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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 22, 2017)
Astoria Brewing Co. Astoria Brewing Co. Taproom: 1196 Marine Drive • Astoria Wet Dog Café: 144 11th Street • Astoria • wetdogcafe.com • STORY: HEATHER DOUGLAS | PHOTO: CARL EARL he Allen family’s Wet Dog Cafe & extended family is Shaun Barrick, head brewer. Brewery opened its doors 22 years At 21 he became passionate about home brewing ago – long before the craft as a side hobby. Deciding to take things to the next brewing industry hit Astoria full level, he gained serious experience at Alaskan force. Serendipitously, in 2012 the Brewing and Ninkasi in Eugene – one of the family felt the purchase of the old biggest craft breweries in the Northwest – before “Andrew and Steve’s” Restaurant was meant to landing at Astoria Brewing Company in Astoria. be: father Steve and son Andrew spent almost two Barrick enjoys his job: “It’s this amazing years renovating the location into a 15-barrel place where creativity and science collide. You brewing system to add to their original 4-barrel get to be an artist in some ways and an engineer system at the Wet Dog. in others. For me, it’s a good mix of intellectual In 2008, The Astoria Brewing Company passion and creativity.” became a forerunner again when they earned the “Sessionable” is a beer term describing brews title of the 2nd Brewery in the State of Oregon to that are low alcohol, and not as aggressive on the add solar energy to its operation. The Wet Dog palate. They are Barrick’s favorites and he also brew pub uses solar heated water stored in 1,500 enjoys offering other sessionable beers like a gallon tanks in the basement. “kolsch” – a German style cross Owner Karen Allen said, “The between an ale and a lager that Wet Dog’s brewery is the only one The Wet Dog’s finishes crisp and clean like a lager in Astoria that operates all of its typically does. brewery is the heated water through solar Now that Astoria has become a power.” beer destination, Barrick notes that only one in Astoria Allen said “using less energy Wet Dog’s sessionable beers are that operates all highly appealing to a wide variety means cleaner, greener beer.” Besides efficiency, The Wet of beer drinkers. The Wet Dog’s of its heated Dog prides itself equally on being popular beer – the “Strawberry water through most family-friendly for their customers Blonde” – is a uniquely bright and by offering a classic brew pub crisp fruit forward beer with a solar power. experience. “Our main goal is to flavorful finish. be family-friendly,” said Allen. He added “most of our beers like “We continue to add merchandise for our beer our lagers are a good entry point into the Astoria enthusiasts and tourists; we also offer not only top mecca of beer that we have around here.” notch beer and quality food, but an overall The Wet Dog’s “extended family” branches experience that will be remembered.” out to Astoria’s brewing community as well; they Head Brewer Shaun Barrick added, “We are recently collaborated with the new Reach Break family-friendly, super local and give people a low Brewing on an Imperial India Pale Lager called key place to hang out and have some good beers.” “Disassemble,” which was available as a limited Beer is also featured in The Wet Dog’s Brew time keg release. Pub food, and recipes that contain beer are by far “One of the super fun parts of this industry is the most popular, like their halibut, cod and being able to collaborate in a small town like this. salmon fish and chips — hand dipped with beer The brewer community in Astoria is super batter made from their beer. friendly. We’re all different in our own ways but Family tradition is strong at The Wet Dog. All we bond over our love of beer. I really enjoy seven of the Allen children have worked in hanging out with other brewers,” said Barrick. various capacities within the business. “Just this Astoria Brewing Company also engages with past summer our oldest grandchild was here to the community; some of the events they sponsor work, learn and support us,” said Allen. “We are are the Pacific Northwest Brew Cup 5k and the also proud of our employees, who we refer to as Great Columbia Crossing, and has provided the our extended family; many of them have worked beer garden for the Scandinavian Festival for the for our family for years. We could not be past 15 years. successful without them.” “We try to engage with our community A fairly new member to the Wet Dog’s whenever we can,” said Barrick. T NOW POURING AT ASTORIA BREWING CO.: Lincoln Lager: 4.9% ABV • 10 IBU Strawberry Blonde: 6.1% ABV • 10 IBU Da Bomb Ale: 5.2% ABV • 17 IBU Old Red Beard Ale: 5.4% ABV • 3 IBU Bitter Bitch Imperial IPA: 6.2% ABV • 100+ IBU Solar Dog IPA: 6.2% ABV • 69 IBU Poop Deck Porter: 6.2% ABV • 35 IBU Volksweissen: 6.3% ABV • 13 IBU Trolley Stop Stout: 6.7% ABV • 40 IBU 4 • Craft Beer 2017 • www.dailyastorian.com Your local janitorial and paper supply...and much more! Aura for Bath and Spa Interior I Interi in Paints f r Great fo n d an proj j ects kids! LET US HELP YOU COMPLETE YOUR HOME PROJECTS ! 2240 Commercial Street Astoria, Oregon 503.325.6362 www.WalterENelson.com Monday-Friday 8 am to 5 pm Pool, Spa & Fountain •Packing Materia Materials als • Cleaning Supplies for Ovens, Grills, Carpet & Upholstery • V Vehicle ehicle e Cleaning Products
