Continued from Page 6
Reach Break Brewing has been a partic-
ipant since 2017. In the beginning, Allison
recalls that the program brought new faces
through the door. “People would say, ‘I’ve
never heard of you, but I saw you on the
card,’” he said.
While Reach Break Brewing does not
track sign-off s, for Allison the program is less
about the numbers and more about collabora-
tion. “It’s a good partnership with the cham-
ber,” he said. “We support the chamber in all
their eff orts supporting craft beer tourism. It
helps everybody.”
Dwayne Smallwood, who along with
his wife, Pamela Fox, owns Bridge & Tun-
nel Bottleshop & Taproom, agrees. “The fi rst
year was great, just the exposure for a newer
business,” Smallwood said of the shop’s deci-
sion to join in 2019.
Smallwood validates the passport with an
oversized rubber stamp. “It’s fun,” he said.
Smallwood also sees the program as a lift for
local business as a whole. “The more beer
people that come to town for breweries, to
discover new things, the more the rising tide
lifts all ships,” he said. “People used to come
here just for fi shing and now they come for
the beer. So it’s really nice to see that it’s a
growing industry.”
For many beer enthusiasts, the North
Coast Craft Beer Trail is a main event. “Then
they’re also checking out museums, restau-
rants and outdoor recreation while they’re
here,” Willkie said.
To best enjoy the trail, Bartlett reminds
people the fi rst thing to do is have a desig-
nated driver. “Take your time. In Seaside, go
to Seaside locations. When you visit Astoria,
go to those over a couple of trips. It’s really
about the enjoyment of beer,” Bartlett said.
Photos by Peter Korchnak
ABOVE: Craft Beer Trail explorers can get a stamp from each brewery they visit, like this one
from Reach Break Brewing in Astoria. LEFT: A pamphlet for the North Coast Craft Beer Trail.
ORIGINAL FINE ART
on the waterfront • port of ilwaco, wa
marie-powell.com • 360-244-0800
THURSDAY, JULY 21, 2022 // 7