Bill’s Tavern & Brewhouse
188 N. Hemlock Street • Cannon Beach
• STORY & PHOTOS: HEATHER DOUGLAS
very Thursday night, nestled in the
heart of down town Cannon Beach,
Bill’s Tavern and Brew House is
sure to be packed. For nearly two
decades, rollicking tourists and
locals alike stomp their feet to The
Floating Glass Balls — a group of local musicians
with covers like Neil Young’s “Long May You Run”
and Bruce Springsteen’s “Atlantic City.” And you
better bet beer will be involved.
In an ever-changing landscape, Bill’s Tavern has
been a constant since the early 1900s. The local
watering hole has a colorful history that dates back
E
to the prohibition era. The spot first opened as The
Imperial Café in 1923 as prohibition was
repealed—back when a T-bone steak was 25 cents.
After a major remodel in 1997 by co-owners,
Jim Oyala and Ken Campbell, the name became
what we know today: “Bill’s Tavern and Brew
House.” The Warren House Pub—Bill’s “sister
pub” is located in Tolovana Park and was
established in 2000. The Warren Pub features Bill’s
beers on tap, guest taps such as Breakside IPA,
Buoy’s Czech Pils, a full bar, game room, and a
menu that includes steak, seafood, and smoked
goods; the location also features a beer garden and
10 • Craft Beer 2017 • www.dailyastorian.com
seating for minors.
This year marks another growth spurt for Bill’s,
with a charcuterie behind the tavern slated to open
at the end of September. Some of the possible
offerings include a variety of smoked meats, a
separate menu and of course their beer.
Even as the landscape changes, Bill’s strives to
stay classic. Owner Ken Campbell stated “we hang
our hat on a classic menu and good beer.” General
Manger Steve Matthews added, “Bill's is a family
friendly brew pub with a cozy atmosphere where
locals and visitors can find great ale and some of
the best chowder on the coast.”
Downstairs, Bill’s is a tavern
and restaurant; upstairs is
a small brewery that holds
four fermenters and typically
offers a rotation downstairs
of nine beers on tap. About
25 different beer recipes
rotate throughout the
brewery in a given year.