supports our mission to fight food waste and food insecurity in our community.

This unforgettable evening features 15 of Portland’s most acclaimed chefs, each crafting inspired small plates using gleaned and upcycled ingredients, transforming what’s often discarded into something extraordinary. Complementing the culinary creations will be a curated selection of local beer, wine, craft cocktails, and non-alcoholic beverages from some of the region’s favorite vendors.

Urban Gleaners will be celebrating their 20 year anniversary, so guests can expect celebratory activities, and cake! Explore interactive booths hosted by Urban Gleaners’ nonprofit and local farm partners, and take part in fun, educational activities centered around food systems and sustainability.

This is an all-ages, family-friendly event.

About Urban Gleaners:

Since 2006, Urban Gleaners has been committed to eliminating the barriers to accessing nourishing food, and creating a resilient food system that recognizes nourishment as a fundamental right in a just society. The organization collects fresh, delicious food that would otherwise go to waste, and redistributes it to families experiencing food insecurity through their 42 Free Food Markets across Portland.

With 40% of food ending up in landfills and 1 in 4 children in Oregon lacking access to healthy meals, the need is clear. Just in the last two years, attendance at Urban Gleaners’ Free Food Markets has increased by an average of 44%. As the cost of groceries, housing, transportation, and everyday essentials continues to rise, more families are turning to reliable sources of free, nutritious food to help make ends meet. Supporting Urban Gleaners allows them to rescue and redistribute high-quality food every single day, operate consistent community-centered programs, and ensure neighbors can access food with dignity, choice, and cultural relevance.

2026 Best of The West Coast National IPA Competition Winners

Ezra Johnson-Greenough — Sun, 02 Aug 2026 07:00:54 +0000

Best of the West national IPA competition announced the 2026 award-winning beers from across the country. Oregon breweries topped the leaderboard with 19 medals, with California following closely with 17 medals. Overall, breweries from 11 states took home medals.

Breweries from around the country entered 330 West Coast IPAs into the fourth annual Best of the West Coast National IPA Throwdown, and results were announced Friday, July 31st at TopWire Hop Project.

Thirty-six judges from 7 states evaluated the 330 entries in triplicate, making Best of the West one of the most thorough and intensive beer competitions in the world. When all was said and done, 91 beers from 62 breweries met the criteria to enter into medal contention, and 64 beers walked away with awards.

The Best of the West is a national competition dedicated to a single style of beer: West Coast IPA. Unlike other competitions, it awards multiple gold and silver medals, recognizing the quality, breadth, and depth of world-class IPA being produced in the country. The winning beers represent genre-leading examples from some of the world's top producers of hoppy beer.

Moonraker Brewing won the Grand Champion IPA award for their West Coast IPA above 6.7%, Spinal Sap. Additionally, Moonraker’s Flagship IPA, Outrigger, was named runner-up Grand Champion IPA. Finally, Moonraker’s third beer, Wild West, won a gold medal, allowing Moonraker to go three for three. This is the first time in the Best of the West history that a single brewery was named both Grand and Runner-Up Grand Champion. Hop lovers around the world better be planning their trip to Auburn, CA! Other notable winners include Alma Mader Brewing, Meanwhile Brewing, Breakside Brewery, Grains of Wrath Brewing, and Riip Beer Co. for taking home medals for all three of their competition entries.

Breweries from 26 states participated in this year's competition, with heavy representation coming from Oregon, California, and Washington. Medal-winning beers came from 11 states – proving that West Coast IPA doesn’t have to be coastal. Oregon breweries led the medal count with 19 awards, followed by California at 17. Breweries were limited to 3 entries regardless of size or number of locations.

Proceeds from Best of the West go to support the Oregon Brewers Guild and aid in our mission of promoting and protecting Oregon beer.

Grand Champion IPA Moonraker Brewing Spinal Sap (CA)

Runner Up Grand Champion IPA Moonraker Brewing Outrigger (CA)

Very Small Brewery Champion IPA Alma Mader Brewing SOMO (MO)

Small Brewery Champion IPA Ruse Brewing Nectar Extracto (OR)

Medium Brewery Champion IPA Moonraker Brewing Wild West (CA)

Large Brewery Champion IPA Meanwhile Brewing Dream Logic (TX)

Regional Brewery Champion IPA Breakside Brewery Gala (OR)

Very Large Brewery Champion IPA Deschutes Brewery West Coast Steeze (OR)

Champion Traditional American IPA Masthead Brewing Co. Masthead IPA (OH)

Champion WC IPA Below 6.7% Trap Door Brewing Trap Door IPA (WA)

Champion WC IPA Above 6.7% Moonraker Brewing Spinal Sap (CA)

Champion International IPA Grains of Wrath Brewing Wastelandia (WA)

Champion Flagship IPA Moonraker Brewing Outrigger (CA)

Champion Oregon Hop IPA Fieldwork Brewing Company Pinch Me, I’m In Medford (CA)

Gold Medal Alma Mader Brewing Canyon Call (MO)

Gold Medal Breakside Brewery Breakside IPA (OR)

Gold Medal Brujos Brewing King Chachi (OR)

Gold Medal Cannonball Creek Brewing Company Mindbender (CO)

Gold Medal Formula Brewing Formula 33 (WA)

Gold Medal Grains of Wrath Brewing Built for Speed (WA)

Gold Medal Grains of Wrath Brewing Blessings of the Highest Order (WA)

Gold Medal Grand Fir Pink Sky (OR)

Gold Medal Great Notion Brewing Easy Lift (OR)

Gold Medal Meanwhile Brewing Secret Beach (TX)

Gold Medal Riip Beer Co Chaos Creation (CA)

Gold Medal Roughtail Brewing Company Temperance (OK)

Gold Medal Ruse Brewing Clock of Grey Hours (OR)

Gold Medal Sunriver Brewing Company Always Sunny in Yakima (OR)

Gold Medal Templin Family Brewing Ferda (UT)

Gold Medal Tenma Beer Project Subvert the Hierarchy (CA)

Gold Medal Urban Roots Brewing Like Riding A Bike (CA)

Silver Medal Alma Mader Brewing Surcharge (MO)

Silver Medal Amalgam Brewing Classic West (CO)

Silver Medal Bend Brewing Space Cowboy (OR)

Silver Medal Bend Brewing Tropic Pines (OR)

Silver Medal Berryessa Brewing Co Separation Anxiety (CA)

Silver Medal Breakside Brewery Wanderjack (OR)

Silver Medal Bridger Brewing Sneak Route (MT)

Silver Medal Brothers Cascadia Brewing Lickity Split (WA)

Silver Medal Claremont Craft Ales 14th Anniversary IPA (CA)

Silver Medal Cloudburst Brewing Actual Poison (WA)

Silver Medal Counter Weight Brewing Company Bright Wave (CT)

Silver Medal Fieldwork Brewing Company Westcoast Slang (CA)

Silver Medal Formula Brewing Textured Approach (WA)

Silver Medal Fort George Brewery 3-Way NZ-Style West Coast IPA (OR)

Silver Medal Ghost Town Brewing Vinebreaker (CA)

Silver Medal Ghost Town Brewing Wandercrust (CA)

Silver Medal Great Notion Brewing Counting Rings (OR)

Silver Medal Heater Allen/ Gold Dot Staggers & Jags Cold IPA (OR)

Silver Medal Hop Dogma Brewing Company Sunset Serenade (CA)

Silver Medal Liquid Mechanics Brewing Lucid AF (CO)

Silver Medal Little Beast Brewing Lion's Share (OR)

Silver Medal McFleshman's Brewing Co. 547 (WI)

Silver Medal Meanwhile Brewing Edible Colors (TX)

Silver Medal pFriem Family Brewers Cosmic Guava West Coast IPA (OR)

Silver Medal Riip Beer Co Riip'n Greens (CA)

Silver Medal Riip Beer Co Danky Doodle Dandy (CA)

Silver Medal Single Hill Brewing Eastside (WA)

Silver Medal Trap Door Brewing DREAM Jr (WA)

Silver Medal Uprise Brewing Ground Loop (WA)

Silver Medal Varietal Beer Co Westie Willis (WA)

Silver Medal Vice Beer Stay Dursty (WA)

Silver Medal Von Ebert Brewing Co. The Heavy Lift IPA (OR)

Silver Medal Von Ebert Brewing Co. Tidal Escape IPA (OR)

Silver Medal Westbound & Down Brewing Co. Westbound IPA (CO)

Category	Total Entries	Prelim Flight	Avg. Flight Size	Beers Getting 0 Top 3 Votes	Beers Getting 1 Top 3 Vote	Beers Getting 2 Top 3 Votes	Beers Getting 3 Top 3 Votes	Total Beers Advancing to Trophy Contention	Silver Medals Awarded	Gold Medals Awarded
Traditional	25	2	13	11	6	6	2	8	1	2
WC IPA Below 6.7%	78	6	13	31	25	19	3	22	8	6
WC IPA Above 6.7%	83	7	12	32	28	13	10	23	11	9
International	37	3	12	17	8	8	4	12	5	3
Flagship	67	6	11	26	17	17	7	24	9	7
Oregon Hop	12	11	12	3	7	1	1	2	1	1
No Show/Withdrawn	28	0	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Total	330	25	13	120	91	64	27	91	35	29
Total %	-	-	-	39.74%	30.13%	21.19%	8.94%	30.13%	11.59%	9.60%

State-by-state Entries:

CA 87

OR 81

WA 55

CO 23

TX 12

OH 7

MT 6

NE 6

OK 6

KS 5

MO 5

NY 5

AZ 5

IA 4

CT 3

UT 3

FL 2

IL 2

MN 2

NC 2

PA 2

WI 2

ID 1

MI 1

ND 1

SC 1

First look at The Malarkey: Flamboyant new Woodfired Steak & Seafood Lounge in NW Portland

Ezra Johnson-Greenough — Fri, 31 Jul 2026 20:20:16 +0000

The Malarkey is one of Portland’s most anticipated restaurant openings of the year. Combining elements of the Oregon Coast, cattle ranches of Central Oregon, Mexican wood-fired grilled specialties, and a Portlandia “Keep Portland Weird” flair, The Malarkey is certainly the most wild and free-ranging concepts to open in awhile.

Brian Malarkey grew up on a cattle ranch outside of Bend, attended the University of Portland and flunked out, quit acting school, and then turned to culinary school—a path leading to a career of throwing dinner parties. Brian built a national TV presence on the Food Network (Top Chef, Guy’s Grocery Games, Tournament of Champions), and started a restaurant group called The Brothers Malarkey (Brian’s restaurant group with his brother James), with their first location in Bend - Hawkeye & Huckleberry Lounge.

Brian brings a flamboyant showmanship to the fore at The Malarkey, referred to as “a maximalist ode to the state that shaped him.” The 10,000-square-foot space has a sunken bar, a small dance floor and DJ stage, and an upstairs dining room, and more dimly lit private back room for events and spillover. The space has lots of natural light, crystal balls, mirrors, and silver and gold like the elk sculpture that makes for the centerpiece of the bar, and a vintage motorcycle that sits over the edge of the upper and lower level floors.

Elk sculpture statue at The Malarkey in Portland Oregon.jpeg
DSC06793_1.jpeg
DSC06791.jpeg
DSC06816.jpeg
DSC06479.jpeg
DSC06753.jpeg
DSC06544.jpeg
DSC06486.jpeg
DSC06715.jpeg
DSC06771.jpeg

The Malarkey is primarily a wide open floor plan with ramps and open levels creating separation between unenclosed “rooms” each with a different theme, primarily bright and pastel swathed with only the back room and bathroom hall taking on a darker more moody woods and ranch tone. The space is designed by Heylen Thienes of Bend-based Tricorn Black , who has covered one area in extra Portland concert posters instead of paintings or prints, and the bar/lounge area with vintage Oregon photos, wall mounted fish, and ornamental mirrors. Above it all are neon tubes throwing off an ambient pink hue, and punctuated by neon signs and hanging plants. There is also a private dining nook inspired by Chinatown. But what has received the most talk is the stripper polls in the bathrooms, though we did not experience them in the men’s room. Instead we were greeted by crystal balls, and a retro 70s club chic.

I won’t comment too much on the food, as we only experienced small bites and snack food at a pre-opening party and I still can’t find a full menu online for the Malarkey. But I will say the steak bites, roasted salmon, and trout crudo, were all excellent.

The full menu is stated to respect local ingredients and the farmers behind them with emphasis on steak, seafood, the Oregon coastal flavor with Mexican seeping in.

Chef Lalo Camarena is heading up the kitchen after leading the nationally recognized República as executive chef, a role he stepped into at just 23. Raised between Mazatlán and Los Angeles, from generations of ranchers and farmers, Chef Lalo’s approach is shaped by wood-fired cooking, fine-dining playfulness, and a wide-ranging, cross-cultural perspective. Above all else, his approach is guided by a simple ethos: “Feed them like they’re your grandma.”

Chef Lalo will focus on simple, yet perfect, preparations. An abundant raw oyster selection and geoduck fritters celebrate the Oregon Coast. Wood-fired tomahawk steaks, marrow bones, and beef cuts will arrive on spinning lazy Susans for the whole table. Steakhouse classics like Caesar salads and baked potatoes will have distinct Lalo spins, drawing inspiration from both his Mexican-American upbringing and the diverse culinary cultures of the Pacific Northwest. Sourcing remains close to home and includes hemp-fed beef raised on Brian’s family ranch in central Oregon.

With The Malarkey, owner Brian Malarkey is returning to his birthplace, where his family has been since the 1880s and he is not shy about attracting attention in any way he can with his maximalist sensibility.

“I'm just building a beautiful venue for Lalo to throw an amazing celebration for all of Portland to enjoy,"said Malarkey.

The Malarkey, 1210 NW Hoyt St, Portland, OR 97209, reservations are now live on OpenTable .

Breakside Brewery’s new West Coast IPA replaces Stay West IPA in 12oz cans

Ezra Johnson-Greenough — Fri, 31 Jul 2026 18:23:44 +0000

Breakside Brewery, one of Portland's largest and most award-winning breweries, is adding a new core beer to their year-round lineup. Breakside West Coast IPA joins the already extensive year-round India Pale Ale lineup of classic Breakside IPA, Wanderlust IPA, and Stay West IPA. The new Breakside West Coast IPA will replace the core Stay West IPA in 12oz cans which will be winding down production this Fall and Winter.

Breakside Stay West IPA is being discontinued

To celebrate the new Breakside West Coast IPA release, the beer will be tapped simultaneously across Portland on National IPA Day, August 6, at beloved bottle shops and neighborhood beer bars.

Yakima’s favorite craft beer industry hangout has closed

Ezra Johnson-Greenough — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 09:47:37 +0000

The oldest bar in Yakima, Washington has closed. Since 1912 generations of locals and brewers visiting from around the world for the annual hop harvest have patronized this downtown bar. The bar-restaurant had become a full-time card room before going out of business in 2003 and reopening as The Sports Center in 2006

The Sports Center, (214 E Yakima Ave, Yakima, WA 98901) an iconic pub known for their bright neon lights and spinning duck hunter marquee has been a mainstay in the heart of Washington’s apple, marijuana, and hop growing region. While The Sports Center was a dive bar through and through, you could always count on a great craft beer selection, especially during hop harvest when brewers and local hop farms wanted to see their experimental hops and seasonal brews on draft at everyone’s go-to watering hole.

The Yakima County-Herald once wrote that “The Sports Center has been a key player in downtown Yakima's post-mall cultural renaissance. It gave hip, young Yakima a place to congregate downtown.”

Sky's Shutter Media reporting for the New School says The Sports Center officially closed on Tuesday, July 21st without warning. The Sports Center social media accounts last post was in promotion for a DJ Dance Party the bar was hosting on Friday, July 17th.

The Sports Center had previously closed for an entire year in the beginning of the pandemic with the owners opting not to reopen before finding a buyer to keep the business alive. Willie Edwards and Todd Widner, both owners of the The Sports Center building, decided to take over and reopen the bar in January 2022. The reopening refreshed the bathrooms, got a new dance floor, and made upgrades to the bar. The biggest change was the opening of sister business Gus’s Pizza next door, providing slices to the bar and in a separate family friendly space. The bar schedule also shifted to a Thursday - Sunday schedule, and more of a late evening experience featuring more live music and dance parties.

“Over the past day, I reached out to several people involved to better understand the closure,” says Sky’s Shutter Media reporting for New School Beer.

The Sports Center’s former manager Erin said, "I will be forever grateful that the ownership gave me the opportunity to fulfill my vision of what The Sports Center could be, and I am very proud of what we built."

Erin said the decision to close was a personal decision by the ownership, adding that she has nothing but respect and understanding for that decision. She also thanked her staff and the many customers who supported the bar throughout the years, calling it "a crazy beautiful ride."

Willie Edwards of WMT Enterprises LLC, the building co-owner and Sports Center bar co-owner since 2021 said that he and his business partners met with management on Tuesday, July 21, where they made the difficult decision to close the bar.

Edwards said that despite being one of the busiest bars in town, the business had been consistently losing money. According to Edwards, he and his partners had continued putting money into the business to keep it operating, but eventually decided it was time to hit the reset button.

Edwards emphasized that he does not want this to be a permanent closure.

Instead, he said the owners hope to make changes to the business, find new management, and eventually reopen The Sports Center under a more sustainable business model.

Sky Media also looked into online claims regarding the property's tax status. When initially asked about the issue, Edwards said the business was not behind on taxes. But, the Yakima County Assessor's Office and the Yakima County Treasurer's Office showed something different.

As of Thursday July 23rd, the WMT Enterprises LLC property tax account associated with the property showed a cumulative balance due of $16,756.08, including a delinquent 2025 property tax balance.

After sharing those records with Edwards, he said he believed the taxes had been paid based on what he had been told by the business's accountant and manager. He expressed surprise at the information and said he planned to look into it further.

It is unclear if and when The Sports Center could reopen in a new form, but what would be their busiest season during the annual hop harvest is only about 1 month away.

2026 Midyear Report on the State of the Craft Beer Industry

Ezra Johnson-Greenough — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 06:10:03 +0000

Craft production trends held steady at -4% in the first half of 2026, while the decline in operating breweries slightly increased and consumer engagement strengthened.

The Brewers Association (BA) craft beer trade group has released results from its midyear survey, presenting an updated look at the craft beer industry. While the findings point to continued pressure, several indicators suggest the contraction may be moderating.

Wider Beverage Alcohol Struggles

Retail scan data showed steeper declines than the BA estimate. Off-premise data from NielsenIQ (NIQ) shows BA-defined craft down 5.2% in the first half of 2026 across all channels (xAOC + Convenience + Liquor). By comparison, NIQ-defined craft was down 5.6% for the same period, and beer plus non-alcohol beer was down 4.0%. The shift from packaged to draught helps explain why the BA estimate for craft overall outperformed scan trends. When channels not measured by scan (i.e. draught and onsite) outperform packaged sales, the overall category estimate outperforms scan trends.

Beer continues to experience declines alongside other beverage alcohol categories. Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA) SipSource data showed spirits volume down 5.3% and wine down 9.2% for the 12 months ending May 2026. That period does not align perfectly with the first-half craft beer figures, but it offers the most recent comparison available.

Signs of Resilience

The overall decline of craft volume is not the only story in these data. Among survey respondents, 54% reported growth, 43% reported declines, and 3% remained flat. Every craft brewery type had a greater share reporting growth than decline, with taprooms (57% growing) and regional breweries (56% growing) leading the charge. Among breweries producing more than 10,000 barrels, 59% reported growth and just 40% reported declines. While there’s likely positive-leaning sample bias (breweries are more likely to report when things are going well), this is an overall bump from 49% reporting growth in this survey last year.

Craft consumers offered another encouraging signal. In the 2026 Brewers Association and Harris Poll Consumer Survey of more than 2,000 adults, monthly craft consumption among craft drinkers reached 85%, up 10 percentage points year-over-year and up to its highest level since 2019–2020. Craft drinkers also visited breweries 5.5 times on average over the past year, up from 5.1 in 2025.

In spite of these bright spots, it is too soon to say whether craft has reached the bottom of the valley for trends in production volume or number of breweries. Still, after several years of figures moving in the wrong direction, that moderation may catalyze some cautious optimism for an industry of perseverant brewers. The world in which craft brewers operate hasn’t gotten any easier or more predictable in 2026, but perhaps the breweries that have weathered the storm so far are the ones that have best positioned themselves for storm weathering into the future.

Single Hill Brewing Retires Lateral A, Introduces Greenway Pale Ale to Core Lineup

Ezra Johnson-Greenough — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 06:08:51 +0000

Single Hill Brewing adds west coast-style pale ale to core lineup, retiring Lateral A

“It's a month and a half until Fresh Hop Season, so what better time to announce a new hop-forward core beer!” says Single Hill Brewing’s director of sales and marketing Andrew Pytel sarcastically. “Oh well, that's how the timing shook out. Single Hill is retiring Lateral A as a core beer after about six years on the lineup, to make room for Greenway, our new year-round pale ale.”

Yakima, Washington’s Single Hill Brewing Company will add Greenway Pale Ale to its core lineup in early August, replacing longtime staple Lateral A IPA in retail accounts across the greater Seattle area and at both of the brewery's retail locations. The beer will be available on draft and in 16-oz cans by August, and the first batch is getting canned up on Tuesday, July 28th.

Greenway is a modern, West Coast–style pale ale brewed with Riwaka, Mosaic, and Centennial hops over a pilsner malt base. At 5.2% ABV and 35 IBU, it's built to be lower in strength than the IPAs it sits alongside, with pine and lime zest aromatics and a crackery malt backbone.

The change keeps Single Hill's core lineup at four beers, swapping one of its IPAs for a pale ale that the brewery says gives hop-forward drinkers a lighter, everyday option alongside its existing core beers.

"We've been working on these lighter, hop-forward beers as rotators for years, and decided it was finally time to put our signature on a pale ale that will be available every day, all year round," said Andrew Pytel, Director of Sales and Marketing at Single Hill Brewing. "Lateral A is a great beer, but it overlapped too much with our other core IPAs and rotating IPAs. We think it will have more time to shine as a rotating option."

Lateral A isn't disappearing for good. The brewery plans to bring it back seasonally as Fresh Hop Lateral A and as an occasional rotating release.

Greenway will roll out to Single Hill's two retail locations and Seattle-area accounts in the first week of August; further distribution details will follow.

About Single Hill Brewing
Single Hill Brewing was founded in 2018 in Yakima, WA to create good times and great beer. The Yakima valley produces over 75% of the world's hops, and Single Hill is known for making good use of them—frequently winning awards for their hop-forward beers. To learn more, visit their website at www.singlehillbrewing.com.

Galleria & Grotto opening in former Doug Fir Lounge space

Ezra Johnson-Greenough — Mon, 27 Jul 2026 10:31:13 +0000

The original Doug Fir Lounge location at 830 E. Burnside will become Galleria + Grotto

Doug Fir Lounge was one of Portland’s most popular music venues and bars for 19 years before they closed in 2023 and announced plans to relocate to the former Le Bistro Montage space under the Morrison Bridge. As Doug Fir’s new location has continued to be pushed back from a projected early 2024 opening to the current fall 2026 timeline, the original location at 830 E. Burnside has remained vacant and for lease until now.

View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Drew Groove (@djdrewgroove)

The New School recently observed workers inside the papered over windows at the old Doug Fir Lounge space which anchors the corner of E. 9th and Burnside in front of the Jupiter Hotel. An Instagram post from @djdrewgroove back in September 2025 revealed the log-cabin themed interior, spaceship bar, and underlit floors and mirrors that gave the main floor bar its swagger were completely gutted. Now we have an idea of what is coming next, and I don’t mean Jupiter Next, the sister hotel just across the street.

Galleria & Grotto is a new concept from A2Z Jupiter and investment firm Fortrex Capital. Established in 2003 in Toronto, Canada, Fortrex started with a focus on residential development in underserved urban markets. In 2008 Fortrex moved into hospitality by acquiring a boutique hotel in Montreal, and then came to the U.S. in 2014 opening an office in New York. In Portland, the group opened the high end Japanese and Korean fusion restaurant “Janken” in Portland’s Pearl District in 2022.

Update 7/27/26 2:38pm: Fortrex Capital has issued a statement denying their involvement in either Janken or the Galleria & Grotto projects. Apparently, “Fortrex is an affiliate company of one of the owners of A2Z, but Fortrex Capital itself is not behind Galleria & Grotto.”

Both Janken and Galleria & Grover had pages on the Fortrex website in their hospitality assets section, and both of those pages were deleted later today after this article went public. See the Fortrex statement, and screenshots of the Google listings showing the deleted pages below.

Rendering of the upcoming Galleria + Grotto

Galleria & Grotto will be a modern vintage dining destination located within Portland’s historic music hall, attached to the newly renovated Jupiter Hotel. This is a 2-part concept utilizing both the former concert venue area downstairs as well as the main level lounge.

Just as Janken blends Korean and Japanese, Galleria & Grotto blends Italian and American fusion cuisine “where tradition meets innovation and every dish is crafted with intention.”

The kitchen will serve fresh handmade pasta and seasonal ingredients with global influences and a mix of familiar comfort dishes and creative outside the box items.

Doug Fir’s signature aesthetic of futuristic elevated roadside diner in a modernist structure will be replaced by a contemporary “Great Gatsby” ambiance at Galleria & Grotto: Rich burgundy tones, golden accents, candlelight, and glamorous special night out vibes.

It looks to keep the late evening hours of Doug Fir, opening daily not until 5pm and staying open to 11pm on weekdays and 2am on Saturday and Sunday.

Another rendering of Galleria & Grotto gives a sense of the posh decor

While Galleria serves as the main dining room, Grotto is a private event space for gatherings of up to 90 guests. While the ownership has not specifically mentioned anything about live music, their OLCC application indicates licensing for both DJ and Live Music performances on the weekends, so it’s unlikely this will be a full-time concert venue like Doug Fir.

Doug Fir should return to inner eastside Portland soon and rejuvenate an equally iconic space with an even larger concert venue at 301 SE Morrison Street. They are currently seeking a food truck/kitchen partner as they hope to open later this year. No word yet on a timeline for Galleria & Grotto, but the recently application for a liquor license indicates the near future.

Easy Jack & Electric Eagle Featured in New Firestone Walker IPA Mixed Pack

Ezra Johnson-Greenough — Mon, 27 Jul 2026 08:25:52 +0000

Exclusives Include the Return of Electric Eagle and Easy Jack

Paso Robles, CA – Firestone Walker introduces its next 2026 IPA Mixed Pack as a special selection of hop-forward beers that go to the heart of West Coast California beer culture, including the return of two pack exclusives—Electric Eagle and Easy Jack.

Landing amid Firestone Walker’s 30th anniversary year, this latest mixed pack is a hand-picked lineup of award-winning, style-defining beers, all brewed with a signature dedication to craftsmanship and flavor. No weak links—just four beers that stand shoulder-to-shoulder in a box built for true hop heads. The latest IPA Mixed Pack (12x12oz cans) is now rolling out to all Firestone Walker markets.

“This new pack captures the range of what West Coast IPA brewing can be, from classic expressions to newer flavors that push the style forward,” said Brewmaster Matt Brynildson. “It also reflects our decades-long passion for creating hop-forward beers with balance, flavor and a distinct California point of view.”

Electric Eagle: West Coast IPA | 7% ABV
Two Central Coast icons are making noise with the return of Electric Eagle, a West Coast IPA brewed by Firestone Walker in collaboration with legendary guitar string maker Ernie Ball. With input from their friends at Ernie Ball, the Firestone Walker brewing team has pulled out all the stops to infuse Electric Eagle with explosive hop character in a progressive West Coast IPA style. A Firestone Mixed Pack exclusive.

Easy Jack: Session IPA | 4.2% ABV
This year marks the return of Easy Jack, Firestone Walker’s pioneering session IPA. First launched in 2014, Easy Jack was renowned for packing a classic IPA punch in a low ABV format, and it now resurfaces for the first time in five years. A full-flavored IPA that you can enjoy without tapping out early, Easy Jack packs vibrant citrus and tropical hop notes into a crisp 4.2% ABV package, making it the ultimate summertime IPA. A Firestone Mixed Pack exclusive.

Firestone IPA: West Coast IPA | 6.5% ABV
Firestone IPA is a future-forward beer born of West Coast roots and Firestone Walker flair. This is a beer that draws from the brewery’s nearly 20 years of experience with the ever-evolving West Coast IPA style. Liberally dry-hopped with Mosaic and Strata hops, Firestone IPA is loaded with fresh passionfruit, pineapple and citrus flavors that keep you coming back for more. A Gold Medal winner at the 2024 European Beer Star Awards and a Firestone Mixed Pack exclusive.

Union Jack: West Coast IPA | 7% ABV
Union Jack is the original Firestone West Coast IPA, brewed on the Central Coast since 2006. Union Jack is the IPA that helped blaze the trail for the revolutionary West Coast style. Named for the British Lion who co-founded the brewery, Union Jack is intensely hoppy yet eminently drinkable from start to finish. A fad-proof IPA for any hop head, and a Gold Medal winner at the 2025 World Beer Cup.

# # #

About Firestone Walker
Firestone Walker proudly celebrates 30 years in 2026. Founded by brothers-in-law Adam Firestone and David Walker, Firestone Walker is a family-led second-generation brewery based on California’s Central Coast. Helmed by Nick Firestone and decorated Brewmaster Matt Brynildson, Firestone Walker's main brewery in Paso Robles produces a robust lineup of award-winning beers including 805, California's #1 craft beer brand established in 2012; Mind Haze, a top 5 national hazy IPA; and Cali Squeeze, one of the nation's fastest-growing beer brands. The Firestone brand family also includes iconic beers such as DBA, Union Jack, and Pivo Pils, as well as the storied Vintage Series of barrel-aged strong ales led by Parabola. As a California beer company, Firestone Walker also has two additional locations: the Barrelworks wild ale cellar in Santa Barbara County and the Propagator R&D brewhouse in Venice. In 2026, Firestone Walker assumed stewardship of two iconic California brands: Stone Brewing and Trumer Pils USA. More at FirestoneWalker.com.

Seattle’s 23-year-old beer bar the Collins Pub closing

Ezra Johnson-Greenough — Fri, 24 Jul 2026 19:50:08 +0000

The Collins Pub has been an oasis for craft beer and quality American pub food in Seattle, Washington’s pioneer square since 2003.

Before Brouwer’s Cafe, Pine Box, Full Throttle Bottles, and Chuck’s Hop Shop, there was the Collins Pub.

The Seattle Times declared The Collins Pub the 5th best beer bar in Seattle in 2011, saying ““They do about as good of a job of rotating craft beers and imports here as anywhere else in town.” And in 2009 wrote, “Seth Howard's Collins Pub remains a beacon of light in Pioneer Square.”

Fellow Seattle publican Gary Sink also opened his beer bar, Beveridge Place Pub, in 2003.

“For all the struggles of downtown since Covid I'm amazed they were able to keep going this long. 20+ years is a good run in this industry,” said Sink.

Geoff Kaiser, founder of the now defunct Seattle Beer News, was a longtime fan of The Collins Pub and had this to say;

“Collins Pub was important in large part because it was one of the few places in the downtown business core of Seattle that really cared about beer. ~20 years ago they were doing cask nights every Thursday, doing a great job of curating an interesting tap list, and doing beer dinners and other special events. One of the most memorable beer dinners I ever attended was at Collins for a HOTD dinner with Alan back in 2008. I don't remember the details, but both the food and the beers were epic. I recall a Strong Ale Fest they had back around the same time, as well.
As times changed for the beer industry and in Seattle, Collins changed over the years. They haven't had the focus on events or dinners for a long time. But they've always kept up an outstanding tap list that focused on fresh, local beers, and it's been a regular spot for many of us that work downtown for the past 20 years. The owner, Seth Howard, was an advocate for local breweries and would have been among the first to bring in stuff from new breweries making good quality beers (like Holy Mountain and Cloudburst when they started out). The food was always very good and reasonably priced, as well.
On a personal note, I've had too many good times at Collins over the years to remember. My wife and I started our first date there 20 years ago. We just held a remembrance there last month for a friend who recently passed away that used to spend a lot of time with us there. It's been the type of place that becomes a part of you, even if I haven't been going there as much these days (which was part of the problem...). It will be missed by many.”

Collins Pub closes at 11pm on Friday, July 24th. 526 2nd Ave, Seattle, WA 98104

Vice Beer and El Viejon serve up breakfast with a side of nostalgia

Ezra Johnson-Greenough — Fri, 24 Jul 2026 09:10:22 +0000

Vice Beer in east Vancouver, Washington has been serving up pop culture nostalgia and trending beers since 2022. Recently they upgraded their patio, got a new head brewer, signed a partnership with Atari, and started serving beers with a side of breakfast and fresh coffee to pair with their mimosa sour and house micheladas. Pfew!

Bullet points: New patio, more seating, new AM drinks, new El Viejon breakfast, New El Viejon Weekend brunch, new El Viejon sushi, new El Viejon menu items, new pour-over coffee program, launching 4 new beers with Atari on September 4th, celebrating 4 years on September 25th.

Vice Beer: 705 SE Park Crest Ave, Vancouver, Washington, now open at 9am daily.

El Viejon expansion under new covered patio structure

Eldy Prado is the founder of El Viejon. Born in the state of Nayarit, Mexico, Chef Eldy Prado's passion for cooking was ignited at a young age while working alongside his mother in their family food business. With nearly 30 years experience cooking for other people, Eldy opened El Viejon.

El Viejon has earned a reputation for authentic Mexican tacos and seafood that pairs well with craft beers. El Viejon launched with Vice Beer in August 2022, and they have grown alongside each other: Vice with a second downtown Vancouver taproom called ‘A Little Vice’ and El Viejon with new kitchens or food trucks attached to popular brewery taprooms like Fortside Brewing, Brujos Brewing, and briefly Gigantic Brewing’s Hawthorne pub.

Vice has finally completed a new 64-foot-long all-weather patio first promised in a New School article in September 2025. The permanent structure provides a shady place that keeps the rain out but lets the light in the warmer months with misters for extreme heat and a warm and cozy spot in the colder months where people can gather.

“It was over a year ago that I last talked with New School about these plans as well as our cellar capacity expansion that happened in June of 2025. To witness it all finally coming together and falling into place is super exciting,” says Vice Beer co-owner Michael Perozzo.

The patio is built around El Viejon’s new state-of-the-art 22’ kitchen trailer that forms a convenient wall enclosure to the parking lot and business park where the brewery is located. With tropical plants, picnic tables, turf, and partial walls and a permanent wood cover now decorating the face of the taproom, you can almost trick yourself that you are enjoying Mariscos and Cervezas on a patio in San Diego.

Weekday Breakfast and Weekend Brunch

El Viejon’s new and improved food truck means faster service times and room for the full menu that owner Eldy Prado has always dreamed of — Breakfast tacos and burritos, weekend brunch, Senora (ribeye) tacos, nachos, Birria ramen, more mariscos and Sinaloa-style sushi!

“I worked as a cook making breakfast and brunch for more the 20 years. Breakfast items are some of favorite foods,” says El Viejon owner Eldy Prado. “For the last two years, people ask me about breakfast burritos and tacos, but because of the short space on the old truck, we never got the opportunity to do breakfast. That's why I built a new trailer to have the space and equipment to execute a breakfast menu.Now we are ready to serve breakfast all day!”

Murray’s Breakfast Burrito…$14.99
Flour tortillas, mixed cheese, scrambled eggs, with choice of meatt, mixed peppers and onions, golden brown tater tots, chipotle aioli and avocado
AZ Breakfast Tacos…$3.99
Flour tortillas, mixed cheese, scrambled eggs, with choice of meat, mixed peppers and onions, chipitole aioli, avocado and a side of house salsa. Tater tots on side.
NW Breakfast Sando…$14.99
Grilled Portland bakery sourdough bread, chipotle aioli, mixed cheese, scrambled eggs, with choice of meat, mixed peppers and onions, pico de Gallo and sliced avicadi, Tater tots on the side.
Choice of Meat
Bacon, ham, pork sausage, chorizo, carne asada, pollo asodo, grilled veggies.

El Viejon is open with breakfast food all day every day at 9am, but on weekends they are executing new brunch food specials that go above and beyond, truly elevating your weekend plans.

“I love brunch, but is something different,” says Prado. “I really appreciate the loyalty of my customers and I wanted to do something different every weekend. I love to have challenges as a chef keep me sharp and busy.”

El Viejon has launched a new weekend brunch that serves unique items each weekend that are not regularly on the menu. Recently this included Chilequiles Verde, Birria Eggs Benedict and El Viejon’s own spin on Hievos Rancheros. Brunch is served 9am to 2pm on Saturday and Sunday only.

Vice wasn’t going to let El Viejon have all the fun outside on the patio, and they are both now opening at 9am all 7-days a week. In accordance they have expanded drink offerings to include things like mimosas, Bellinis, Brass Monkeys and Micheladas with a house-made climato by El Viejon and all of them are available to close.

If you are going to have breakfast, you should probably also have caffeine.

Vice developed a pour-over coffee program inspired by Philz Coffee of the Bay Area with a rotating roasts taproom-style twist. Coffees are sourced from around the world by roasters in high-acclaim like Proud Mary, Tiny Footprint; and also locally from Irrelevant, Transcendence and Kafiex. No sugary offerings. Purely 3rd wave coffee with all natural enhancements and garnishes. Coffee lovers dress their bean juice with add-Ins like heavy cream, oat milk, coconut milk, raw sugar, raw honey or fresh mint leaves. You won’t find syrups or an espresso machine. Everything is poured to-order on a Chemex brewer flask. Nitro Cold Brew coffee by Relevant Coffee is also on tap with a few house specialties like the Mint Condition - a creamy muddled mint delight, the Buzzworthy - an oat milk and honey concoction, or the Miami Mocha with Ghirardelli chocolate & cacao, cream, and a splash of coconut milk. All coffee beverages are available all day from 9am to close.

Atari collaboration beers:

Another one of the projects teased in a New School Beer article last September was a potential for collaboration beers with retro gaming icon Atari. In May of 2025, the founder of Night Dive Studios and current Atari exec, Stephen Kick, joined Vice as an investor and advisor to help bring many of these projects to life.

“We’re stoked that our collaboration with Atari is finally taking shape!,” says Vice co-owner/founder Michael Perozzo. “While we are not at liberty to reveal the can art just yet, Atari has commissioned an accomplished artist in the video game industry to create labels for 4 beers.”

Original Bug Battle Hazy IPA - inspired by Centipede
One-Button Joystick WC IPA - inspired by the original video game controller that started it all
Gemstone Sour - A raspberry lemonade tart ale inspired by Bentley Bear’s adventures in Crystal Castles.
Sunken Treasure - A S’mores Stout celebrating Atari’s retro remaster studio, Night Dive Studios!

These beers will all release for the first time at PAX West - the nation’s largest gaming convention. There will be a special afterparty hosted by Atari with games to play and beers to enjoy before the public launch at Vice Beer’s 2 taprooms and in cans to over 40 states thanks to a partnership with Tavour. Beer nerds will be able to score 4-packs from Atari.com via a portal powered by Tavour or from the Tavour app directly.

Vice Beer (left to right): Michael Perozzo, Phil Pesheck, Paul Linthacum

New award-winning Vice head brewer

Vice Beer’s former head brewer Aaron Copelin recently took over as head brewer of Great Notion Brewing, and Vice Beer was lucky to snag acclaimed brewer Phil Pesheck to take the reins.
“We’re stoked to have Phil Pesheck on the team. His reputation preceded him as the 2020 Alpha King and we’d heard his beers’ names called out at GABF and World Beer Cup a number of times in the last 5+ years,” says Michael Perozzo. “Our top focus is to continue that winning tradition with world-class IPAs, lagers and an eclectic array of styles to keep beer fun.”

Pecheck joins assistant brewer Paul Linthacum who has been there since the beginning of Vice’s year-old cellar expansion project.

“We’re really excited about his expert palette (coming from a classically trained chef background) and his passion for pushing the envelope for innovations and flavor combinations,” adds Perozzo. “Now we have the capacity to make more beer, the space for more people to enjoy our beer, and the team and talent to make really great beer. We couldn’t be more excited as we prepare to turn 4 years old in September.”

Vice Beer & El Viejon 4-Year Anniversary

On September 25th Vice Beer & El Viejon will celebrate 4 years together with a weekend-long bash that features live music, DJ’s, custom hats, merch drops, a tattoo pop-up, and a special 4-brewery collaboration series.

To commemorate 4 years, Vice has invited some of their most influential friends from each west coast state for a 4-way IPA, if you will. Trap Door, Great Notion and Original Pattern represent individuals who have been friends from the beginning.

“They’ve each had a real impact on how we do things and they each have the type of people we go to when we need to troubleshoot an issue or just want to throw down a rad collab,” adds Perozzo.

Anniversary beer “4-Player IPA” will be released in at least two styles: West Coast & Hazy. Vice is also flirting with maybe pushing that to include a Double Westy and a Double Hazy as well depending on how fresh hop season gets underway.

Vice Beer, 705 SE Park Crest Ave, Vancouver, Washington