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
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 is not clipped or shortened. (External photo attribution # at the end of the post.)
Note: One of the primary topics of this blog is reviews of bars and breweries. Although I’ve frequently wondered from that during the pandemic and in the last few months with a residential move, I’ve got a number of great bars to catch up on at the first of the year – The Wildwood Saloon, Von Ebert Brewery, Old Town Pizza and Grand Fir Brewery. Stay tuned.
Sixty-three years ago on January 2nd. That’s when my dad – FDW as we affectionately called him – and I started an unexpected nine-hour wilderness trek at 5:10 in the afternoon in the snowy Mt. Hood National Forest.
The newspaper account by one Vera Luby Criteser in the Oregon City Enterprise Courier is shown below, but first a little background. (The paper stopped publishing in 1990.)
In previous posts, I’ve mentioned that both of my parents – FDW and Frannie our mom, were saints. They demonstrated love for their kids, patience and faith continually, as well as having the courage to take bold steps while we were growing up to improve our lives. – including a move across the country without FDW having a job in Oregon, our new home.
This couple, who met in 1942 while both were working for American Airlines in New York City, married the next year. They were role models for parenting (and living) for my siblings and me.
I’m named after my Dad’s best friend and SAE fraternity brother at George Washington University (Don Wilburn) – a US Army aviator, who was killed while piloting a military flight.
I’ve retyped the newspaper article dated 1/17/61 – about two weeks after we safely returned from the trip. The group below participated in the adventure (except for our dog, Candy and our cat, Buffy). We were fortunate, given the circumstances and the weather, and learned a few lessons that stood us in good stead for many future wilderness adventures.
Family Christmas about eight years after the trip up the Clackamas
It should be noted that along with the six of us on that trip was a new friend I had met in my seventh grade class. Ellwood Cushman joined us (I’m sure to his parents’ dismay when he failed to return home until the next morning).
Ellwood went on to become 1966 valedictorian at Oregon City High School, graduate from University of Oregon and have an outstanding career in law enforcement, becoming a police lieutenant for the City of Eugene before retiring. (#1 – #2)
Ninth grade in 1963Valedictorian photo – 1966
From the Oregon City Enterprise Courier January 17, 1961
“What Would You Have Done?”
“The Duane Williams family, newcomers to Oregon City, had an experience the day after New Year’s they would not care to repeat but which has not affected their enthusiasm for a future trips to the mountains. If they had panicked, something tragic could have happened.
As you remember, the day was still and clear and a holiday, a wonderful opportunity to drive up to the snow country and frolic. Williams decided to take the Clackamas River Road above the city of Estacada and the Estacada Ranger Station and come to snow in the upper reaches.
He told his wife, Fran, to put in a change of clothes for the children so they wouldn’t have to ride back with wet feet and legs. (#3- #5)
The children are daughter, Lynne, 14; Donald, 12; Garry, 10, Ricky, 8 and a friend, Ellwood Cushman, Don’s new friend, who went along.
Williams, himself, since he was caught in a big blizzard and deep snow in New York City in 1948, always kept snow-boots, extra mittens and a sterno-stove in their car although he had never needed them since that time until this day.
They drove out before noon, planning to be home by 6 PM – 7 at the latest. The trip up the river was not new them because they had hiked into Bagby Hot Springs with the Harry Gehrings and Ed Millers. They were thrilled with the big trees, primitive nature and the mountain air with room to stretch their legs.
The road was good Monday, January 2 and the VW bus performed excellently.
Revising the scene the next SpringFDW loved his VW MicrobusOn one of our Eastern Oregon trips
They decided to stay just until 4 PM and start home. Seventeen miles above Austin Hot Springs they stopped – a big tree lay across the road. (#7)
No snow in this photo, but you get the idea!
Someone ahead of them had also been stopped and turned and the track was plain so Williams swung the car around in tracks but somehow swung too wide and hit a soft shoulder. The car slipped and with each try to pull it out, it slipped farther. No amount of pushing and throwing rocks and limbs did any good.
They worked over an hour and finally gave up. The car was lodged at a 45 degree angle and seemingly safe from further slippage. By this time it was 5:10 and the map in the car showed the nearest assistance would be at Ripplebrook Ranger Station as they learned later, well over 20 miles away.
Williams and Donald left the others in the car, unheated because at the angle it was sitting, no gas could reach the carburetor to start the engine. He took one of the flashlights and began their hike for help. (#8)
Sterno Stove – Not much heat, but psychologically helpful…
The moon came up – full and brought out their diamond-studded path, almost as bright as day. The miles stretched longer and longer as they tramped back. Donald had hiked as aScout and needed another 10-mile hike to earn his merit badge. He earned it well that night.
At first, when they became tired, they sat to rest, but when Williams began to get stiff, they leaned against trees for a few breaths.
Finally about 2:15 AM, they came to Colowash Junction and saw a piece of road equipment sitting by the way. Williams decided to risk using government equipment to save their lives. Hunting around the cab, they found the key although nothing was marked, so it took some time see where it fitted and some experimenting to which levers worked.
At last it roared like a plane and began to move. He maneuvered it around and headed back down the road.
Revisiting our “ride” for the last eight miles the next Spring
Eight miles farther on they saw the welcome Ripplebrook Station, which was closed, but they saw a light burning in the Ranger’s house about a half-mile above. So they took to their feet again.
A few pounds on the door brought out the Ranger and his wife followed. Donald was soon bedded down on a couch and Williams headed back with thermos bottles of coffee and cocoa and the rangers were speeding back to the car.
A welcome sight after hiking 21 miles and 8 miles in a Caterpillar
Frances in the meantime had her hands full with four cold, hungry children. If the hours went slowly on the long hike, time crawled in the stalled car.
They sang, played guessing games, the younger ones huddled together and napped – hard to do at such an angle. When they became too cold, she lighted the sterno-stove for the psychological effect of something burning.
Williams gives his wife most of the credit for the safety of the group. Two years ago, they drove to Oregon from Cincinnati, Ohio to look over the West with the idea of locating here and camped along the way.
The experience came in handy last summer when Frances, a New York City girl and the children moved to Oregon alone with a trailer on the back of their car – camping along the way.
Frannie – our wonderful Mom was the real hero
Duane had come to Oregon first and couldn’t return with them for the drive West. The family had experience with hazards the year before when they were caught in the great Yellowstone Park Earthquake of 1959.
Williams has one piece of advice to people who go up to the mountain – get maps from the rangers to show the country in detail – they can be vital.” (#9)
This gives an overview, but one needs Forest Service detailed maps.
A Few Observations After Years of Additional Perspective
As mentioned in the article, the real hero during this escapade was Frannie. This New York City gal – new to the West – wondering whether there were bears and wildlife outside the car when they had to go to the bathroom (There were!) and how long, and if, the two rescue hikers would make it back as well as keeping up the sprits of four young kids in a cold vehicle for almost eleven hours, showed incredible courage.
At first, I was thrilled with the excitement and being the oldest son – the one to hike out for help – but after six hours, the novelty wore off. We had walked about six hours and at an 11 PM rest with Dad starting to stiffen up (he was not in great shape for a 21-mile trek) he said to me:
“Don, if I can’t finish this hike to Ripplebrook, you are going to have to do it and I know that you can.”
Right after we resumed walking on that clear night, one of the brightest meteors I’ve ever seen, flew overhead. I don’t remember if I thought that this was a divine sign, but it re-energized me physically and mentally. (#10)
The Time in the Car
My brother, Garry, passed away in 1989, but in the last three days, I’ve talked to Lynne, Rick and Ellwood about their memories of the eleven hours in the car before rescue.
Ellwood said that he was not scared and alluded to Frannie’s confident spirit that all would be okay. He remembered it being cold and them ripping up the rather flimsy seat covers to provide warmth as a covering. (Since we remained friends, his parents evidently didn’t forbid him to see the kid who got him into the mess.)
Rick (age 8) reiterated not being scared:
“Because Mom said everything would be fine. She lit the Sterno-stove and said it would warm us up and even though now I know that it couldn’t, it seemed like it did.”
Lynne, at 12, as the oldest child left in the car, said that although she was not frightened, she became very concerned especially after the hours continued to drag and no one had come.
“I don’t know how Frannie did it. We sang songs including ’99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall’ many times, played guessing games and when we had to go out, she was right there with us, reassuring us.
When I saw the bright light from the Ranger’s truck through the thick ice that had formed on the back window of the VW, I thought it was the angels coming to get us because it was too late!”
Now whether Lynne assisting in managing the other kids that night, helped her when she became a very successful teacher and school principal or Garry to develop the patience and discipline he needed to graduate from West Point, we don’t know.
But I’m sure it helped them in some ways just like being confined in that cold-tight space helped Rick when he commanded a 20,000-foot record deep submergence vehicle dive in 1985 and surfaced up through the ice at the North Pole when he was the skipper of the nuclear submarine USS Spadefish (SSN 668). (https://thebeerchaser.com/2023/07/06/dirt-and-dust/)
The Army vs. Navy Rivalry during college years
The Advantage of Lessons Learned
FDW was a very smart guy and realized the trip could have ended tragically and he learned from those mistakes. From that day forward, he had survival supplies from clothes and energy snacks to flares to two sleeping bags and a GI shovel in the ample storage compartment of the FDW-VW.
He had an extensive sales territory in Eastern Oregon and it came in handy when I went with him in the summer after my senior year in high school and traveled over a Forest Service road in the Mount Emily Wilderness in Union County.
He had a sales call in John Day and we decided to take a roundabout way to get to Pendleton – part of which would be a gravel unimproved road that would take us by the summit of Mount Emily. We had a good Forest Service Map but late in the afternoon came to an unmarked junction and decided to take what looked like the more improved road.
After about a half-mile, we went down a steep grade and saw bulldozers and road construction equipment, but there was no room to turn around and the grade was too steep for the approximately 70 horsepower bus to back up.
So we put the seats down, had a snack, broke out two sleeping bags and slept soundly that night. I still remember being “rudely awakened” about 6:15 the next morning by a loud knocking on my window. I rolled over, looked up and saw a guy with a hardhat smoking a cigar who shouted, “How in the hell, did you guys get down here?” (#11 – #12)
Mount Emily“How in the Hell did you guys get down here?”
He pulled us up the grade backward with his bulldozer and we were on our merry way to a good breakfast in Pendleton commenting about how nice it was nice not to have to walk out this time. It would have been a lot longer than 21 miles!
Well, the Clackamas River Trip was a definite bonding experience which we talked about at family gatherings for years to come.
The original article in the Enterprise Courier
Cheers and Happy New Year
External Photo Attribution
#1. Pioneer Log – Junior High Yearbook – Thora B. Gardiner Jr. High.
#2. The Hesperian – 1966 Oregon City High School Yearbook.
#8. Public Domain – Wikimedia Commons (File:Kochstelle mit Gamelle.jpg – Wikimedia Commons) I, the copyright holder of this work, release this work into the public domain. This applies worldwide. I grant anyone the right to use this work for any purpose, without any conditions, unless such conditions are required by law. Author: TheBernFiles – 27 October 2005.
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