Welcome back to Thebeerchaser. If you are seeing this post through an e-mail, please visit the blog by clicking on the title at the top to see all of the photos so the narrative is not clipped or shortened.(External photo attribution at the end of the post #)
I’ve mentioned previously that my affinity for dive bars transcends breweries and brewpubs because they generally have more character and history. There are exceptions. For example, check out the Beerwanderers blog published by my friend, Rich Carbonara in Munich, Germany.
Rich is an American living in Munich with his wife, Doreen. He’s the founder of the beer hiking tour guide service Beerwanderers. His first book is Beer Hiking Bavaria which details 50 great hikes from all around Bavaria.
Each hike features a brewery and a suggested after-hike beer. When Janet and I return to Germany, one of Rich’s tours will be a top priority for our trip. (#1 – #2))
Rich and Doreen
Let’s view one of numerous examples of the breweries Rich features – Stefansbräu Brewery – it’s in Dinkelsbühl – an historic walled medieval town dotted with half-timbered houses and intact tower gates in Central Franconia, a region of Germany that’s part of the state of Bavaria. (#3)
Stefansbräu Brewery
Unfortunately, we haven’t traveled to Bavaria, but just looking at the photos and descriptions of the quaint, picturesque and often historic breweries in Rich’s blog makes me yearn for some of that ambiance in the Pacific Northwest where breweries often are in modernized and sleek quarters without much personality.
There’s a new one on my list and we had a wonderful visit there two weeks ago. Pfriem Brewing is a great story – opening in 2012 in Hood River on the beautiful Columbia River. Janet and I love their beer and their facility. As stated on their website:
“In 2011 Josh Pfriem was well on his path to becoming a master brewer, but that path veered dramatically the day he was introduced to Ken Whiteman and Rudy Kellner at a child’s birthday party. The three went on to form the brain trust that would eventually create pFriem.”
What began as a small company has garnered a big reputation throughout the Northwest based on their excellent beer. Most recently they were awarded three gold medals at the 2025 World Beer Cup for their Hazy IPA, Cold IPA and Pale Ale.
The World Beer Cup, held in Indianapolis on May 1st, is one of the most prestigious competitions in craft brewing where “a panel of 265 judges from 37 countries evaluated 8,375 entries from 1,761 breweries.”Brewers’ Association
And in the 2025 Oregon Beer Awards, they were recognized as both the Large Brewery of the Year and the Regional Brewing Company of the Year for Central Oregon. (#4 – #5)
Pfriem Brewing’s New Milwaukie, Oregon Tasting Room
The City of Milwaukie, in the 2020 census, had a population of 21,119 and was founded in 1847 on the banks of the Willamette River (one of the few major rivers in the world besides the Nile, that flow north) It’s a suburb of Portland – located six miles south of downtown Portland.
Perhaps I’m biased, but notwithstanding the glowing description in the “Visit Milwaukie” website below, it is not a location one would target for a visit. Quite frankly, the downtown is not very vibrant and it doesn’t have the rich history and geography of Oregon City – down the Willamette River about seven miles south.
“Discover the hidden gem of Oregon—Milwaukie, a vibrant community brimming with local charm, diverse businesses, and unforgettable experiences. Whether you’re a visitor or a resident, Milwaukie has something for everyone. From unique shops and delicious dining to exciting activities, explore what makes our community special.” (#6 – #7)
The Willamette River at Milwaukie Bay Park
After eighty-five years, the City outgrew the structure housing City Hall, the library and its fire station – built in 1947 for approximately $32,000…with the aid of a $13,800 grant by the Works Progress Administration (WPA).
The plan was to transform it into a brewery, a restaurant, and a bakery. Milwaukie selected Henry Point Development for the project. (#8 – #9)
The NewThe Old
A new City Hall about two blocks from the original was dedicated in October 2023. The July 2024 opening of Pfriem and Keeper Coffee “dedicated 87 years to the day of the original building”(according to New School Beer) will perhaps be a renaissance, of sorts, for downtown Milwaukie.
Keeper Coffee is a woman-owned cafe selling local coffee and house-made pastries founded by Brittany Huff in 2019. The Milwaukie shop is their second location and they get great social media reviews such as this recent Yelp review:
“Their southeast PDX location is great (and) this provides so many more seating and space options. The baked goods and coffee are some of the best in the Metro and the staff are awesome! Put this spot on your list of places to check out.” (#10 – #11)
The riveting attraction of the new Priem location is that it encompasses essentially four + different establishments – each with a different feel (meaning it beckons you to return….) As described in a 3/25 post in Brew Public:
Three bars with 20+ taps pouring pFriem’s celebrated core beers, seasonal releases, and exclusive small-batch offerings.
Five handcrafted pFriem specialty craft cocktails and Son of Man cider on draft.
A spacious outdoor patio with a pergola-covered seating area.
An upstairs event space for future brewery events, tastings, and community gatherings.
A cozy retail and bar area inspired by pFriem’s beloved Bear’s Den in Hood River, complete with a piece of original art reflecting the surrounding area.
Besides the attractive quarters of Keeper on the first floor, the building is festooned with historic photos, art and niches which make it an adventure to explore. In fact:
“….during the retrofit, one big surprise was the discovery of a time capsule snuggled in the corner of the building, installed by the city and local Masonic Lodge in 1938.” New School Beer
Siren Call?
While the siren call in Greek mythology refers to a powerful force that attracts someone to something, often with the implication that it may be dangerous or misleading, you won’t see Odysseus here saving his crew’s lives from the alluring vocalization. Instead, the idea of good food and beer in a warm and interesting environment is irresistible! (#12)
A newer beckoning call
That said, one can imagine the many times that City firefighters responded to that resonance while occupying the upper floor in the old City Hall and slid down the fire pole to get to the trucks below.
And that image is preserved, in part, by the focus on historic preservation by Pfriem, the City of Milwaukie and the developers:
“Meanwhile, a fire pole from the original firehouse will be repurposed into a one-of-a-kind beer tap system.
Rudy Kellner (co-founder of Pfriem) says they had an overwhelming response and request from the city and the community to salvage the fire pole and use it in some way in the building. So, they repositioned the original fire pole to land on the 1st and 2nd floor bar tops and adapted it to accommodate tap lines.
‘So we’re going to be pouring beer out of a fire pole. I think we’re probably the first tap room in the world to have beer in a fire pole,’ he says.” (New School Beer)
“….the brewery ran two glycol-chilled tap lines around the bar and up the shiny brass tube, where they meet a pair of handsome Czech side-pull faucets, which give bartenders more control to pour the perfect pint.” Oregon Live
Food for Thought….
Janet and I were joined at Pfriem by our friends John and Kim Limb. I serve with John on the Abbey Foundation of Oregon Board where he is the Immediate Past President and he has been Beerchasing with me on several occasions in the past.
One review described the menu at the Tasting Room as “A thoughtfully curated food menu to complement pFriem’s beer lineup.” The menu is not expansive and essentially standard pub food at reasonable prices. Kim, Janet and I had delicious grilled chicken sandwiches while John enjoyed a pimento cheeseburger. They went well with the Pfriem West Coast IPA.
The new tasting room and coffee shop are both Keepers. Give them a try.
Jim Westwood – BOQ 3/28/13 – Jim joins Jack as being regarded as one of the premier appellate lawyers in the Pacific Northwest.
In fact, we deliberately separated the two during the event to avoid them having an animated discussion of Jack’s 1986 victory in front of the Oregon Supreme Court (June v Roberts) involving initiative ballot titles, nuclear energy and Trojan (not the one you’re thinking of….)
Of course, they would have also discussed Jim’s 2005 case before the Oregon Supremes (City of Nyssa v. Dufloth/Smith) involving free speech, nude dancers, prohibited touching and the distinction between the distance of four feet and one foot. (Surprisingly, Trojans were not involved in this case….)
But Jim – one of my most frequent Beerchasing companions – has a story that transcends his legal accomplishments.
(And I’m not talking about being a fellow graduate of Oregon City High School where his mom, Catherine was my Latin teacher for two years, his stint as a fill-in weatherman on KGW television or how he learned Thai when he was in Naval Intelligence). (#4)
“The 415 points scored in their final match ties them for fifth-highest single-game total achieved, and their 1725 points total set a new record at the time and is fourth highest overall.
The March 26, 1965, issue of Time has an article on how the College Bowl victories helped change Portland State’s image as ‘the flunk-out school’ for University of Oregon and Oregon State drop-outs…” (#5)
To obtain some idea of the erudition of this team (Jim describes them as students with GPA’s around 3.0 who were just “nerds.”) take a look at this YouTube link from the University of San Francisco match:
Little Beast started in 2017 in the former quarters of Brannon’s in Beaverton which never gained traction (Kevin Brannon is a former Schwabe lawyer). LB also has a brewing facility in Clackamas.
“The competition is greater and frankly, business is slow….We’ve seen decreasing sales for the last two years.“
Well, Little Beast continues to strive, notwithstanding the competition and perhaps, creativity, excellent beer and outstanding food overcome the struggle for market share. You should find out yourself. (#6)
But he also had a memorable broadcast media career:
“For 13 years, Faust moderated Town Hall, a weekly public affairs television program on ABC affiliate KATU. The program featured discussions, often contentious, between public officials, experts and plain citizens on topics that ranged from serious (child abuse) to light (alien abductions).
It drew high ratings and received numerous honors including national awards.”
Jack served as the Portland Maverick’s lawyer and a good friend of actor Bing Russell, team owner and his son, actor, Kurt. He obtained a notable victory for Russel in an arbitration with the Pacific Coast League.
Besides his intellect, one of the traits that endeared Jack, not only to his partners but the entire law firm, was his keen sense of humor. He was always willing to participate in my schemes to make presentations at the firm’s retreats more interesting.
For example, take the two YouTube videos below – the first being part of a retreat video and the second being the outtakes to produce the final product. Jack is “admonishing” a colleague who has a definite resemblance to former Beerchaser-of-the-Quarter, Art Vandelay.
Amy Faust
Amy Faust – BOQ 4/11/17 – Jack’s daughter (the only father-daughter BOQ) had an extended radio broadcast career. For nineteen years – in two different stints – she was the Amy in the Mike and Amy Show on KWJJ – The Wolf.
At one point, Jack co-hosted with Amy when Mike was gone and did a very credible job – probably feeling as much pressure to perform as when he argued in front of the Oregon Supreme Court…..!
Amy is a talented and creative person with a fascinating career besides her time in radio. This includes stints in documentary film production, freelance writing, authoring advertising copy, producing TV commercials, television production and as location manager for the show Portlandia.
Jim Westwood and Amy having a spirited debate with oversight by Amy’s husband, Kevin.
Jim Westwood
Jim Westwood – BOQ 3/28/13 – Jim joins Jack as being regarded as one of the premier appellate lawyers in the Pacific Northwest.
In fact, we deliberately separated the two during the event to avoid them having an animated discussion of Jack’s 1986 victory in front of the Oregon Supreme Court (June v Roberts) involving initiative ballot titles, nuclear energy and Trojan (not the one you’re thinking of….)
Of course, they would have also discussed Jim’s 2005 case before the Oregon Supremes (City of Nyssa v. Dufloth/Smith) involving free speech, nude dancers, prohibited touching and the distinction between the distance of four feet and one foot. (Surprisingly, Trojans were not involved in this case….)
But Jim – one of my most frequent Beerchasing companions – has a story that transcends his legal accomplishments.
(And I’m not talking about being a fellow graduate of Oregon City High School where his mom, Catherine was my Latin teacher for two years, his stint as a fill-in weatherman on KGW television or how he learned Thai when he was in Naval Intelligence). (#4)
“The 415 points scored in their final match ties them for fifth-highest single-game total achieved, and their 1725 points total set a new record at the time and is fourth highest overall.
The March 26, 1965, issue of Time has an article on how the College Bowl victories helped change Portland State’s image as ‘the flunk-out school’ for University of Oregon and Oregon State drop-outs…” (#5)
To obtain some idea of the erudition of this team (Jim describes them as students with GPA’s around 3.0 who were just “nerds.”) take a look at this YouTube link from the University of San Francisco match:
Little Beast started in 2017 in the former quarters of Brannon’s in Beaverton which never gained traction (Kevin Brannon is a former Schwabe lawyer). LB also has a brewing facility in Clackamas.
“The competition is greater and frankly, business is slow….We’ve seen decreasing sales for the last two years.“
Well, Little Beast continues to strive, notwithstanding the competition and perhaps, creativity, excellent beer and outstanding food overcome the struggle for market share. You should find out yourself. (#6)
I’ll finish below with some final thoughts on LB, but first I need to single out three of my Beerchasing companions. Periodically on this blog, I recognize an individual or group who may or may not have anything to do with bars or breweries but has good story.
In our group at LB, I had three former Beerchasers-of-the-Quarter – Jack Faust – Amy Faust and Jim Westwood – and I want to briefly highlight their stories.
But he also had a memorable broadcast media career:
“For 13 years, Faust moderated Town Hall, a weekly public affairs television program on ABC affiliate KATU. The program featured discussions, often contentious, between public officials, experts and plain citizens on topics that ranged from serious (child abuse) to light (alien abductions).
It drew high ratings and received numerous honors including national awards.”
Jack served as the Portland Maverick’s lawyer and a good friend of actor Bing Russell, team owner and his son, actor, Kurt. He obtained a notable victory for Russel in an arbitration with the Pacific Coast League.
Besides his intellect, one of the traits that endeared Jack, not only to his partners but the entire law firm, was his keen sense of humor. He was always willing to participate in my schemes to make presentations at the firm’s retreats more interesting.
For example, take the two YouTube videos below – the first being part of a retreat video and the second being the outtakes to produce the final product. Jack is “admonishing” a colleague who has a definite resemblance to former Beerchaser-of-the-Quarter, Art Vandelay.
Amy Faust
Amy Faust – BOQ 4/11/17 – Jack’s daughter (the only father-daughter BOQ) had an extended radio broadcast career. For nineteen years – in two different stints – she was the Amy in the Mike and Amy Show on KWJJ – The Wolf.
At one point, Jack co-hosted with Amy when Mike was gone and did a very credible job – probably feeling as much pressure to perform as when he argued in front of the Oregon Supreme Court…..!
Amy is a talented and creative person with a fascinating career besides her time in radio. This includes stints in documentary film production, freelance writing, authoring advertising copy, producing TV commercials, television production and as location manager for the show Portlandia.
Jim Westwood and Amy having a spirited debate with oversight by Amy’s husband, Kevin.
Jim Westwood
Jim Westwood – BOQ 3/28/13 – Jim joins Jack as being regarded as one of the premier appellate lawyers in the Pacific Northwest.
In fact, we deliberately separated the two during the event to avoid them having an animated discussion of Jack’s 1986 victory in front of the Oregon Supreme Court (June v Roberts) involving initiative ballot titles, nuclear energy and Trojan (not the one you’re thinking of….)
Of course, they would have also discussed Jim’s 2005 case before the Oregon Supremes (City of Nyssa v. Dufloth/Smith) involving free speech, nude dancers, prohibited touching and the distinction between the distance of four feet and one foot. (Surprisingly, Trojans were not involved in this case….)
But Jim – one of my most frequent Beerchasing companions – has a story that transcends his legal accomplishments.
(And I’m not talking about being a fellow graduate of Oregon City High School where his mom, Catherine was my Latin teacher for two years, his stint as a fill-in weatherman on KGW television or how he learned Thai when he was in Naval Intelligence). (#4)
“The 415 points scored in their final match ties them for fifth-highest single-game total achieved, and their 1725 points total set a new record at the time and is fourth highest overall.
The March 26, 1965, issue of Time has an article on how the College Bowl victories helped change Portland State’s image as ‘the flunk-out school’ for University of Oregon and Oregon State drop-outs…” (#5)
To obtain some idea of the erudition of this team (Jim describes them as students with GPA’s around 3.0 who were just “nerds.”) take a look at this YouTube link from the University of San Francisco match:
Little Beast started in 2017 in the former quarters of Brannon’s in Beaverton which never gained traction (Kevin Brannon is a former Schwabe lawyer). LB also has a brewing facility in Clackamas.
“The competition is greater and frankly, business is slow….We’ve seen decreasing sales for the last two years.“
Well, Little Beast continues to strive, notwithstanding the competition and perhaps, creativity, excellent beer and outstanding food overcome the struggle for market share. You should find out yourself. (#6)
Welcome back to Thebeerchaser. If you are seeing this post through an e-mail, please visit the blog by clicking on the title above to see all of the photos and the video at the end of the post and so the narrative isn’t clipped or shortened. (External photo attribution at the end of the post # 1)
My companions always make these outings enjoyable, and this was no exception. I’ve had numerous Beerchasings with the “Faust Clan” – Jack, Amy, and Charlie. (Kevin Frazier, Amy’s husband and Max, Charlie’s son also joined us. Jack’s wife Alice, joined us a number of times in the past and passed away last year.)
Similarly, lawyers Jim Westwood and my former and now-retired Schwabe law colleagues, Dave Bartz and Jim Finn – all three of which had notable legal careers as did Jack were also there. As mentioned, Susan Bartz also was a great companion.
Our server, Preston, did a great job of accommodating us with our own table in a prime spot as well as taking the photo below:
Clockwise Sue Bartz, Thebeerchaser, Dave Bartz, Charlie Faust, Jim Westwood, Amy Faust, Max Faust, Jack Faust and Jim Finn
The Eats
Although Brenda Crow with her culinary background, including a stint at Portland’s Olympic Provisions, has been the guiding hand for the food offerings, Little Beast (hereafter “LB”) entered a partnership with Kevin Koch, the owner of Lawless Barbecue in October 2021 when it became available at the beer garden. (#2)
And the partnership seems to mesh as well as the beer and the barbeque as evident from the pairings available:
“The result is a menu that includes 13-hour smoked prime brisket, burnt ends, spare ribs and pulled pork….
The mains are rounded out by a handful of classic sides, like barbecue beans, loaded potato salad, mac and cheese, and a vinegar-based slaw—dishes that Koch says are carefully crafted from scratch and not just an afterthought.” (Willamette Week 10/27/21) (#3)
Dave Bartz had the Mac-n-Cheese with two pork ribs. “Delish,” he stated. (I was sitting next to Dave and was tempted to surreptitiously dig in but was still remembering his years as my boss as Co-Managing Partner at the Schwabe firm…..)
Sue Bartz enjoyed the burnt ends and Jim Finn took an order home.
I was tempted….
The menu is more than inviting with starters such as nachos, pastrami salad and even Frito pie, sandwiches and inviting sides and the prices are very reasonable.
But let’s look at this 12/10/23 Yelp review which does a decent job of making one want to double his or her dose of statins to partake:
“We were a little hungry so we decided to order from their bbq menu, option for their brisket and potato salad. Both items were chef’s kiss! The brisket was tender and juicy and absolutely melted in my mouth.
The potato salad had nice chunky potato without being mushy. I love that the bbq sauce came on the side so I can choose how much sauce I wanted to eat.“
The Company
I’ll finish below with some final thoughts on LB, but first I need to single out three of my Beerchasing companions. Periodically on this blog, I recognize an individual or group who may or may not have anything to do with bars or breweries but has good story.
In our group at LB, I had three former Beerchasers-of-the-Quarter – Jack Faust – Amy Faust and Jim Westwood – and I want to briefly highlight their stories.
But he also had a memorable broadcast media career:
“For 13 years, Faust moderated Town Hall, a weekly public affairs television program on ABC affiliate KATU. The program featured discussions, often contentious, between public officials, experts and plain citizens on topics that ranged from serious (child abuse) to light (alien abductions).
It drew high ratings and received numerous honors including national awards.”
Jack served as the Portland Maverick’s lawyer and a good friend of actor Bing Russell, team owner and his son, actor, Kurt. He obtained a notable victory for Russel in an arbitration with the Pacific Coast League.
Besides his intellect, one of the traits that endeared Jack, not only to his partners but the entire law firm, was his keen sense of humor. He was always willing to participate in my schemes to make presentations at the firm’s retreats more interesting.
For example, take the two YouTube videos below – the first being part of a retreat video and the second being the outtakes to produce the final product. Jack is “admonishing” a colleague who has a definite resemblance to former Beerchaser-of-the-Quarter, Art Vandelay.
Amy Faust
Amy Faust – BOQ 4/11/17 – Jack’s daughter (the only father-daughter BOQ) had an extended radio broadcast career. For nineteen years – in two different stints – she was the Amy in the Mike and Amy Show on KWJJ – The Wolf.
At one point, Jack co-hosted with Amy when Mike was gone and did a very credible job – probably feeling as much pressure to perform as when he argued in front of the Oregon Supreme Court…..!
Amy is a talented and creative person with a fascinating career besides her time in radio. This includes stints in documentary film production, freelance writing, authoring advertising copy, producing TV commercials, television production and as location manager for the show Portlandia.
Jim Westwood and Amy having a spirited debate with oversight by Amy’s husband, Kevin.
Jim Westwood
Jim Westwood – BOQ 3/28/13 – Jim joins Jack as being regarded as one of the premier appellate lawyers in the Pacific Northwest.
In fact, we deliberately separated the two during the event to avoid them having an animated discussion of Jack’s 1986 victory in front of the Oregon Supreme Court (June v Roberts) involving initiative ballot titles, nuclear energy and Trojan (not the one you’re thinking of….)
Of course, they would have also discussed Jim’s 2005 case before the Oregon Supremes (City of Nyssa v. Dufloth/Smith) involving free speech, nude dancers, prohibited touching and the distinction between the distance of four feet and one foot. (Surprisingly, Trojans were not involved in this case….)
But Jim – one of my most frequent Beerchasing companions – has a story that transcends his legal accomplishments.
(And I’m not talking about being a fellow graduate of Oregon City High School where his mom, Catherine was my Latin teacher for two years, his stint as a fill-in weatherman on KGW television or how he learned Thai when he was in Naval Intelligence). (#4)
“The 415 points scored in their final match ties them for fifth-highest single-game total achieved, and their 1725 points total set a new record at the time and is fourth highest overall.
The March 26, 1965, issue of Time has an article on how the College Bowl victories helped change Portland State’s image as ‘the flunk-out school’ for University of Oregon and Oregon State drop-outs…” (#5)
To obtain some idea of the erudition of this team (Jim describes them as students with GPA’s around 3.0 who were just “nerds.”) take a look at this YouTube link from the University of San Francisco match:
Little Beast started in 2017 in the former quarters of Brannon’s in Beaverton which never gained traction (Kevin Brannon is a former Schwabe lawyer). LB also has a brewing facility in Clackamas.
“The competition is greater and frankly, business is slow….We’ve seen decreasing sales for the last two years.“
Well, Little Beast continues to strive, notwithstanding the competition and perhaps, creativity, excellent beer and outstanding food overcome the struggle for market share. You should find out yourself. (#6)
Since I started this blog in 2011, I never get tired of hearing the amazing stories of the smaller independent breweries that have employed creativity, skill at the craft, grit during economic challenges and wisdom when opportunity knocks to become successful businesses.
I felt a big sheepish that I hadn’t been to Little Beast Brewing (hereafter LB) until this July and based on my experience will definitely return.
My ten-member Beerchasing group loved it and the story is interesting and portends a bright future for co-founders and owners Charles Porter and Brenda Crow. (External photo attribution at the end of the post – #1 – #2)
When I was researching a new brewery to visit, the descriptions of LB beckoned – those on the site itself – and the favorable reviews of beer and food on print and social media as well as the interesting history – founded in 2017.
I was therefore delighted to discover an oasis of sorts – described perfectly by the Portland Mercury
“Its spacious outdoor area is simply one of the most gratuitously pleasant places in the city to sit and sip a beer.“
“The vibe is easy – regulars line the bar trying the latest intriguing tap offering, friends catch up at sun-drenched picnic tables, kids and dog dogs frolic while their people stretch out on the front lawn.”
The structures in which a number of taprooms are housed have fascinating histories. I have seen former auto shops, gas stations, laundromats, whore houses, groceries and taxidermy studios (Montana not Oregon….) which were converted into great brewpubs.
Little Beast is no exception and was:
“…previously a residence that would become home to a fortuneteller – Porter and Crow remade the cramped interior by ripping out booths and building a taproom featuring a walnut-topped bar and a new draft system.
The beer garden outside also features a covered back porch that’s heated and enclosed in winter.”
“If ‘Loveliest Brewery in Portland’ were an award category, Little Beast Brewing would win Gold. This spot has big charm and rich history: Brewmaster and cofounder Charles Porter is a craft-beer rock star, with over two decades of experience at spots like Deschutes Brewery and Full Sail Brewing; he was also the cofounder and head brewer of Logsdon Farmhouse Ales…”
And the space is intriguing with both the beer garden and the interior, having little alcoves and partitioned spaces that allow some privacy although most want to inhale the positive vibe from the energetic crowds that we witnessed.
Rumor has it that they will even provide a blanket for a picnic.
An alcove if you want privacy
Complementary Backgrounds
While some would assert that husband-wife business partnerships are a terrible idea (based on a lot of evidence) it has worked well for Porter and Crow.
He has thirty years of brewing experience (after receiving his degree in biology) starting in Indiana and from there a resume in Oregon that few can match:
“His love for craft beer (and interest in fermentation science *) brought him to Bend, Oregon, where he brewed at Deschutes Brewery and later, at Full Sail Brewing Co.
He went on to found Logsdon Farmhouse Ales and was the architect of many of their celebrated beers.” (Little Beast website)
* “The name – Little Beast – is ‘an ode to the little critters that ferment beer,’ Porter says. ‘The yeast and bacteria’ in the brewery’s mixed-culture beers.”Meunier 6/20/19 (#3)
“An ode to the little critters….”
While Little Beast has won awards for its innovative beers, it also gets outstanding reviews for its food. This is where Brenda Crow’s culinary background made the food offerings at the Brewery a hit when it first started. She graduated from the University of Colorado.
“Brenda is a Portland native, culinary arts graduate and expert in the business of specialty food. Working alongside and promoting farmers, fishermen, and makers, she has passionately followed her belief that great food is the essence of a good life.“
Our Server
You can either order at the bar or through a scanned QR code at each table and your order will be delivered. We were greeted and served well by a great guy named Preston.
He’s worked at LB for three years and was extremely helpful and friendly. He is a great asset to the brewery. And the social media reviews often mention the helpful and friendly staff.
Preston captured the spirit
The Beer
Virtually every review, whether by a beer technocrat or a general reporter, emphasizes the variety of beer at LB and they are overwhelmingly positive. And my one regret is that our group, didn’t take the opportunity to sample a robust tap list.
These include not only their own beers, but some excellent guest taps such as DeGarde’s (Tillamook, OR) “The Nelson” (Dry-hopped Wild Ale) or Dwinell Country Ale’s (Goldendale, WA) “Guesswork” (Blended Spontaneous Ale with Peaches).
For example, take a look at these descriptions of Porter’s beers:
“He began Little Beast brewing classic Belgian and European style beers, including saisons and pilsners, and the taplist is rounded out by IPAs, hazies, sours and stouts — a wide array of beers to pair with your barbecue of choice.” Oregon Live 10/29/21
or
“Its mixed-culture-fermentation beers…, ales aged in oak and foeders (large wooden barrels), dark and dry hopped sours, …and hoppy saisons, and Belgian triples and quads embody a variety of flavors and moods—some are bright and crisp, some punchy and jammy, some brooding and earthy. All are complex and delicious.” (Seriouseaters.com5/24/21) (#4)
The Pinetop IPA was a hit
In retrospect, we should have gotten a few samplers or at least been more adventurous, but all but one of us had the Pinetop IPA (6.4 ABV) – “citrus, tropical, balanced” – a very good beer, but not very daring considering what was available.
Dave Bartz, our former Managing Partner and now Chair Emeritus at the Schwabe Williamson law firm, who was joined by his wife, Susan, had a dark sour and took home a bottle of cherry sour – one of LB’s “rare beers.”
Stay tuned for Part II where I let you know about the great food and also some information about my interesting Beerchasing companions. There’s a lot more to this story!
Clockwise: Sue Bartz, Thebeerchaser, Dave Bartz, Charlie Faust, Jim Westwood, Amy Faust, Max Faust, Jack Faust and Jim Finn
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