PORTLAND, Ore. — After taking 2023 off, the Portland Business Journal and KGW have revived their annual contest of the state's top ale- and lager-brewers that began nearly 10 years ago in the fall of 2014, when Springfield's Hop Valley Brewing claimed the inaugural prize.
This year will be the 9th edition of the showdown. After Hop Valley, it was won by Astoria's Buoy Beer in 2016 and 2018, Portland's Ecliptic Brewing in 2017, 2019 and 2020, Bend's Boneyard Beer in 2021 and Monkless Belgian Ales, also of Bend, in 2022.
Popular breweries throw in the towel
A lot has changed in Oregon's brewing industry over the decade and more flux is afoot following a challenging 2023 in which dozens of beer-related businesses shut down and some began shifting away from brewpubs toward more retail sales and distribution. Canned cocktails, hard seltzers and public health efforts to discourage alcohol consumption have all put pressure on the once-celebrated craft beer market.
A prime example was acclaimed Ecliptic, the only three-time showdown winner. In November, the company was sold to beverage group Great Frontier Holdings. Then in January, its North Portland brewpub was offloaded to Portland's Von Ebert Brewing while its Moon Room brewpub in Southeast Portland was taken over by Bauman's Cider of Gervais, Ore.
Yet Ecliptic beer will live on in Oregon, contract-brewed in Eugene at Ninkasi's brewery, so it remains in this year's showdown.
Additionally, Ex Novo Brewing discontinued Oregon operations to focus on business in New Mexico in March and transferred its North Portland and Beaverton brewpubs this year to Lazy Days Brewing, a new enterprise that will continue to make some of Ex Novo's fan favorites.
New breweries continue to pop up
Besides, Lazy Days, Living Häus Beer got started in 2022 in Modern Times' former Southeast Portland location and women-owned Steeplejack Brewing added Beaverton and Hillsboro locations since launching in a former Northeast Portland church in 2021.
What's more, some more established brewers continue to open new locations like Migration Brewing opening in Southeast Portland and Assembly Brewing expanding to Northeast Portland.
So without further ado, express love for your favorite Oregon beer-crafters and vote now. The First Round of 64 breweries ends at midnight Sunday, Feb. 18.
