Sam Smith is a hop grower in St. Paul, Oregon. Smith talks about growing up in St. Paul, family farm operations, changes to labor and equipment, the marketing order, and relationships with other growers. Also present at the interview were his wife, Claudia, and son, Monty. Both share their experiences and thoughts about the industry at the end of the interview. The interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on December 18, 2017 in St. Paul, Oregon.

 

Henry Geschwill was a hop grower in Woodburn, Oregon. In his interview, Geschwill talks about how his father, Fred, came to Oregon from Germany in 1924, how the family adjusted to new mechanical innovations, his transition away from active management of the farm, and more generally about family farm operations. Geschwill also talks about being in the Korean War. The interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on December 15, 2017 in Salem, Oregon.

 

Michael LaLonde took as position at Deschutes Brewery as the Chief Operating Officer in 2005 and, as of June 2017, is both the President and CEO of the company. In this interview LaLonde talks about growing up in Atlanta, moving to Chicago as a teenager, his mother's work as a nurse and social justice activist in the 1960s and 1970s, attending college in Georgia, and his graduate work at the Thunderbird School of Global Management in Arizona, where he obtained an MBA. LaLonde also talk about his 12 years working as the Chief Financial Officer for the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, including some of the challenges he faced working with tribal elders in his position overseeing the tribes' businesses. Finally, LaLonde talks about moving to Bend and his early memories of working at Deschutes, as well as how his role has changed with increasing management responsibilities and the future he sees for the company in a competitive market. The interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton and Anna Dvorak on September 15, 2017 in Bend, Oregon.

 

Tonya Cornett is the head of Research and Development at 10 Barrel Brewing. In her interview, Cornett talks about growing up in Indiana; moving to Fort Collins in the 1990s, where she attended college and discovered home brewing; her job in packaging and tours at the HC Berger Brewery; and her move back to Indiana, where she got her first job as a brewer. Cornett also talks about her professional goals, what led to her decision to attend the Siebel Institute, and her 2002 move to Bend to become the lone brew master at Bend Brewing Company.  She details her time at BBC, including challenges of working alone in a small brewery, where she found inspiration for her creative brew recipes, her experiences as a woman in the industry who received a lot of attention for her brewing, and the national awards she won. Finally, Cornett talks about taking a position at 10 Barrel Brewing in 2012, her early experiences with a new job dedicated to recipe development, and the personal and professional impacts of the sale of the company to Anheuser-Busch InBev in 2014. The interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton and Anna Dvorak on September 14, 2017 in Bend, Oregon.

 

Melissa Talbott started at Deschutes Brewery as a server and over the past 27 years has ascended to a management position in the Bend Pub. In her interview, Talbott talks about growing up in California, moving to Bend, and starting work in 1990 at the Deschutes Brewery downtown restaurant. She talks about how the company has changed to meet the evolving interest of customers, as well as the ways she sees it has stayed true to its original goals. The interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton and Anna Dvorak on September 14, 2017 in Bend, Oregon.

 

Sue Page started as a bookkeeper at Deschutes Brewery in 1989 and worked there in various managerial positions related to accounting until her retirement in 2015. In her interview, Page talks about growing up in Texas and Connecticut, attending college in Colorado, moving to the Northwest to take positions as a forest technician and then as the first professional female forester in Oregon. She also discusses moving to Bend and beginning work at Deschutes as a part-time bookkeeper seven months after the business opened. She shares stories of the early days of the company, as well as the ways it has evolved and expanded. The interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton and Anna Dvorak on September 14, 2017 in Bend, Oregon.

 

Pat Gerhart is the director of Human Resources at Deschutes Brewery, a position she has held since 2004. In her interview, Gerhart talks about growing up in Oregon, living with her family as caretakers for a golf course in eastern Oregon, moving to Alaska and Utah as an adult, and her experiences as woman working in the construction industry in Oregon in the early 1980s. She also talks about moving to Bend in the early 1980s, where she took a position at Mt. Bachelor, ultimately finding her niche in Human Resources and working on the Executive Leadership Team until she took the position as the Human Resources Director at Deschutes Brewery in 2004. Gerhart, who will retire at the end of 2017, also reflects on how the company has evolved as it has grown. Finally, Gerhart talks about her involvement with professional associations, including her work as a mentor and role in setting up the Craft Brewery Human Resources Group. The interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton and Anna Dvorak on September 13, 2017 in Bend, Oregon.

 

Dr. Alfred Haunold is a retired plant breeder and director from the USDA-OSU hop breeding program in Corvallis, Oregon. He holds a PhD in Agricultural Sciences and was the scientist who released and developed many important hops, including the Willamette and Cascade varieties. In this interview, Haunold talks about growing up in Retz, Austria, the economics of the area between the two world wars, his family’s ties to agriculture, the Austrian school system, living conditions during the Nazi occupation, life in wartime Vienna while he was going to college, coming to America on a Fulbright, meeting his wife Mary in New York, and the modern refugee situation in Austria. He also talks about his work in wheat genetics while in Austria, earning his doctorate degree in agricultural science at University of Nebraska, job hunting in America after earning his PhD, moving to Oregon and his work with hops, breeding the Willamette hops variety, the hops market in 60s America, hops growing in Austria, and troubles he ran into while crossing hops in America. The interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on August 1, 2017 in Corvallis, Oregon.

 

Dr. Kendall Staggs is an adjunct instructor of history at Oregon State University. In his interview, Staggs discusses his childhood and high school years in Chicago, his experience on his high school’s track and field team, running track on scholarship at during his undergraduate years at Oklahoma State University, writing his master’s thesis at University of Iowa on the oil policies during the Herbert Hoover administration, and writing his PhD dissertation on 20th century oil import policies. He also talks about his interest in beer; his time after graduate school teaching at a small college in Goodwell, Oklahoma; his experience home brewing; moving to Oregon to become an adjunct instructor at Western Oregon and Oregon State University; the beer culture there in the mid 1990s; and his teaching in beer and brewing history at OSU for the then new Fermentation Sciences program. Staggs talks about his time after leaving OSU, the beer scenes in the various places he worked, beer tourism in Europe, moving back to Corvallis, and consumer culture in the post Prohibition era centered around beer. The interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on July 19, 2017, in Corvallis, Oregon.

 

Karl Ockert is the Director of Brewery Operations at Deschutes Brewery. In his interview, Ockert talks about his childhood adventures, including home brewing with his mom, as well as his education at Humboldt State University and UC Davis, his role as the first brewer at BridgePort Brewing in Portland from 1984 to 1990, his time at Anheuser Busch in Newark, his return to BridgePort in 1996, his work at the Master Brewers Association of America as the Technical Director and as a professional brewing consultant, and his position at Deschutes Brewery. Ockert also talks about how he has seen the industry change and concerns he has about acquisitions of microbreweries by macro breweries. The interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on June 13, 2017 in Bend, Oregon.

 

Veronica Vega is a Brewmaster at Deschutes Brewery, focusing on research and development. In her interview, Vega talks about growing up in Southern California, her college time at Humboldt State University studying Botany, her brief stint in the forest service, and her move to Bend. Vega also discusses how her work has changed at the company, including her movement up the company, starting as a tour guide and moving up to one of the top brewer position. The interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on June 12, 2017 in Bend, Oregon.

 

Gary Fish is the founder and board president of Deschutes Brewery. In his interview, Fish talks about growing up in California, his early career in the restaurant industries in Utah, and the establishment of the brewery in Bend. He also discusses the evolution of the city of Bend, as well how the company has grown and expanded. The interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on June 12, 2017 in Bend, Oregon.

 

Joel Rea is the owner of Corvallis Brewing Supply. In his interview Rea talks about his early life in Kirkland, Washington; moving to Albany, Oregon in elementary school; his college work in environmental studies and the fine arts, and his decision to change careers to open a home brew shop. He also discusses his experiments with fermentation, brewers he's worked with and mentored, challenges to operate a supply shop in the Internet age, and how he's seen consumers evolve since the shop opened in 1997. The interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on June 8, 2017 at Corvallis Brewing Supply in downtown Corvallis.

 

Jessica Just is the Director of Technical Services for Brew Dr. Kombucha in Portland, Oregon. Just was one of the first three graduates, and first female, from the OSU Fermentation Science program in the Food Science Department, which was established in 1995. In her interview Just discusses growing up in Portland, early home brewing experiences, her undergraduate and graduate work at OSU in the 1990s, work with the wine industry in California, and time in London and work with the local chapter of the Campaign for Real Ale. She also talks about moving back to Corvallis to take a job as an academic advisor and instructor for the Fermentation Science program, and her new job at Brew Dr. Kombucha. The interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on May 25, 2017 at the Valley Library in Corvallis, Oregon. 

 

William Dettwyler grew up on a hop farm in Silverton, Oregon. In his interview he talks extensively about his family farm, processing facilities, and operations in the 1930s through the 1950s. This interview was conducted by Michelle McKay and Tiah Edmunson-Morton on May 17, 2017 in the Valley Library in Corvallis, Oregon.  

 

Denny Conn is a home brewer, author, and podcaster. In his interview, Conn talks about his time playing and touring with rock bands, his work as an audio engineer, and how he became involved with home brewing. Conn is known for his experimental brewing techniques, and he details the evolution of his own brewing, how challenging traditional method or ingredients can advance a home brewers, his partnership with Drew Beechum in writing and podcasting, and the ways he's seen home brewing change over time. This interview was conducted on May 1, 2017 at the Valley Library in Corvallis, Oregon.

 

Dave Wills is the owner of Freshops, Oregon Trail Brewery, and Dave's Christmas Trees. In his interview, Wills talks about growing up in Southern California, moving to Oregon to attend OSU, and how his early interest in home brewing was sparked by a trip through Europe. He details the early home brewing community in Corvallis, establishing Fresh Hops to supply the home brewing community, and the evolution of Oregon Trail Brewing, which opened in October 1987. Wills also discusses changes he's seen in the local and state brewing industry, the hops supply business, and the consumers. This interview was conducted by Michelle McKay and Tiah Edmunson-Morton on April 24, 2017 at Oregon Trail Brewery in Corvallis Oregon. 

 

John Coleman is a hop grower based in St. Paul, Oregon. He manages the hops and perennial crops for Coleman Ag, a large family run company. In his interview Coleman talks about growing up in St. Paul, working on the farm, and attending OSU in the 1980s. He also talks extensively about the family business, including their partnership with Rogue Ales and the farm in Independence, potential collaboration with the brewery at the Abbey in Mount Angel, and ways he thinks the company can continue to grow or change to meet new needs. The interview was conducted by Michelle McKay in St. Paul, Oregon on April 19, 2017. Also present was Tiah Edmunson-Morton.

 

Tom Carpenter is a 4th generation hop grower based in Granger, Washington. In his interview, Carpenter talks about the history of hops in the Yakima Valley, his families' important role in the grower cooperative that eventually became Yakima Chief, the role of family in their business, and the role of Native Americans in the hops industry.  This interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on March 28, 2017 at Carpenter Ranch in Granger, Washington.  

 

Ralph Woodall works in sales for Yakima-Chief Hopunion, a company he has been with since the mid-1980s. In his interview, Woodall talks about his family history in the Yakima Valley, his work in the hop industry, his present role in the larger YCH company, and the changes in the Master Brewers Association of America with the decrease in large regional breweries and the emergence of the craft industry. Woodall also shows a number of pictures from festivals, trade shows, and other events he took over the years. Of special note are the pictures of NW brewers. This interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on March 28, 2017 at Yakima-Chief Hopunion in Yakima, Washington.  

 

Robyn Schumacher is a brewer at Stoup Brewing in Seattle's Ballard district. In her interview, Schumacher talks about growing up in Spokane, her early interest in sports and science, and about choosing to go to Carroll College to study biology in Helena, Montana. Schumacher also discusses her early career as a high school teacher and factors that influenced her decision to shift to jobs in the restaurant and brewing industries. She talks specifically about learning to home brew, studying for the cicerone exam (she was the first woman in Washington to be certified), exploring the brewing community, and the story of her co-ownership of Stoup. This interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on March 27, 2017 at Stoup Brewing in Seattle, Washington.  

 

Sybil Perkins is the brand director and a board member for the Pink Boots Society. In her interview, Perkins talks about growing up in the Eugene/Springfield area, her interest and passion for arts and music, her early and evolving work as an activist, her experiences living in Philadelphia and New York City, and her return to the west coast to the greater Seattle area. She talks specifically about her work doing graphic design and marketing work with the brewing industry, her views on gender and inclusion, and how the mission and outreach of the Pink Boots Society has expanded over the past few years. This interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on March 27, 2017 at Perkins' home in Snohomish, Washington.  

 

Brad Clack is a retired hop buyer for SS Steiner (now Hopsteiner). In his interview, Clack talks about his family's farm work on the Oregon coast, growing up in Salem, Oregon, and changes in the hop industry since he started in 1978. Clack also talks about the importance of the relationships in the industry and challenges for handing down knowledge, as well as his experiences managing the hop marketing orders. This interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on March 22, 2017 at the Hopsteiner offices in Brookes, Oregon. Also present was Michelle McKay.

 

Gary Nance is the brewer at the McMenamins on Monroe in Corvallis, Oregon. Nance started brewing professionally in 1995, working as the assistant brewer at Spencer's Restaurant and Brewhouse in Springfield, Oregon, where he helped develop Oregon's first certified organic ale in 1998. After Spencer's closed, he  had short stints working at West Bros. and Steelhead before taking a job at the McMenamins Thompson Brewery and Public House in Salem in August 2002. Nance moved to the new Monroe Street facility when it opened in 2006. In his interview, Nance talks about growing up in Oklahoma, moving to the West Coast, living in Eugene, his growing interest in brewing, and his experiences at several different breweries in different cities. He also talks about McMenamins culture and balancing brewing experimentation with the expected standardization in a company. The interview was conducted on March 17, 2017 by Tiah Edmunson-Morton in the McMenamins Monroe brewery in Corvallis, Oregon.

 

Lisa Morrison is the majority owner at Belmont Station in Portland. In her interview, Morrison talks about growing up in Oklahoma, moving to Colorado for high school, and college experiences at Colorado State University. It was at CSU that her interest in imported and local microbrews was sparked. After graduating with a degree in Technical Journalism, Morrison was a television news reporter and anchor, a career she continued after moving to Portland in 1989. In addition to exploring the rapidly expanding beer culture in Portland, she began home brewing with her husband and soon joined the Oregon Brew Crew. Soon this personal interest or avocation turned into a career when she started to write about beer for local and national publications, and then later a radio show where she interviewed people from all aspects of the brewing community. Morrison talks about her process for identifying and chronicling beer culture, experiences as a woman in the journalism and brewing industries, beer education/appreciation classes she taught (including Sud Sisters, Barleys Angels), experiences mentoring and encouraging exploration of styles, and her impact on the industry, as well as her work establishing well-known festivals like PDX Beer Week, Craft Beer Month, and Fred Fest. The interview was conducted on March 15, 2017 by Tiah Edmunson-Morton at Belmont Station in Portland, Oregon.

 

Bill Coleman is part of a large multigenerational hop growing family, primarily based in St. Paul and Mt. Angel. In his interview Coleman talks about his family’s history with hops in the Willamette Valley, growing up in a farming family, jobs he did as a child and adult, and the strong work ethic and values that were part of his upbringing. He also talks about the rapid expansion of farm land his family experienced in the 1950s through 1970s, the locations of the farms throughout the counties of the Valley, business relationships with other farming families and the monks at Mt. Angel Abbey, labor history and changes over time, and technologies he developed to improve efficiencies. He addresses the roles of different family members in current company structure, how to hand down knowledge through generations, and how they value communication. He shares his thoughts on his own travels and the value he places on meeting new people and appreciating the place he is from. This interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton at Bill Coleman's sister's house in Mt. Angel, Oregon on March 8, 2017. Also present was Coleman's sister Jane Wavra and great niece Michelle McKay.

 

Mark McKay is a sixth generation hop grower in St. Paul, Oregon. In his interview, McKay talks about his family history, growing up on the farm, crops they have grown, why his dad got out of the hops business, and things he learned from his father and the community. He also talks about establishing a hop farm in Independence in the 1990s with his brother Dean, industry labor practices and regulations, the challenges of an evolving industry, agro-tourism, the impact of technology on farming, as well as his thoughts on the future of farming and his hopes for his children’s involvement in the industry. This interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton at McKay's house in St. Paul, Oregon on March 8, 2017. Also present was McKay's daughter, Michelle.

 

Nick Lorenz is one of the founders and owners of Nectar Creek Mead, which opened up in October of 2012. In this interview, Lorenz discusses growing up with his brother Phillip in Corvallis, their early involvement in farming and value-added agriculture, and his individual interests in soccer and pottery. He then discusses how he decided to go to the University of Vermont studying ecological agriculture, his journey towards giving up soccer and the summer jobs he held as a raft guide and orchard staff member. In addition to this, Lorenz elaborates on his brother’s college education in apiculture/fermentation science and work in commercial beekeeping, and how those experiences lead to the opening of the meadery after years of planning to run a business together. Lorenz then details the growth Nectar Creek has experienced since starting, and how he incorporates his value of personal connection into their involvement in the community and their employment model. The interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton at the Nectar Creek Meadery in Corvallis, Oregon.

 

Jeff, Kathy and Gillian Tobin are the owners of Mazama Brewing Company, which was founded in Corvallis, Oregon in 2012. In this interview, Jeff Tobin discusses his childhood in Michigan, being interested in both science and music at school, and how those interests lead him to studying electronic engineering at Michigan Technical University. He also discusses how he and his wife Kathy were introduced to home brewing by peers at the university, and how they developed their skills in German styles. Jeff then recounts his career path from International Business Machines (IBM) in Vermont to Hewlett Packard (HP) in Colorado and Corvallis, Oregon, noting the birth of his children, Gillian and Riley, during that time. Kathy then joins the interview and she, along with Gillian and Jeff, discuss how they decided to open Mazama brewing, the importance of community involvement and the overlap between their relationships as family and business partners. The interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton at the Mazama Brewing taproom in Corvallis, Oregon.

 

Jeff Clawson has worked for the Department of Food Science and Technology as the research brewery and food processing manager since 1993. In his interview, Clawson talks about growing up in Davis, California, where his father was a University of California Extension Agent and his mom worked as a department admin assistant. He also shares his early memories of Davis, thoughts on campus and city culture, and his decision to move to Oregon to attend Eastern Oregon College (now Eastern Oregon University) in LaGrande, where he studied Agribusiness. It was in college that Clawson took a class in brewing, which became a personal hobby and ultimately led to a career. He talks about transferring to OSU to finish his BS, adding a food science minor and working with Mina McDaniel on sensory analysis; about working for NORPAC Foods in Stayton after graduation; about returning to OSU for graduate school in 1991 to study Rangeland Resources and Water Quality; and finally about returning to the food sciences in 1993. Clawson talks about the gift from James Bernau that facilitated building the pilot research brewery and establishing the Nor'Wester endowed professorship, the evolution of the program, and the future of brewing education at OSU. This interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton at the Valley Library in Corvallis, Oregon on February 27, 2017. 

 

Sarnoff-Wood is one of the co-founders of 2 Towns Ciderhouse in Corvallis, Oregon. In this interview, Sarnoff-Wood talks about growing up in Corvallis, his early interest in art and graphic design, attending the University of Oregon, work in the graphic design industry, and the decision to open a cider-making company with Lee Larsen. Sarnoff-Wood also reflects on the evolution and growth of the cider industry, as well as how the company has changed with its increase in size. This interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton at 2 Towns Ciderhouse in Corvallis, Oregon on February 24, 2017. 

 

Hilda Stevens owns Bazi Bierbrasserie, a Belgian-style beer taproom and soccer bar in SE Portland. In her interview, Stevens talks about immigrating from Guatemala when she was 8 years old, living and going to school in The Woodlands (a community north of Houston, Texas), attending St Mary's  University in San Antonio, her early work with business and marketing companies, experiences traveling through the US and internationally, and her work establishing Bazi. This interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton at Bazi Bierbrasserie in Portland Oregon on February 22, 2017. 

 

Dr. Nathan Kirk is a teaches in OSU's Department of Integrative Biology, specializing in Marine Ecology. In this interview, Dr. Kirk talks about growing up in New York state, his early research interests and education, his experiences in his graduate program at State University of New York at Buffalo and doctoral program at Auburn University (Alabama). He also talks about his experiences as a home brewer, specifically as it related to the culture in Alabama and his own brewing practices. This interview was conducted by Gillian Bergmann and Tiah Edmunson-Morton in Cordley Hall on OSU's campus on February 21, 2017. 

 

Dave Takush is the head cider maker at 2 Towns Ciderhouse in Corvallis, Oregon. In his interview, Takush talks about growing up in Corvallis, his undergraduate and graduate studies in Fermentation Science and Oenology at OSU (BS 2007, MS 2009), and his work as a winemaker in Eugene. Takush also shares information about New World (modern) apple and Traditional (heritage) apples, specifically as it relates to their commitment as a business to bring back the traditional cider style, concerns over cider apple supply, experiences finding and grafting new varieties of apple trees, opportunities to work with both local orchardists and the local community, and the importance of agricultural history. Takush also talks about the early company history, working with Lee Larsen and Aaron Sarnoff-Wood, and the company culture. This interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton at 2 Towns Ciderhouse on February 20, 2017. 

 

Lee Larsen is one of the founders of 2 Towns Ciderhouse in Corvallis, Oregon. In this interview, he talks about growing up in Corvallis and experiences living in Barcelona, Spain during high school. Specifically, Larsen reflects on the cultural differences around the drinking and production of alcohol in Spain and the U.S., as well as his early exposure to the astringent Basque ciders he encountered. Larsen also talks about his time at OSU studying Finance (BS 2008) and his early interest in home brewing. Larsen ends the interview talking about establishing  2 Towns with Aaron Sarnoff-Wood in 2010, the addition of Dave Takush in 2011, and the company culture. This interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton at 2 Towns Ciderhouse on February 20, 2017. 

 

Dr. Thomas Shellhammer is the Nor’Wester Professor of Fermentation Science and is an internationally recognized expert in hops chemistry. In this interview he talks about growing up in San Jose, early memories of his father's work as a field biologist studying fire ecology and his mother's work as an arts educator, and his early interest in the sciences. He also discusses his food and fermentation sciences education at UC Davis, internships or work experiences during his path from BS to PhD, and early impressions of Oregon State's Food and Fermentation program. Shellhammer also discusses topics such as the demographics of the industries over time, as well as his observations of the industry's patterns of growth and contraction. This interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton at Weigand Hall on OSU's campus on February 14, 2017. 

 

Cheryl Gillson works as a marketing and manager at Rogue Farms in Independence, Oregon. In her interview, Gillson talks about growing up in California, working as Jack Joyce's assistant at Rogue Ales & Spirits, traveling and living abroad, and returning to Rogue to work on their farm in Independence as a "beer farmer." She talks extensively about the crops they grow, and the impact learning about farming has had on her life. This interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton and Michelle McKay in Bend, Oregon at the Hop Growers of America Conference on January 19, 2017. 

 

Brian Crosby is a fourth generation Crosby hop family member, and works as an accounts manager. In his interview, Crosby talks extensively about the family farm and relationships, including how he learned about farm operations and the impact of mechanization on the industry. He also discusses more current topics, such as the shift towards Salmon-Safe Certified farming practices and innovative processing techniques. Crosby served in the US Navy, retuning from service to attend Oregon State University 1984-1988, receiving his BS in Civil Engineering and playing in the the Oregon State Rugby Club while in school. He was a commercial construction manager before returning to the farm business. This interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton and Michelle McKay in Bend, Oregon at the Hop Growers of America Conference on January 18, 2017. 

 

Don Norton is the owner of Norton Hop Farm, a small organic hop farm established in Goshen, Oregon in 2008. In his interview, Norton talks about growing up in the Eugene area, experiences installing and running his 1-acre farm, and work with an herbal supply company. Norton also addresses some of his concerns as a small grower, including outlets for selling his product and expansion. This interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton and Michelle McKay in Bend, Oregon at the Hop Growers of America Conference on January 18, 2017.  

Rick Allen is the owner and head brewer at Heater Allen. In his interview, Allen shares stories about his family's deep roots at OSU, dating to his grandmother and grandfather's time OAC in the 1910s and daughter's graduation in the 2000s. He also discusses his time as a student at OSU in the early 1970s, including the campus climate, student perspective on the administration, and campus traditions linked to his fraternity (Beta Theta Pi). After university, Allen took a position as an investment banker in Portland, with short moves to Washington and California for employment; he left that field in the early 2000s. An avid home brewer, Allen considered a second career as a vintner, but decided to open a brewery in 2007 in McMinnville, Oregon. In the latter part of his interview, Allen discusses the important influences on his brewing style, experiences operating a brewery in Oregon's wine country, and issues facing small breweries in 2016. The interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on November 16, 2016 in McMinnville, Oregon.  

 

Kyle Almlie is a graduate teaching assistant in the chemistry department of Oregon State University, as well as a home brewer. In this interview, he compares living in Corvallis to growing up in Chico, California, his growing knowledge and passion for both teaching and chemistry, and the challenges of participating in beer and homebrew culture while also being gluten-free. Kyle also discusses the chemistry behind brewing gluten-free beers and different kinds of mead, the chemistry of alpha acids in hops, and how that all ties back into his experience as an analytical chemist. This past spring, Kyle won awards both for his work as a TA and for a poster about his work developing equipment for fluorescence spectroscopy in the Sean Burrows, and he also reflects on those experiences. The interview was conducted by Gillian Bergmann on October 27, 2016 in the Valley Library in Corvallis. Also present was Tiah Edmunson-Morton, director of the Oregon Hops and Brewing Archives. 

 

Sarah Pederson is the owner of Saravesa, a bar, bottle shop, and breweriana showroom in North Portland. In this interview she discusses growing up in a small town in Wisconsin, going to college in Minneapolis, living and working in Los Angeles, and moving to Portland. Pederson shares stories of her work doing Public Relations for a High Tech firm and working for her friend at the patisserie and bar Pix, as well as education at the American Brewer's Guild, early jobs at the breweries Hair of the Dog and the New Old Lompoc Bar, and opening of Saravesa in 2008. At the end of the interview, Pederson talks about being a woman working in a male dominated industry. The interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on October 20, 2016 in Portland, Oregon.

 

Lisa Allen is a brewer at Heater Allen Brewing in McMinnville. In her interview, Allen discusses growing up in Tualatin; her junior year spent in Moraga, California; her experiences at OSU in the early 2000s, and her travels to New Zealand. After graduating, Allen worked in the wine industry, starting with harvest and then working in tasting rooms. In 2009, Allen left the wine industry to join her father at Heater Allen Brewing, which he'd opened in 2007 after a long career as an investment banker; Rick Allen joins the interview at the end to discuss the origins and operations of the brewery, especially their choice to focus on German lagers and pilsners. Allen also discusses her experiences as a woman in the brewing industry, as well as what it is like to brew in the middle of Oregon's wine country. The interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on October 20, 2016 in McMinnville, Oregon.

 

Guy Seghetti worked as a USDA Hops and Essential Oils lab and agricultural technician at OSU from 1968-1977. In his interview, Seghetti talks about growing up in Corvallis, his time at University of Utah while pursuing a degree in Anthropology, and his experiences as a technician in Corvallis. Specifically, Seghetti provides personal observation about the breeding program, with anecdotes and details about this crucial time in hops history with the release of the Cascade and other hops in the 1970s. Seghetti left the program in 1977 to teach Social Science for Roseburg, Oregon, public schools; he retired in 2008. The interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on October 6, 2016 in Roseburg, Oregon.

 

Blair Smith is the owner, orchardist, and cider-maker for Apple Outlaw. In his interview, Smith talks about growing up in Stockton, CA and his work as a software engineer in Livermore; moving to rural Oregon and learning about running an organic orchard; and the transition from non-alcoholic to hard cider. More generally, Blair talks about how his family has focused on community involvement and environmental responsibility. The interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on October 5, 2016 at Apple Outlaw in Applegate, Oregon. Also present was Maureen Battistella, who works to document the Southern Oregon wine industry. 

 

Jennifer Kent is the brewer at the McMenamins Thompson Brewery & Public House. In her interview, Kent talks about her early childhood in Alaska and Colorado; memories of growing up in Newport, Oregon; her family and mother's art career; work in the food service industry; her career at McMenamins as a brewer; the art of brewing and brewing community in the region; and being a woman in a male dominated brewing industry.  The interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on July 7, 2016 at the McMenamins Thompson Brewery & Public House in Salem, Oregon.

 

Sonia Marie Leikam owns Leikam Brewing with her husband, but also works full-time at the Oregon Jewish Community Foundation. In her interview, Leikam talks about growing up in the Bay Area, moving to Portland to attend Lewis & Clark College, the evolution of her Jewish faith, teaching in Portland area schools, starting the brewery (Community Supported Brewery, Kosher certified), balancing work and family, and her work as an educator and human rights advocate. The interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on June 17, 2016 at the McMenamins Mission Theater in Portland.

 

Natalie Baldwin, brewer at Burnside Brewing, talks about growing up in Vail, Colorado, moving to Portland, and learning about brewing. Baldwin is known for pushing the boundaries of classic styles, and she addresses how her mentors in brewing have encouraged her experimentation. The interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on June 17, 2016 at the McMenamins Mission Theater in Portland.

 

Emily Engdahl is the Executive Director of The Pink Boots Society. In her interview, Engdahl talks about the importance of an educational and outreach organization such as Pink Boots for women working in the brewing industries, as well as about growing up in Portland, creating PDX Beer Geeks and Oregon Beer Country, and her work as an artist and graphic designer. The interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on June 17, 2016 at the McMenamins Mission Theater in Portland.

 

Mellie Pullman is a professor at Portland State University, where she is the Director of the Business of Craft Brewing Program. In this interview, Pullman talks about growing up in Chicago, traveling through the country and taking classes at The Evergreen State College before settling in Park City, Utah, where she became the first female brewmaster in the US at Schirf Brewing (1986). Pullman talks about what it was like to be a woman in male dominated industries, working at Cornell University, moving to Portland, and how her research focus shifted from food to beer. The interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on June 17, 2016 at Pullman’s home in Portland.

 

Lee Hedgmon is a Portland-based home and commercial brewer. She is active in the Oregon Brew Crew (serving as their first female president in 2015), Ladies of Lager Ales, and Pink Boots Society, working to increase the number of women in brewing. In addition to brewing, in this interview Hedgmon talks about growing up in Portland, her work as a youth activist, experiences as a student at PCC and PSU, activism in the queer community, involvement with JobCorp in Astoria, work in the hotel industry in Portland, and graduate work in the University of Minnesota Feminist Studies program. She shares stories on her early homebrewing adventures and experiences, as well as her transition to paid positions at Coalition Brewing, Portland U Brew, FA Steinbarts, Pints, and Groundbreaker. The interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on June 9, 2016 at The Valley Library in Corvallis.

 

Theodore “Ted” Cox is the founder and owner of the Old World Deli complex in Corvallis, Oregon, which houses the Oregon Trail Brewery and several galleries in addition to the restaurant. In this interview, Cox discusses the events which led him to open the deli, including two stints with the Peace Corps. Cox also covers his time as a student, teacher and volleyball coach at Oregon State University and Linn Benton Community College, where he studied and taught physical education. A regional history aficionado, Cox shares several stories and anecdotes about Corvallis and Prohibition-era brewing practices. The interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on June 7, 2016 at Cox’s home in Corvallis.

 

Chris Crabb is the public relations director of the Oregon Brewers Festival and owner of public relations firm Crabbsoup. In this interview, she discusses her work as public relations manager of multiple beer-related accounts, emphasizing the advent of social media and the importance—and enjoyment—of forging local networks. Having been involved with the Oregon Brewers Festival for more than twenty years, Crabb offers insight regarding the organization and atmosphere of the popular event. Crabb also recounts the cultural climates of Portland and Eugene during her adolescent and collegiate years. The interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on June 2, 2016 at the City of Portland Archives and Records Management office.

 

Dana Garves is a brewing chemist who owns and operates BrewLab, a company that provides chemical analyses for breweries, cideries, meaderies, and home brewers. In this interview, Garves talks about her early interest in studying Chemistry, her experiences attending the University of Oregon, her interest in STEM education for girls, her work at Ninkasi, and her decision to start her own company. Garves also talks at length about the Ninkasi Space Launch, a year long project that she was involved with as a chemist. The interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on February 19, 2016 at Garves' lab in Eugene. 

 

Oral history interview with John Annen, fourth generation hop grower in Mount Angel, Oregon. Annen talks about the farming history of his family, the hop growing community in Oregon and the Oregon Hop Commission, mechanization of harvesting and processing practices, labor, diversification of the hops varieties grown, and working with macro and craft brewers. The interview was conducted at the Annen Farm in Mount Angel on February 10, 2016 by Tiah Edmunson-Morton. Also present was Nancy Sites, administrator for the Oregon Hop Commission.  

Born and raised in Portland, brewer John Harris has worked in Oregon's oldest craft breweries. He was a brewer at McMenamins' Hillsdale Brewery & Public House and Cornelius Pass Roadhouse (1986-1988), was the first employee and head brewer at Deschutes Brewery in Bend (1988-1992), and ran the Full Sail South Waterfront Brewery in Portland (1992-2012) before opening Ecliptic Brewing in North Portland in 2013. In this interview Harris talks about growing up in Portland, attending Portland State University as a theater major, and working in the evolving craft industry for 30 years. This interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on 12/09/2015 at Ecliptic Brewery, 825 N Cook St in Portland, Oregon.

 

Mick Flanagan, a mechanic at BridgePort Brewing Company, has worked for the brewery since 1989. The interview was conducted at the BridgePort Brewing Company in Portland on November 18, 2015 by Tiah Edmunson-Morton.

 

Jeff Edgerton has been the master brewer at BridgePort Brewing Company since 2010. In this interview, he recounts his path from Blitz-Weinhard lab technician to BridgePort quality assurance manager and brewmaster. After earning a degree in microbiology at Oregon State University, Edgerton brought the practices of quality and consistency he learned at Blitz-Weinhard to the increasingly popular BridgePort Brewing in 1998. Edgerton explains the brewing industry as a “lifestyle career,” one which encouraged him to pursue further involvement with the Master Brewers Association and collaborate with OSU’s Fermentation Science students. The interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on November 18, 2015 at BridgePort Brewing in Portland, Oregon.

 

Larry Sidor is the founder and brewmaster of Crux Fermentation Project, a brewery and tasting room in Bend, Oregon. A graduate of Oregon State University, Sidor allowed practicality to push him toward the food sciences—a decision which ultimately led to a prolonged passion for making wine and beer. In this interview, Sidor discusses the company culture and economic trends of his former places of employment: Olympia Brewing, hop merchant SS Steiner, and Deschutes Brewing. He stresses the need for trust and relationships in both the macro- and microbrewery settings, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a “farm to table mentality.” The interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton and Chris Peterson on November 6, 2015 in Corvallis, Oregon.

 

The daughter of OSU hops specialist G.R. Hoerner, Joy Hoerner Rich graduated from OSU in the 1940s with a degree in Home Economics. In this interview, Hoerner Rich describes the atmosphere of campus and the Corvallis area during World War II, emphasizing the influences of the draft and the proximity of Camp Adair. After graduation, Hoerner Rich and her husband moved to Roseburg, Oregon, where she spent several decades as a kindergarten teacher and early childhood education expert. Hoerner Rich also details the work habits and duties of her father during his time at OSU and Kasetsart University in Bangkok, Thailand. The interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on May 20, 2015 at Hoerner Rich’s residence in Roseburg, Oregon.

 

Fred Bowman is the former owner and co-founder of Portland Brewing Company, one of Oregon's first post-Prohibition micro breweries. In this interview, Bowman discusses the biological and mechanical skills and interests that led him to found a brewery in Portland with Jim Goodwin and Art Larrance in 1986. Bowman talks at length about his life before Portland Brewing Co., detailing an extensive trip to Europe, his enlistment in the Army Reserves, and a 16-year stint working for a Volkswagen distributor. Bowman also discusses the challenges surrounding Portland Brewing Company's first years of operation, as well as his eventual decision to branch off as an independent consultant. The interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton at Bowman's home in Portland, Oregon.

 

Irene Firmat is the founder and CEO of Full Sail Brewing Company, located in Hood River, Oregon. In this interview, she recalls her childhood as a Cuban immigrant in New York and the changes that brought her to Oregon as a buyer for department store Meier & Frank. Firmat also recounts the creation of Full Sail Brewing (originally known as Hood River Brewing) and the process of crafting a company culture of mutual respect and collaboration. In addition, Firmat discusses former and projected market trends of the craft beer industry, emphasizing her desire to witness a return to the quality-driven production of Portland’s flagship breweries of the 1980s. This interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on May 4, 2015 at the Full Sail Brewery in Hood River, Oregon.

 

Gary and Susan Wyatt are the founders and owners of Tumalo Hops, a farm often regarded as the first of its kind in Central Oregon. After the economic downturn of the early 2000s, the Wyatts chose to utilize five acres of their land to grow hops, planting, cultivating, and harvesting everything by hand. In this interview, the Wyatts recount the recent economic and cultural changes of Bend, as well as the importance of capitalizing on locality when selling their product to craft and homebrewers. The Wyatts also address the growing trend of agro-tourism and the desire to stay successful yet small via the pooling of intellectual and tangible resources. The interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton and Miles Wilhelm on February 18, 2015 at the couple’s farm in Tumalo, Oregon. 

Dr. Haunold released the superstar hop varieties like Cascade, Willamette, Sterling, Liberty, Mt. Hood, and Santiam while he was with the USDA/ARS in Corvallis. During this interview he tells the story of the different hops he worked with, adding interesting details about people's personalities and technological advances. This interview was conducted by Shaun Townsend and Tiah Edmunson-Morton in Corvallis, Oregon on November 18, 2014.

 

Matt Sage is a craft brewer, vintner and hop consultant whose work has contributed to the creation and expansion of many small businesses across the Pacific Northwest. In this interview, Sage discusses his wine and beer brewing ventures, detailing the operations and company culture of businesses like Associated Vintners, BridgePort Brewing Company, Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery, Cameron Winery, and finally, Indie Hops (the position he held at the time of the interview). Sage focuses heavily on the production and use of beer ingredients, as well as contemporary market trends of the hop industry. The interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton at the Indie Hops offices in Portland, Oregon on November 11, 2014.

 

Shaun Townsend is a senior researcher in hop breeding and genetics at Oregon State. In this interview, he discusses growing up in central Illinois, his education and research experience in agronomy at Montana State and New Mexico state, and how he came to work at Oregon State University in the hop program. He describes his passion for research in crop science, and how his career has fulfilled that. In addition, he discusses the transformation of the OSU hop breeding program to fit the needs for variety in the craft brewing industry and how he collaborates with local growers and brewers to produce optimal varieties. The interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on November 3, 2014 in the OSU Valley Library in Corvallis, Oregon.

 

Don Weathers is a second-generation hop grower in the Willamette Valley, having owned and operated several farms throughout the state, many of which are now run by his children and grandchildren. In this interview, Weathers and his wife, Rosalie, recount the early years of their childhoods and marriage. The couple discusses post-World War II farming practices, as well as the changes to hop cultivation brought by increased mechanization. Weathers also briefly recounts the emergence of organizations like the Oregon Hop Commission and joint suppliers like Yakima Chief-Hopunion. The interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on September 24, 2014 in the couple’s home in Keizer, Oregon.

 

Gail Nickerson is a former chemist with the Department of Agriculture at Oregon State University, whose work was immensely influential in the global hop industry. In this interview, Nickerson discusses the series of event which led her to work in the research lab of USDA chemist Sam Likens. Nickerson discusses her move from dishwasher to published researcher, recounting the technology and methods utilized and developed by her research team. Of particular interest are Nickerson’s descriptions of hop analysis and the engineering of varieties with researcher Al Haunold. The interview was conducted by Peter Kopp and Tiah Edmunson-Morton on August 6, 2014 in Corvallis, Oregon.

 

Fred Eckhardt was a prominent beer writer and critic whose work includes seminal brewing texts like A Treatise on Lager Beer and The Essentials of Beer Style. In this interview, he describes the events of his early life, recounting his time spent in a children’s home in Washington and his years as a U.S. Marine. Upon moving to Portland, Eckhardt became deeply involved with the burgeoning homebrewing and craft brewing movements—environments which he describes in depth in this interview. Eckhardt also offers information about early Pacific Northwest breweries like Olympia, Red Hook, Widmer Brothers, and McMenamins. This interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton, Tim Hills, and John Foyston on July 23, 2014 in Portland, Oregon.

 

Gayle Goschie is a third-generation hop grower and co-owner of Goschie Farms in Silverton, Oregon. She and her two brothers, Gordon and Glenn, grow hops, grapes, and other crops on land her family has cultivated for more than 100 years. In this interview, Goschie talks about the history of her family's farm and the changes that have occurred in hop growing practices due to technological advancements and economic trends. Goschie also addresses the value of a steady, loyal employee base, as well as the advent of the sustainable farming practices Goschie Farms is so recognized for. The interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on May 16, 2014 on location at Goschie Farms.

 

A fifth-generation hop grower, Blake Crosby owns and operates Crosby Hop Farm in Woodburn, Oregon with his father, Kevin. Since 1900, the Crosby family has grown a variety of aromatic and bittering hops. In this interview, Crosby briefly discusses the history of his family's farm before focusing on more recent changes wrought by the increasing demand of hops for craft brewing. Crosby also discusses potential market trajectories, as well as the importance of preserving agricultural history for future generations. The video concludes with a tour of the farm's pelletizer, the only machine of its kind on an Oregon farm at the time of production. The interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton and Korey Jackson on May 16, 2014 on location at Crosby Farms in Woodburn, Oregon.

 

Rob and Kurt Widmer are the founders of one of Oregon’s most recognizable breweries, Widmer Brothers Brewing. Based out of Portland, Oregon, the brothers’ brewery helped serve as a catalyst for the Pacific Northwest craft brew revolution. In this interview, the Widmers discuss their past and current relationships with regional brewers and the local community, crediting Portland’s pioneer heritage and adventurous drinking culture as keys to their success. The brothers also discuss pieces of their business model, which helped them weather challenges inherent to the industry. The interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on May 10, 2014 at the Widmer Brothers Gasthaus Pub in Portland, Oregon. The video concludes with the filming of a tasting session. Portions of the footage were used in the documentary history project OHBA Stories.

 

Thomas Shellhammer is the Nor'Wester Professor of Fermentation Science at OSU, where he runs a lab dedicated to the chemical and sensory analysis of hops. With his guidance, undergraduate and graduate students alike receive hands-on experience in the brewing process. In this interview, Shellhammer discusses his own path to research, as well as the trajectory of OSU's Fermentation Science program within the Department of Food Science & Technology. Shellhammer also discusses aspects of the program related to funding and local collaborations. The interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on May 7, 2014 at the brewing facilities in OSU's Wiegand Hall in Corvallis, Oregon. Interview conducted at Wiegand Hall, OSU, Corvallis, OR by Tiah Edmunson-Morton. Portions of the footage were used in the documentary history project OHBA Stories.

 

Shaun Townsend is the senior researcher leading Oregon State University's Aroma Hop Breeding Program. The project, sponsored in conjunction with Indie Hops, focuses on developing experimental hop varieties which grow best in Oregon and contain aromatic properties conducive to craft brewing. In this interview, Townsend recalls the catalysts and challenges behind the program, as well as the scientific and physical processes involved in its maintenance. Townsend also discusses his role as an informational liaison to the general public in the absence of a hop-focused extension agent. Interview conducted at the OSU Experimental Hop Yard, Hwy 34, Corvallis, OR. . Portions of the footage were used in the documentary history project OHBA Stories.

 

One of the first female brewers in the modern history of the Pacific Northwest, Teri Fahrendorf is internationally recognized for her success in brewing and her educational, networking efforts. In this interview, Fahrendorf describes her first forays into brewing, including an injury which pushed her northward from the Golden Gate and Triple Rock breweries of California to Steelhead Brewing in Eugene, Oregon. The interview discusses Fahrendorf's trip to breweries through out the U.S. in depth, an adventure which led to the creation of women-driven projects like the Pink Boots Society, Barley's Angels and International Women's Collaboration Brew Day. Throughout the narrative, Fahrendorf stresses the importance of education and art in the brewing industry, both past and present. The interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on April 19, 2014 at Occidental Brewing Company in Portland, Oregon. Portions of the interview were used in the documentary history project OHBA Stories.

 

Warren Aney is alum of Oregon State University who received his Master's degree in the 1970s. He went on to work as a wildlife ecologist. Aney met Charles Coury when he moved to Oregon due to their mutual interest in wine. He joined Coury's wine association as a non-grower member. There Aney helped run their winery tours. He also took Coury's viticulture class at PCC in 1972-3. Aney was at the dedication of the Cartwright Brewery. When he and his family moved back to Portland in the early 1990s where he started working for a travel agency leading wine tours. Aney has written a paper accepted by the Ecological Society on Oregon's wine climates in 1974. Warren Aney is also a wine enthusiast, and in his interview talks about his friendship with Charles Coury, brewer and proprietor of the short-lived Cartwright Brewing in Portland, Oregon. This interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton and Korey Jackson on April 4, 2014 at Aney's home in Portland, Oregon. 

 

John Foyston, former Oregonian beer columnist, describes personal events that led him to write about Oregon's emergent beer culture. Foyston recounts his time studying journalism at the University of Oregon, as well as the importance of influences like the Vietnam War and music upon his career path. After owning a motorcycle shop, Foyston was an Arts and Entertainment freelance journalist, tracking the immense growth and changes of the Portland craft beer industry. The interview was conducted by Peter Kopp, Tiah Edmunson-Morton, and Tim Hills on March 28, 2014 in Portland, Oregon.

 

A fifth-generation hop grower, Blake Crosby owns and operates Crosby Hop Farm in Woodburn, Oregon with his father, Kevin. Since 1900, the Crosby family has grown a variety of aromatic and bittering hops on their land. In this interview, Crosby traces the trajectory of his family's farming and business practices. Crosby also discusses his personal connection to hop growing and his interest in the changing dynamics of the craft brew-driven industry in Oregon. Crosby believes the industry's new focus on quality and stewardship has helped bridge the urban-rural divide between consumers and growers. The interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on March 7, 2014 on location at Crosby Hop Farm in Woodburn, Oregon.

 

Carole Ockert describes the “brewing adventure” she and her husband, renowned brewer Karl Ockert, have shared, from the European backpacking trip of their youth to the extensive success of BridgePort Brewing Company. Ockert also discusses the sense of community and camaraderie that surrounded the first few Portland brewers of the 1980s. As BridgePort and its neighbors experienced growth, so too did the community’s relationships, purpose, and goals. The interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on March 1, 2014 at the residence of Carole and Karl Ockert in Lake Oswego, Oregon.

Alexandra Farnham is an artist and nurse in Oregon. From 1985-1986, she worked at McMenamins Hillsdale Brewery & Public House as a server and brewer, making her the second female brewer in Oregon's history. In her interview, Farnham discusses growing up in New Jersey; her parents' work as artists and farmers; her education at Lewis & Clark College; her time at McMenamins and early microbrew culture; her experiences working at wineries and homebrewing; her move to Sandy, Oregon to run a restaurant; and her work as an artist. This interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton August 28, 2024 on Zoom.

 

Van Havig is a brewer and co-owner of Gigantic Brewing Company in Portland, Oregon. In his interview, Havig discusses growing up in California; his family activities and father's work as a chemical engineer; his early and continued interest in cars; attending Reed College, the London School of Economics, and pursuing a PhD in Economics at the University of Minnesota; his interest in home brewing and work as a professional brewer at the Minnesota Brewing Company and Rock Bottom Breweries; co-founding Gigantic with Ben Love; involvement with the Oregon Brewers Guild; and changes in the craft brew industry and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on business. This interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton June 10, 2024 in Portland, Oregon.

 

Tiah Edmunson-Morton is Outreach and Instruction Archivist, and Curator of the Oregon Hops and Brewing Archives (OHBA) in the Special Collections and Archives Research Center (SCARC) at Oregon State University Libraries. This interview was conducted in commemoration of the tenth anniversary of OHBA's founding in 2013. In the interview, Edmunson-Morton discusses her upbringing in Eugene, Oregon; her undergraduate and graduate studies at the University of Oregon and Miami University in Oxford, Ohio; the formal archival training that she received at San Jose State University; and her first archival position at Lane Community College. The interview then shifts to Edmunson-Morton's hire as a classified employee within the University Archives at OSU, and her memories of how her work and classification shifted both prior to and following the creation of SCARC in 2011. The primary focus of the session from there is a detailed discussion of the founding and growth of OHBA. In this, Edmunson-Morton reflects on OHBA's origin story, its early cornerstone collections, and the important role that oral history has played in developing a record of hops and brewing in Oregon. She likewise discusses outreach activities including her authorship of The Brewstorian blog; her extensive work in the classroom, including providing support for and ultimately leading an OSU course on beer history; her professional connection with archeology; and her interactions with renowned USDA hops scientist Al Haunold. As the interview nears its conclusion, Edmonson-Morton discusses her scholarly interest in pre-Prohibition women connected to Oregon's early brewing industry, a subject that she is expanding upon for a forthcoming book. The session ends with Edmunson-Morton's thoughts on the future of OHBA and her points of pride looking back on a decade of collection building. The interview was conducted by Chris Petersen February 13, 2024 in the Valley Library.

Michelle Haunold Lorenz is an Oregon State University alum and co-founder of Gearhead, a punk and underground music label and magazine. In this interview, Haunold Lorenz discusses growing up in Corvallis; her father Alfred Haunold’s work as a USDA hop geneticist; experiences at the university radio station (KBVR) and with music in the 1980s; work in Corvallis at the OSU Library, The Beanery, and Old World Deli; and work in the music industry. This interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton June 6, 2023 on Zoom.

 

Joe Casey works with Anheuser-Busch's craft brew and hops teams, and formerly worked as the brewmaster at Widmer Brothers Brewing Co. In his interview, Casey talks about his upbringing and hobbies in childhood, attending college in Oregon, and finding his passion for biology and fermentation sciences. Casey took a job at Widmer after college and worked his way up at the company over the years. He discusses what working at Widmer was like over the years and the transition to ownership of the brewery by Anheuser-Busch, his work with Omission Brewing (gluten free beer), and his present work. He also speaks on the relationship between Oregon breweries and hop farmers, and his personal passion for creating and bringing gluten-free brews to the consumer. This interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton February 21, 2023 in the Valley Library.

Daniel Rothman was a brewer for McMenamins from 1989 to 1995. In his interview, Rothman talked about growing up in Arizona and his early exposure to German beer; his college experiences at Tulane and Lewis & Clark; experience home brewing; work at McMenamins at different locations (Lighthouse, Cornelius Pass Roadhouse, West Linn, Fulton); the beer culture in Portland in the late 1980s and early 1990s; and move to Arizona to work at Hops Cougan breweries in Phoenix, Arizona. Rothman concludes the interview talking about his MBA degree and move to New York in 2001 to work in banking. This interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton May 6, 2022 on Zoom.  

Doug Hodges is the Brewery Manager at Portland Brewing Company. In his interview, Hodges talks about growing up in Iowa, his experiences in college, and his move to the West Coast. He also discusses the jobs he had in Portland, including working at a futon store as a fabric cutter and at a vegetable distribution company, and the various positions he had in the Portland Brewing Company. The interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on Zoom.

 

Ryan Pappe is the Head Brewer at Portland Brewing Company / Pyramid Breweries. In his interview, Pappe talks about growing up in southern Oregon, theater activities at Roseburg High School, experiences attending Willamette University, and work he did during college (including being a part of the children's theater at the Enchanted Forest). Pappe recounts how he began home brewing after college, living in Portland and sharing his beer with housemates, and his move to Cleveland, Ohio in 2006 to become a professional brewer at Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery. Pappe moved back to the Northwest in 2007 to work as a brewer at Dick's Brewing Company in Centralia, Washington. Pappe move to Portland to take a job as a brewer at the Portland / Pyramid brewery in 2008; he became a Lead Brewer in 2010 and Head Brewer in 2011. Pappe discusses changes to the brewery during his tenure, reflecting on what led to the final closure of brewing operations in February, 2021. The interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on Zoom. 

 

Laura Ulrich is the Small Batch Brewer at Stone Brewing Co. in San Diego. In this interview, Ulrich talks about growing up in a large German-American family in St. Louis, Missouri; attending Bishop DuBourg High School and Lindenwood University, where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts in English; her move to Fort Collins, Colorado, where she worked as a bartender at a local bar and then on the bottle line at Odell Brewing Company; and her move to San Diego to take a job at Stone Brewing Co. Ulrich was also an integral part of the Pink Boots Society; she talks about meeting Teri Fahrendorf in 2007 (Stone was Fahrendorf's first stop on her "Road Brewer" trip), the early mission and organization of PBS, her time as President (2016-2020), and milestones and changes since its founding. This interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on Zoom. 

 

Nigel Francisco is the CEO at the Ninkasi Brewing Company. In his interview, Francisco talks about his family, growing up in Eugene, completing his Associate of Applied Science in Flight Technology at Lane Community College and his work as a professional pilot, and his MBA education at Northwest Christian College. He also talks about his interest in beer and home brewing, his work at Ninkasi as the Chief Financial Officer (2009-2018) and Chief Executive Officer (2020-present), his experience as a man of color in brewing and with diversity initiatives, points of transition for the company, and the present challenges posed by COVID-19. This interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on Zoom. 

 

Nicole Mandala is the Senior Procurement Manager at the Brewers Collective, Anheuser-Busch, in Portland, Oregon. In her interview, Mandala talked about growing up in Southern California, her interest in music and work at Tower Records, a growing commitment to activism and political engagement, her travels to Europe and time living in Amsterdam, moving to and living in Boston, and her decision to return to school (Emerson College). She also talks about her introduction to beer; her work at a craft beer bar in Boston; work at Mystic Brewery (Chelsea, MA) and Long Trail Brewing Company (Bridgewater Corners, VT); her move to Stone Brewing in Escondido, California, and role in establishing the east coast facility in Richmond, Virginia; and her move to Portland to work for Widmer Bros. Brewing / Craft Brew Alliance and how that work was impacted the October, 2020 sale to Anheuser-Busch. The interview concludes with a discussion of gender and diversity in the industry. This interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on Zoom. 

 

Michele Wonder is a home brewer and works for Perfect Pour Services in Portland, Oregon. In her interview, Wonder talks about growing up in Long Beach, California, her education and experiences at California State University Long Beach studying Outdoor Recreation and Leisure Studies, and her education at the Brooks Institute of Photography. She also talks about living in Dublin, Ireland after college, living in Colorado in the late 1990s, and moving to San Francisco to work as a professional photographer in the early 2000s. Wonder shares her experiences coming out in her mid-20s, characteristics of welcoming and inclusive spaces, and how she has seen that manifested in the restaurant and brewing industries. Finally, Wonder talks about moving to Portland, her increasing interest in working in the brewing industry, her introduction to home brewing through the Oregon Brew Crew and work at F.H. Steinbart Co., her involvement in the SheBrew home brew competition and beer festival, her management of the Black is Beautiful Homebrew PDX Brewing Project in 2020, and her membership in the Pink Boots Society. This interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on Zoom. 

 

At the time of the first interview, Cat Wiest was a Research and Development Brewer at Pelican Brewing Company in Tillamook, Oregon.  She describes growing up in San Luis Obispo, California, as well as in Guam.  She discusses her earlier life experiences, including solo-hiking the Appalachian Trail and working as commercial fisherwoman in Alaska.  She began homebrewing while living in the Bay Area, and shortly after got a job as a brewer at Pyramid Brewing in Berkeley, California, leading to her involvement in her union and with the Pink Boots Society.  From there, she moved to Santa Cruz and worked as the head brewer at Seabright Brewery and popularized glitter beer through her entry at the Great American Beer Festival. She continued her involvement in the Pink Boots Society when she moved to Oregon to work at Pelican Brewing, holding a board position in the organization.  Topics throughout both interviews include conversations of gender, discrimination, and inclusivity in the brewing industry and in the workplace. These interviews were conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on Zoom. 

Madeleine McCarthy is a brewer at Von Ebert Brewing in Portland Oregon.  In her interview she talks about growing up in Tulsa, Oklahoma and her beginnings with homebrewing with her husband before they moved to Portland, Oregon in order to pursue their careers. She discusses her first job at Ground Breaker Brewing and her move to Sasquatch Brewing where she gained notoriety for her Gold Dust Woman Glitter Beer.  They also discuss life in the pandemic as well as gender and McCarthy’s participation in the Pink Boots Society. This interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on Zoom. 

 

Barbara Stone is the Western Key Account Sales Manager at John I. Haas, Inc., a premier hop supplier for North America. Born on Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, Stone was primarily raised in Oregon City, although she has moved around the state throughout her life.  She describes moving away from law enforcement and criminal justice—childhood professional interests—as she started her family in the late nineties. After discussing family life in Springfield in the early 2000s, Stone articulates how she entered the food and beverage industry at Oregon Ice Cream, where she developed skills in labor, technological, and supply distribution, which she further honed in the leather goods and frozen gelato industries. She describes joining Ninkasi Brewing around 2013—a transitional and expansive time for the company—and details the positive and challenging aspects of the familial, dynamic, and loyal work culture there. Stone also details her transition to and more recent experiences working for Haas, developing relationships with partners and clients, and how her work was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. She concludes with a discussion of improved, but still progressing, diversity and inclusivity within the hops and brewing industries, and describes her shifting perception of her role as an advocate for change. This interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on Zoom. 

 

Felicia Reninger is the sales representative, bartender, and occasional brewer at Montavilla Brew Works in Portland, Oregon. In her interview, Reninger talks about growing up in California, moving to the Ashland area as a young adult and experiences there, and her growing interest in home brewing and observations about that community. She also discusses her move to Portland, work at Market of Choice as the beer and wine steward and at Three Creeks Brewing Company as a sales representative, experiences with distributors, and involvement with the Oregon Brew Crew and home brew competitions, her membership in the Pink Boots Society, and the impact of COVID-19 on her work. She concludes the interview reflecting on some aspects of breweries and brewpubs that contribute to welcoming spaces in terms of gender and sexuality. This interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on Zoom. 

 

Ben Edmunds is the founding Brewmaster at Breakside Brewery in Portland, Oregon. In his interview, Edmunds talks about growing up in Michigan, attending Yale University, where he majored in Spanish, and his experiences with outdoor and wilderness education. Edmunds also talks about home brewing and learning beer styles, moving to Oregon, his interest in brewing as a career, experiences attending the Siebel Institute of Technology in Chicago, work at Upright Brewing, and how he got his position at Breakside Brewery. Edmunds concludes the interview by reflecting on Breakside's growth and development, mentorship of new brewers, and how COVID-19 may change the industry. This interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on Zoom. 

 

Ken Whiteman oral history interview, November 25, 2020 01:31:08
Ken Whiteman is the co-founder of pFriem Family Brewers and Vice President of Oregon Brewers Guild. In his interview, Whiteman talks about growing up in Colorado and Washington, living in Germany while in elementary school, and his experiences at Colorado College and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute studying Physics and Electrical Engineering. He also talks about his work at Electro Scientific Industries, a industrial laser company, various companies he has started, and the founding of pFriem in 2011 (opened in 2012). Whiteman concludes the interview talking about how the company grew and evolved, but also how they have adjusted to the health restrictions required by COVID-19 shut-downs. This interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on Zoom. 

 

Brian Bolduc oral history interview, November 24, 2020 2:13:49  
Brian Bolduc is the Assistant Director of Business and Sales at Goschie Farms in Silverton, Oregon, a commissioner for the Oregon Hop Commission, and board member of the Oregon Brewers Guild. Bolduc's parents owned a bed and breakfast, where the family lived, and a motel in Maine coastal community; in his interview, he talks about growing up on the east coast and his families' move to Stayton, Oregon when he was an adolescent. Contrasting his life on the east coast to the agricultural community of the mid-Willamette Valley, Bolduc talks about how the summer jobs he had on farms increased both his knowledge of and interest in farming. Bolduc also shares his experiences at Oregon State University; in addition to majoring in Business, he was a member and President of the Sigma Pi fraternity, he worked for SafeRide, interned with Beaver Sports Properties, the marketing arm of OSU Athletics, and was a hospitality intern for the NBC Olympics in 2010. Bolduc also talks about looking for jobs after graduation, working for KGW in digital advertising, and working for Survey Monkey in various management positions. Bolduc concludes the interview discussing his work at Goschie Farms, including the addition of new positions, the structure of the company, the role of social media and traditional outreach, Salmon Safe status, experimentation with growing barley and producing "estate beers," and the impact of COVID-19 and the 2020 wildfires on the hop harvest and breweries. This interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on Zoom. 

Karen Sheley is co-owner and founder of East Portland’s Gateway Brewing, and is also project manager at Country Malt Group-Great Western Malting. In her interview, Sheley describes her childhood and education outside of Syracuse, NY, with her brother, sister, and supportive parents. She describes the early—and persistent—importance of music played in her life, notably the community and social relations that her classical saxophone practice fostered. She credits being alumni of Northwestern (where she studied musicology) for opening many professional opportunities for her, and describes her transformative experience abroad in Russia just out of college. Sheley also recounts experiences in recently-post soviet Czech Republic as a teacher and legal analyst, and how her work fostered a fascination with how brewing was linked to historical social structures there. Describing her work in Louisville and her move into Portland’s beer industry through Widmer Brothers, Sheley emphasizes the importance of friendly and social groups in her life, both for personal gratification and professional opportunities. This theme reemerges in her conversation about the Pink Boots Society, which she articulates is a critical forum for women in brewing to explore ideas and experiences, among a variety of perspectives, related to the work and life of brewing and beer. Professionally proficient in supply chains and structure, Sheley implies a perpetual interest in the financial, administrative, and social structures of breweries and businesses. She ponders the changing role of working women, how it potentially relates to a trend she perceives of small breweries being supported by wives or families with day jobs. She concludes with a reflection on the waning role of the middle market in the craft beer industry, noting a polarization of Oregon’s breweries toward small and locally focused, or large, diversified, and attraction-based. 

 

Ashley Rose Salvitti is the founder of Brewvana, an educational and engaging beer tourism company. In her interview, Salvitti talks about growing up in New York and North Carolina, her education in Art and Psychology, her early interest in beer, and her move to the west coast. She also discusses her work as a server and bartender at breweries in High Point, North Carolina and Portland, Oregon (Liberty Steakhouse and Brewery 2002-2007, Laurelwood Brewery 2007-2008, Hopworks Urban Brewery 2008-2012), as well as the ways breweries and consumers have changed in the 12 years since she moved to Oregon. She talks at length about the founding of her company in 2010, her experiences with management, and the sale of her company to City Brew Tours in November 2019. The interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on December 3, 2019 in Portland, Oregon. 

 

In this interview, Johnson describes her cosmopolitan childhood spent in Germany, New Mexico, the Middle East, and California, which she later credits for her appreciation for international foods, beers, and cultures.  She also discusses her early home brewing with friends, how it became a creative outlet during her time spent working for the California state legislature, and how she sought to master distinct international styles of beer through practice and judging competitions herself. Johnson recounts the publicity she received in the wake of her AHA Homebrewer of the Year award in 2013, including how interviewer’s questions about race and gender impacted the ways she thoughts about her own identity in home brewing. She also describes her transition to working for PicoBrew and how it has influenced her work and relationships in the brewing industry. The interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on November 2, 2019 in Seattle, Washington.

 

Beth Hartwell was the co-founder and co-owner of Hart Brewing (later Pyramid Brewing) in Kalama, Washington. When it opened in 1984, Hart Brewing was fourth craft brewery to open in Washington State and second-ever to operate in Kalama. Hartwell was also one of the first female brewery owners in the U.S. since Prohibition. In her interview, Hartwell talks about growing up in Southern California, her early interest in food and cooking, meeting her future husband Tom Baune at OSU, her work for Proctor and Gamble in San Francisco and  Weyerhaeuser in Longview (WA), starting a grocery store in Seattle and brewery in Kalama, and her life after the brewery was sold in 1989. She talks at length about the process for opening and operating the brewery, her relationship with the larger Portland brewing community, her experiences as a woman in male dominated industries, and how proud she is to see women’s increasing numbers in brewing. This interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on June 26, 2019 at The Valley Library in Corvallis, Oregon. 

 

Jeff Alworth is a writer and podcaster in Portland, Oregon. In his interview Alworth talks about growing up in Boise, Idaho; and attending high school in Salt Lake City; his coursework in Religious Studies at Lewis & Clark College (BA, 1990) and University of Wisconsin, Madison (MA, 1994, South Asian Studies); his travels to India, and his co-founding of BlueOregon (a progressive news blog) in 2004. Alworth worked as a researcher at Portland State University for 13 years; during that time, he began writing about the industry for Willamette Week’s weekly beer column, as well as for other publications. In 2006, Alworth started the Beervana Blog and in his interview, he discusses differences in audience and process between print journalism, blogs, and book publishing; he also discusses the financial aspects of publishing, including sponsorship and the decline in print periodicals. The interview concludes with Alworth talking about memorable experiences he’s had traveling to conduct his brewing research. This interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on May 29, 2019 at Alworth's home in Portland, Oregon. 

 

Born in Germany in 1939, Walter Scheurle was a brewmaster for Pittsburg Brewing Company, Sam Adams Boston Lager, and Blitz-Weinhard Brewing Company; he also consulted for many of Oregon’s early microbrewers. In his interview, Scheurle was born in Germany in 1939, and he talks about his family’s brewing business, the impact of World War II, and his immigration to the United States. He also talks about his career in brewing and later work hosting food and beer pairings. This interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on May 22, 2019 at the Oswego Place Assisted Living Community in Lake Oswego, Oregon. 

Christine Jump is the Executive Director of Barley’s Angels, a network of international chapters by and for women to learn about and study beer. In her interview, Jump talks about growing up in Kentucky, her introduction to beer by Glen Falconer, her work with Rogue Ales as a pub manager and Executive Assistant to founder Jack Joyce (2004-2016), and her podcast (Craft Brew Cast, 2007-present). Jump also describes her experiences with the Pink Boots Society, notably the separation of Barley’s Angels from Pink Boots Society in 2012, shares her thoughts on why it is important for women to have a space for learning, and what the impact is on breweries and servers. This interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on December 8, 2018 at the Valley Library in Corvallis, Oregon.

 

Whitney Burnside is the Brewmaster at 10 Barrel Brewing Company in Portland, Oregon. In her interview, Burnside talks about growing up in Issaquah, Washington, how her interest in cooking was sparked in high school, and her experiences at Johnson & Wales University in Denver, where she obtained a culinary arts degree in 2008. She talks about making artisan cheese at The Herbfarm, a farm-to-table restaurant in wine-centric Woodinville, Washington (25 minutes north of Seattle), as well as how her fascination with fermentation and access to local ingredients prompted her to experiment with home brewing and bread baking. She discusses her move to Portland, her experiences at Laurelwood Brewing and Upright Brewing, and her work for Tastebud, a restaurant known for wood-fired pizzas. After leaving Portland, Burnside moved back to Seattle, where she worked as a brewer for Elysian Brewing Company (2011–2012). She moved back to Oregon after a year, where she obtained an assistant brewer position at the Pelican Brewery Pacific City location; she soon became that company's first female head brewer. While at Pelican Brewery, Burnside learned to make beers that were "true to style" from Darron Welch; the brewery also won numerous awards during her tenure, including a bronze medal at the 2014 Great American Beer Festival in the Belgian style category. At the end of 2014, Burnside took a position as the head brewer at the 10 Barrel Brewing, and she reflects on how her previous experiences with operations expansion at Elysian and Pelican gave her the knowledge for the construction of the Portland brewing and pub facility. Burnside talks about the  acquisition of the company by Anheuser-Busch in 2014 (which happened a week after she was hired) and about her experiences working with the company; she also reflects on how the culture and consumers have changed since she entered the industry. She concludes the interview talking about some of her favorite beer ideas and beers she's made. This interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on October 26, 2018 at Cathedral Coffee in Portland, Oregon.

 

Jimmy Seifrit is the Brewmaster at 10 Barrel Brewing Co. Seifrit talks about his family and his vibrant childhood in Philadelphia, as well as his move to Vermont for college, where he learned about New England beer, and to Oregon for snowboarding and a career goal of being in the brewing industry (specifically, working for Rogue). Seifrit moved to Bend in 1995 and started work at Deschutes Brewery in 1996, where he worked his way through various areas of production brewing. He talks about the people he worked with, beers he brewed, product development, company culture, and working at the downtown pub. In 2011, Seifrit left Deschutes for a job as Brewmaster for 10 Barrel Brewing Co., where he helped to establish new brewing facilities for the company and guide his staff through the acquisition of the company by Anheuser-Busch in 2014. Seifrit also reflects on challenges and successes he’s felt in the industry, as well as aspects of his job that bring him pride. This interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton and Anna Dvorak on September 12, 2018 at 10 Barrel Brewing Co. in Bend, Oregon.

 

Jon Abernathy is an author and beer blogger. In his interview, Abernathy shares family stories, his experiences growing up in Alfalfa (10 miles from Bend), going to school in Redmond, and continuing his education at Central Oregon Community College and Eastern Washington University, where he obtained a BA in French. While attending university, he worked at a call center, a job that transitioned into data management and computer systems. Abernathy talks about early computer programming and website development, his jobs in that field, his interest in home brewing, and starting his own beer blog in 2004. Abernathy discusses beer in Bend, his 2014 book on the subject and ways the industry has changed in the 4 years since its publication, and his experiences as a beer writer. Abernathy concludes his interview with rumination on creative beer ingredients. This interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton and Anna Dvorak on September 11, 2018 at the Deschutes Brewery in Bend, Oregon.

 

Tony Lawrence is the co-founder and Brewmaster at Boneyard Brewery. In this interview, Lawrence talks about growing up in Southern California, beach and hot rod culture, his interest in snowboarding, his move to Tahoe and Bend to pursue snowboarding, his work on Mt. Bachelor on the ski lifts in the late 1980s, and his early experiences working for Deschutes Brewery in the kitchen. He also talks about being persuaded by John Harris to start brewing (since washing kegs is better than washing dishes). Taking advantage of Deschutes education program, Lawrence attended the Siebel Institute of Technology for brewing classes; he also took community college classes in welding. Lawrence left Deschutes in 2002 to take a job with former Deschutes brewer Tim Gossack at his brewery Rio Salado in Phoenix, Arizona. Lawrence left Arizona in the mid-2000s to pursue an opportunity at Firestone Walker in their packaging line, where he worked for a year until beginning consulting work. It was in his travels and exposure to other brewing facilities that Lawrence was motivated to design his own brewery, Boneyard, which was located in a garage and constructed out of pieces of equipment he had collected while consulting. Lawrence talks about his co-founders, Clay and Melodee Storey, the early years and brews, and the company’s growth and development. He concludes with thoughts on future projects and areas of growth for the industry. This interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton and Anna Dvorak on September 11, 2018 at the Boneyard Brewery production facility in Bend, Oregon.

 

Robin Johnson is the Assistant Brewmaster at the downtown pub at Deschutes Brewery. In his interview, Johnson talked about his early childhood in California, moving to Eugene in middle school, his family memories of the Northwest region, including his father’s work as the director of the Eugene Symphony, and his college experiences at the University of Oregon. Johnson moved to Boston with his girlfriend, now wife, and their return to Portland, where he worked as a Credit Analyst at Volkswagen. Johnson started at Deschutes Brewery in 2009 and was hired as a lead brewer in 2010 after completing his training at the American Brewers Guild. Johnson became Assistant Brewmaster in 2015 when Veronica Vega was promoted to Research and Development Brewmaster. Johnson discusses his brewing philosophy and the inspiration he takes from food ingredients. This interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton and Anna Dvorak on September 10, 2018 at the Deschutes Brewery Pub in Bend, Oregon.

 

Jon Bier is the Lead Bartender at Deschutes Brewery. In his interview, Bier talks about growing up in Corvallis, moving to Eugene to attend the University of Oregon, travelling to the east coast, his interests in fly fishing and outdoor sports, and moving to Bend in 1995. He talks about starting work at Deschutes in 1996 and ways the company has evolved, as well as how customers and the industry has changed. This interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton and Anna Dvorak on September 10, 2018 at the Deschutes Brewery Pub in Bend, Oregon.

 

Erik Frank is the Marketing Manager for Deschutes Brewery. In his interview, Frank discusses growing up in Harrisburg, PA, Boy Scouts and leadership, and his success in high school (which didn’t translate to success in college until he found the field of Anthropology). While in college, Frank worked as a server at Church Brew Works; it was during this work he realized beer could be a career. Recognizing he wanted a change, Frank moved to Bend, sight unseen, in the early 2000s. Frank discusses starting at Deschutes in 2002; various jobs as host, server, tour guide, etc.; and how his interests have shaped his career and new positions. He also reflects experiences working with founder Gary Fish, where Deschutes is now at 30 years, and his points of pride. This interview was conducted by Anna Dvorak on September 7, 2018 at the Deschutes Brewery in Bend, Oregon.

 

Carrie Archer is the Event Coordinator at 2 Towns Ciderhouse. In her interview, Archer talks about growing up in Kansas, her experiences at both Cottey College and Pittsburgh State University, her work after college in events and alumni relations, and her move to Oregon State University, where she worked in both INTO and the Registrar's Office. She also talks about her interest in home brewing, her leadership role as president of the Heart of the Valley Homebrewer Club, and her new job at 2 Towns. This interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on July 27, 2018 at 2 Towns Ciderhouse in Corvallis, Oregon.

 

Steve and Rebecca Pierce are the owners of Alpha Beta Hops, an organic hop farm in Ashland. In this interview, the Pierces talk about setting up the farm, moving to Ashland in the 1990s, and their foray into growing hemp. They also discuss the challenges to smaller hop growers, the cannabis industry in Southern Oregon, the impact of state regulations on cannabis growers, and the increase in industrial hemp growers. This interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on July 26, 2018 at the Pierce residence in Ashland, Oregon.

 

Karen Amarotico was one of the founders of Standing Stone Brewery and is an independent caterer and baker. In her interview, Amarotico talks about growing up in New York (Staten Island), her family, and her early love of baking. She talks about attending Brooklyn College and the Culinary Institute of America, as well as her early jobs in the restaurant and food industries. Amarotico talks about moving to Dallas, Texas and San Francisco, California with her then husband Emile, moving to Oregon, and her memories of Standing Stone Brewery. Amarotico concludes the interview talking about the genesis and longer-term person impact of her "Pie a Day Give Away project," year-long gratitude project where she baked a pie a day for people in her community. This interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on July 24, 2018 at the Plaza Inn & Suites in Ashland, Oregon.

 

Ginger Johnson is the founder of Women Enjoying Beer, an educator, consultant, and author. In her interview, Johnson talks about growing up in Minnesota, her family activities, and the ways they supported her interests in art. She also talks about her time as a student at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, namely the ways that it shaped and changed her perspective as an adult. Johnson talks about her different jobs and where she's lived, as well as moving to Ashland, Oregon to start work at Standing Stone Brewery. She concludes by talking about her work as the founder of Women Enjoying Beer, a firm focused on marketing beer to women; her book How to Market Beer to Women, and the ways her perspective has shifted after studying gender and marketing for 10 years. This interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton on July 24, 2018 at Johnson's home in Talent, Oregon.

 

Frank Appleton oral history interview July 19, 2018, 01:33:12