Will​ ​Amazon's​ ​Beer and Wine​ ​Delivery​ ​Change​ ​the Industry​ ​for​ ​Better​ ​or​ ​Worse?
Amazon Prime Now has launched two-hour delivery service for beer, cider and wine in Portland. While there are pros and cons, most area bottle shop owners aren't worried that the development will threaten their business. Photo by Ezra Johnson-Greenough
The​ ​internet​ ​was​ ​supposed​ ​to​ ​make​ ​life​ ​easier​ ​and​ ​solve​ ​humanity's problems, so who figured it would take an online bookstore more than two decades just to get beer deliveries to your home right? When Amazon​ ​rolled​ ​out​ ​its​ ​Prime​ ​Now​ ​service​ ​in​ ​late​ ​2014,​ ​home​ ​beer​ ​and​ ​wine​ ​deliveries​ ​were discussed,​ ​but​ ​it​ ​wasn't​ ​until​ ​August​ ​of​ ​2017​ ​that​ ​the​ ​service​ ​launched​ ​in​ ​Oregon.​ ​Amazon is​ ​famous​ ​for​ ​helping​ ​kill​ ​off​ ​local​ ​and​ ​big​-​box​ ​book​ ​retailers,​ ​and​ ​some​ ​are​ ​now​ ​concerned​ ​they could​ ​do​ ​the​ ​same​ ​to​ ​grocery​ ​stores​ ​and​ ​bottle​ ​shops.
Prime​ ​Now​ ​is​ ​an​ ​app​ ​for​ ​your​ ​phone​ ​or​ ​device​ ​that​ ​lets​ ​you​ ​order items you'd normally find at large grocers: food, household supplies and gadgets. To use this service, you must be an Amazon Prime member, which for $99 a year is easily worth it if you do any other online shopping or video/music streaming. Products are shipped through the company's regional partners, and based on my zip code that would be New Seasons Market, Whole Foods Market or Amazon's local product center.
Ordering from each incurs a separate delivery fee (typically about $5) that's waived when the purchase amount reaches a certain threshold. Amazon then adds a suggested $5 tip for the driver, which can be edited. Users choose a two-hour arrival window and it can be scheduled days in advance. If you're in a hurry, one-hour delivery is available for a fee ranging from $4.99-7.99. Prices are comparable, if not exactly the same, as what's in stores. Another benefit is the option to have your package left on a safe porch without signature (though you must be present with identification if purchasing alcohol).
Amazon's​ ​Prime​ ​Now​ ​store​ ​is​ ​the​ ​only outlet in my zip code to ship beer, cider and wine (none of the hard stuff). There is a "Cold Beer" section with subcategories for "Local and Craft Beer" along with domestics, imports and specific styles. At this point, your choices are limited to the lineup you might find at your local mini-mart, but I suspect that will change — especially if there's demand.
​​Under​ ​"Local​ ​and​ ​Craft​ ​Beer,"​ ​some​ ​might​ ​quibble​ ​with​ ​listings​ ​for​ ​Not​ ​Your Father's​ ​Root​ ​Beer,​ ​Blue​ ​Moon,​ ​Elysian​,​ ​10​ ​Barrel and Hop Valley,​ ​but​ ​that's​​ ​neither​ ​here​ ​nor​ ​there. More​ ​important​ ​to​ ​most​ ​is​ ​the​ ​local​ ​beer​ ​selection,​ ​which​ ​includes​ ​new​ ​and​ ​classic​ — but​ ​safe​ ​ — hits from​ ​Breakside​, BridgePort,​ Crux, ​Full​ ​Sail,​ Deschutes, Ecliptic, Fort​ ​George, ​Ninkasi,​ Oakshire, Pyramid, Rogue, Widmer and Worthy. National/international​ ​players​ ​are​ ​even​ ​more​ ​basic,​ ​like​ ​Corona, Guinness,​ ​New​ ​Belgium,​ Pacifico, ​Stella ​and,​ ​interestingly,​ ​Schofferhofer​ ​Grapefruit​ ​Hefeweizen.
I​ ​have​ ​now​ ​ordered​ ​from​ ​Amazon's​ ​Prime​ ​Now​ ​service​ ​five​ ​times, ​three of them specifically for beer, finding mostly good results. The delivery often arrives on the early side of the two-hour window, and they take care to put the beer in a thin, but still temperature-holding, Mylar bag along with an ice pack. I encountered one issue with my first purchase of two bottles of Breakside's flagship IPA in 22-ounce bottles (well-priced at $4.29 each) and a six-pack of Pelican's Beak Breaker Double IPA. Shortly after placing the order, I was notified via email that the Pelican beer wasn't available. The rest of the items came as usual, and there was no charge for the six-pack — though it was still listed as being available more than a week later.
Polling the hive mind known as my social media connections, I came across one other interesting snag that I tested myself. When requesting a seasonal release, you may not end up with the beer you intend. For instance, one person discovered that an order placed for Fort George's Suicide Squeeze IPA actually resulted in the brewery's 3-Way IPA being delivered. I attempted to replicate this by ordering Suicide Squeeze along with Breakside's Toro Red (the site actually pictured the brewery's What Rough Beast beer). I ended up receiving the 3-Way as well and the India Golden Ale by Breakside. The lesson: beware of accuracy when it comes to ordering seasonals. On the plus-side, it's nice to get a refund and still keep the beer by sending in a complaint. This, however, highlights areas where online beer delivery will most likely always fall short — in selection and depth of knowledge.
​"Delivery works best for replenishing staples," says Carl Singmaster, one of the proprietors of Belmont Station in Southeast Portland. ​"For​ ​the​ ​consumer​ ​that​ ​prefers​ ​to​ ​drink primarily​ ​one​ ​widely​ ​available​ ​brand​ ​consistently,​ ​it​ ​makes​ ​a​ ​lot​ ​of​ ​sense.​ ​But​ ​for​ ​those​ ​who​ ​are constantly​ ​exploring​ ​and​ ​learning, ​I​ ​think​ ​they'll​ ​prefer​ ​to​ ​shop​ ​at​ ​bricks​ ​and​ ​mortar."
"When​ ​customers​ ​need​ ​friendly​ ​interaction,​ ​real​ ​opinions,​ ​industry​ ​gossip​ ​or​ ​tips,​ ​that's​ ​where we​ ​come​ ​in.​ ​​​There's​ ​nothing​ ​virtual​ ​about​ ​it,"​ ​says​ ​Sarah​ ​Pederson,​ ​owner​ ​of​ ​North​ ​Portland's Saraveza​ ​tavern​ ​and​ ​bottle ​shop.
With​ ​Amazon's​ ​recent​ ​acquisition​ ​of​ ​Whole​ ​Foods,​ ​there's​ ​a​ ​lot​ ​of​ ​concern​ ​that the massive company could push out mom-and-pop grocery and beer retailers. While most bottle shop owners I talked to think that Prime Now is more of a threat to big-box stores, they are still considering the possible consequences.
"We​ ​may​ ​lose​ ​some​ ​sales," says Sean Campbell (aka John Beermonger), owner of The BeerMongers bottle shop and bar in Southeast Portland,​ "but​ ​I​ ​feel​ ​that​ ​is​ ​always​ ​a​ ​threat​ ​either​ ​from​ ​grocery​ ​stores​ ​or big​ ​liquor​ ​stores.​ ​Knowledgeable​ ​staff,​ ​good​ ​prices​ ​and​ ​good​ ​atmosphere​ ​should​ ​help​ ​keep​ ​the little​ ​guys​ ​in​ ​business."
Sarah​ ​Pederson​ ​agrees,​ ​"I​ ​think​ ​Amazon​ ​grocery​ ​will​ ​affect​ ​grocery​ ​stores​ ​in​ ​the​ ​beer departments​ ​more​ ​than​ ​small​ ​bottle​ ​shops​ ​such​ ​as​ ​Saraveza.​ ​I​ ​can't​ ​imagine​ ​that​ ​all​ ​the​ ​time, effort,​ ​devotion​ ​and​ ​education​ ​we​ ​put​ ​into​ ​our​ ​selection​ ​on​ ​a​ ​weekly​ ​basis​ ​could​ ​be​ ​mimicked​ ​by a​ ​ginormous​ ​online​ ​store."
In​ ​addition​ ​to​ ​the​ ​selection​ ​and​ ​expert​ ​customer​ ​support,​ ​Prime​ ​Now​ ​doesn't offer​ ​details​ ​consumers​ ​want,​ ​like​ ​where​ ​their​ ​beer​ ​is​ ​coming​ ​from.
"I​ ​have​ ​so​ ​many​ ​customers​ ​who​ ​are​ ​very​ ​conscientious​ ​of​ ​what​ ​brands​ ​they​ ​purchase​ ​in​ ​regards to​ ​the​ ​ownership​ ​of​ ​the​ ​brewery,"​ ​says​ ​Sarah​ ​Pederson. ​"I​ ​don't​ ​know​ ​if​ ​these​ ​people​ ​refuse​ ​to shop​ ​at​ ​Walmart​ ​or​ ​on​ ​Amazon,​ ​but​ ​I'm​ ​curious​ ​to​ ​hear​ ​from​ ​them."​
The​ ​area​ ​where​ ​Amazon​ ​really​ ​could​ ​hurt​ ​small businesses​ ​is​ ​pricing. "The​ ​biggest​ ​concern​ ​is​ ​that​ ​a​ ​company​ ​of​ ​the​ ​scale​ ​and​ ​with​ ​the​ ​cash​ ​on​ ​hand​ ​of​ ​an​ ​Amazon can​ ​subsidize​ ​their​ ​service​ ​to​ ​undercut​ ​other​ ​retailers.​ ​The​ ​other​ ​concern​ ​would​ ​be​ ​if​ ​producers and​ ​distributors​ ​give​ ​them​ ​out​sized​ ​allocations​ ​of​ ​limited​-​release​ ​beers,"​ ​comments​ ​Singmaster.
​Beermonger​ ​is​ ​more​ ​concerned​ ​about​ ​the​ ​beer​ ​itself.​ ​"I​ ​know​ ​not​ ​all​ ​beer​ ​is​ ​stored properly.​ ​I​ ​see​ ​it​ ​in​ ​big​ ​stores,​ ​but​ ​also​ ​specialty​ ​stores.​ ​If​ ​people​ ​get​ ​inferior​ ​product​ ​that​ ​was stored​ ​and​ ​shipped​ ​under​ ​less​-than​-​ideal​ ​conditions,​ ​they​ ​may​ ​blame​ ​the​ ​brewery​ ​for​ ​making​ ​bad beer.​ ​This​ ​is​ ​a​ ​problem​ ​that​ ​often​ ​comes​ ​up​ ​and​ ​I​ ​see​ ​this​ ​new​ ​delivery​ ​system​ ​increasing​ ​the likelihood​ ​of​ ​beer​ ​that​ ​is​ ​'off.'"
Overall, these craft-centric retailers were interested in following this new wave of beer delivery, but didn't seem overly worried about competition. In some cases, they were even encouraging.
"I​ ​am​ ​all​ ​for​ ​consumers​ ​having​ ​as​ ​many​ ​options​ ​and​ ​choices​ ​available​ ​to​ ​them​ ​as​ ​possible," says​ ​Singmaster​. ​"For​ ​those​ ​that​ ​prefer​ ​to​ ​have​ ​their​ ​groceries​ ​delivered​ ​rather​ ​than​ ​visiting stores​ ​in​ ​person,​ ​there​ ​is​ ​no​ ​reason​ ​they​ ​shouldn't​ ​be​ ​able​ ​to​ ​put​ ​beer​ ​and​ ​wine​ ​into​ ​the​ ​mix."
"Convenience​ ​sells.​ ​This​ ​move​ ​by​ ​Amazon​ ​and​ ​Whole Foods​ ​is​ ​a​ ​sign​ ​of​ ​the​ ​times,​ ​and​ ​we shouldn't​ ​be​ ​surprised​ ​by​ ​it.​ ​​​In​ ​fact,​ ​we​ ​should​ ​be​ ​prepared​ ​for​ ​more​ ​of​ ​it.​ ​​​People​ ​are​ ​very emotional,​ ​and​ ​often​ ​fearful, about​ ​big​ ​business​ ​and​ ​how​ ​it​ ​takes​ ​over.​ ​​It's​ ​not​ ​necessarily​ ​a​ ​bad thing​ ​for​ ​the​ ​craft​ ​beer​ ​movement,​ ​but​ ​it​ ​sure​ ​is​ ​an​ ​interesting​ ​twist​ ​in​ ​this​ ​ever​-changing industry."
One​ ​thing​ ​is​ ​for​ ​sure,​ ​now​ ​that there are more ways to get beer delivered, Amazon won't be the only one to get into the business. Additional specialty retailers are likely on the way. We already have draft growler beer subscription services in companies like Hopsy and bottle subscription through Tavour, among others.
Grain Growers Breed for Flavor
Mecca Grade is working with Oregon State University to breed a new variety of barley that will work well with Central Oregon's growing conditions. Photos courtesy of Mecca Grade Estate Malt
By Dustin Gouker
The harvest this year at Mecca Grade Estate Malt was more about the future than the present.
After harvesting a full 300 acres of Full Pint barley and overproducing in 2016 to fill up its storage, the farm and malthouse outside of Madras grew by just 40 acres this year.
But in that same field were 30 different selections for The Next Pint Project, a partnership with Oregon State University for breeding a new variety of barley that will eventually be used by Mecca Grade. (The Full Pint variety was also bred by OSU.)
It was the second of a three-year program. Last year, there were 130 crosses planted at the farm, whittled down to 30 this season based on a variety of factors, eliminating strains that didn't work out.
After this year's harvest, the field is down to eight, with the goal of selecting one variety that the farm will produce moving forward, according to co-founder Seth Klann.
"The selection criteria will be based on finished beer for that variety," said Klann. "We're looking for something bred exclusively for our conditions in Central Oregon, our irrigation, and hopefully we find some sort of unique flavor, because that's what it's all about."
Barley is often an afterthought for breweries, but Mecca Grade — which raises its own barley and also malts it on the premises — is trying to change that. Most malt for brewing in North America comes from a few large producers. But by farming its own unique barley and malting it, the business is creating a niche for itself in the craft brew industry.
"Because we're an estate malt house, people ask us 'Well does all your stuff come from your own farm?' And I answer 'Yes,'" said Klann, who runs the farm with his father. "And I think it surprises a lot of people, because even other craft malt houses are having to source from all over the place.
"So everything comes off of our own family farm. And I know that it limits production, but on the other hand the only people that are invested in it are me and my dad," Klann continued. "We're not set up to have explosive growth and become this huge thing, and I know the brewers we work with don't want that either. So as long as we can keep things slow and steady and putting out really rare reserved malt, that's what we are going to do."
The list of brewers and beers using Mecca Grade's malts is constantly growing. (You can see a full lineup on the website.) The Ale Apothecary in Bend now makes all its beer with Mecca Grade malt. Yachats Brewing on the coast uses it for about 95 percent of its beer, according to Klann.
This fall, you'll see beers using this year's harvest at Hood River's pFriem Family Brewers and Logsdon Farmhouse Ales, Klann said. Deschutes Brewery, which has produced several beers using Mecca Grade's product, has another beer in the making that will feature the farm's crop.
"We're going through the process of getting all of our barley certified Salmon-Safe, and that's been big for Deschutes, and it's been big for Crux [Fermentation Project]," Klann said.
But Oregon craft breweries are not the only destination for Mecca Grade's malt. About half of it goes to California; its pilsner-style malts are being used in hazy IPAs.
"Our malt is definitely not cheap, and I think in Oregon the price is going up, but it kind of prohibits people from experimenting with better and more local ingredients," Klann said. "But down there the price has already gone up, so people are just kind of chasing after the next secret ingredient for making better beer."
Beer makers as far away as Allagash Brewing Company in Maine have also used Mecca Grade.
If you're looking for Mecca Grade malt for your homebrew, you can find it at retailers in Portland (F.H. Steinbart Co.), Bend (The Brew Shop) and Corvallis (Corvallis Brewing Supply).
Central Oregon Breweries Prepare for Eclipse Viewers
Don't forget your eclipse-viewing glasses if you plan on visiting Madras, Redmond and Sisters, which all lie in the path of totality. The biggest planned event in that area is the Oregon Solarfest in Madras. Photo by Amber McAlary-Whitney // Oregon Beer Growler
The totality of August's full solar eclipse is just going to miss the craft beer mecca of Bend.
But if you want to watch the rare event take place for yourself and then enjoy a tasty Oregon brew, it's just a short jaunt to the north to Madras, Redmond or Sisters, which all lie in the totality's path Monday, Aug. 21.
The biggest planned event in Central Oregon is the Oregon Solarfest in Madras. The small High Desert town is almost directly in the center of the eclipse's route, giving viewers the longest possible glimpse.
The meat of the event is camping, live music and a surrounding festival with activities galore. Four Bend breweries are sponsors: Crux Fermentation Project, Deschutes Brewery, Silver Moon Brewing and Worthy Brewing Company. A beer garden is planned, but the lineup of brews you can try is not yet available. However, Wild Ride is working with Cascade Lakes and Silver Moon on a collaboration for the festival, appropriately named "Wild Cascade Moon." For more info and tickets: oregonsolarfest.com.
Since the full eclipse will fall somewhere between 10 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. in Central Oregon, most breweries and pubs won't yet be open. But you can watch the sky show and talk it over during lunch with a beer right after — provided you can get anywhere in traffic.
There are no breweries in Madras regularly open to the public; for that, you'd have to travel south to Redmond. That's the home of Wild Ride Brewing, Smith Rock Brewing Company and Cascade Lakes Brewing Company (served at 7th Street Brew House.)
The weekend before the eclipse is the first-ever Redmond Brewfest. The event at American Legion Park touts 300 different beers from more than 75 breweries. It takes place Friday and Saturday, Aug. 18-19. Live music, including Larry and His Flask, is featured.
If you want a prime view of the eclipse, Madras is the spot to be. The sky will go dark there for about two minutes. In Redmond, the event will last less than 40 seconds.
Be warned if you head to the area though: A lot of other people have the same plan. According to The Bulletin, the number of people in the region is expected to be double the norm. Law enforcement is preparing to deal with the surge, but area roads — particularly Highway 97 — may have a difficult time accommodating all the traffic.
If you're just into the beer and not as much the eclipse, the safer bet is the annual Bend Brewfest, which takes place a week and a half earlier, Thursday Aug. 10 through Saturday, Aug. 12. Organizers moved it up a week from its usual dates because of the eclipse.
Want to get a view of the eclipse while also enjoying a craft beer in another part of Oregon? You're in luck.
· BREWVANA is hosting tour that begins at the Oregon State Fairgrounds for the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry's Solar Eclipse Viewing Party. Then it's off to Vagabond Brewing for lunch followed by a tour of Crosby Hop Farm.
· Albany, Salem and Corvallis in Willamette Valley are in the path of the eclipse and have several breweries.
· The chance of clouds is higher on the Oregon Coast, but there are breweries in the path of the totality in Depoe Bay, Lincoln City, Newport and Pacific City.
· Baker City and Ontario also boast breweries that will be the last in Oregon to experience the eclipse before the event continues east into Idaho.
· Be sure to call ahead to make sure the brewery you want to visit is open.
Bend hosted the 2017 American Hop Convention, which prompted several area breweries to come together and create an Oregon-centric beer for the occasion. Photos courtesy of Deschutes Brewery
When the 2017 American Hop Convention came to Bend in January, it sparked a unique opportunity for the craft beer community in Central Oregon.
The convention, which is held in different cities across the country annually, examines the future and history of the hop industry across several days. It attracts hundreds of people associated with the beer industry.
But such a big event doesn't come through relatively small towns like Bend all the time, so the brewers in the region decided to take the opportunity to do something special.
A variety of brewers came together — via the Central Oregon Brewers Guild — to brew a special beer for the convention, called Oregon Tr'Ale IPA.
Robin Johnson, the assistant brewmaster at Deschutes Brewery's Bend location, recounted the effort to get a beer ready for the convention at the urging of Crux Fermentation Project's Larry Sidor. More than a dozen folks from area breweries got together at the pub, as Johnson recalled.
"As we started kicking around ideas, everyone really liked the idea that it would be an all-Oregon brew," Johnson said.
No detail was spared in making sure it was an Oregon-centric beer:
—Experimental hops came from Willamette Valley Hops.
--Madras' Mecca Grade Estate Malt, used by several area breweries already, was tapped for the malt.
—The label is in the shape of the state of Oregon.
—The bottle cap features the state seal.
Picking the style was an easy choice, given the platform for the beer.
"We said, let's do an IPA here," Johnson said. "Let's showcase the hops and show the convention what we can do as Central Oregon brewers."
The group settled on using two varieties of experimental hops from Willamette and the Vanora and Pelton malts from Mecca Grade.
In all, 10 breweries had a hand in conceptualizing the beer and making the idea a reality. Boneyard Beer did the brewing, Deschutes coordinated the gathering of raw materials and Crux provided the bottling machine. A variety of breweries helped with the bottling process.
Showcasing hops was a major theme throughout the week in January when the convention was in town. Growers offered up experimental hops to area brewers who wanted to play around with them. Crux put 18 of those beers on display at a special tasting at its Bend pub.
But the biggest effort came with Oregon Tr'Ale. Will we see any more collaborations in the future from the Central Oregon craft brewing scene? Don't count out the possibility.
"For this beer, we saw an opportunity to do something cool for Oregon," Johnson said. "We would all be open to do it again in the future. It was a really positive experience and we felt really good about the beer we produced.
"But we're all pretty busy guys with our own beers," Johnson said with a laugh.
Craft Beer Date Guide: Bend
It doesn't get much more remote than Elk Lake Resort for a romantic getaway, but plenty of people make the trek via skis, snowmobile or the resort's Sno-Cat during winter. Photo courtesy of Elk Lake Resort
Crow's Feet Commons
Crow's Feet has turned into a favorite for both locals and visitors looking to grab a beer or a coffee in Bend. The funky space is an ideal spot between Bend's downtown and the Deschutes River. Crow's Feet is located in the Goodwillie-Allen-Rademacher house, built in 1904, and is one of the oldest structures still standing in Bend. When it's not too cold or snowy, their back porch offers a few of the river. Inside you'll find intimate seating — including a couch in front of a fireplace — where you and a loved one can enjoy a beer. There are 16 taps featuring an often eclectic and constantly rotating selection of beer (as well as some ciders and kombucha).
875 NW Brooks St.
crowsfeetcommons.com
Given that this is a section about where to drink a Bend beer, we'd be remiss in not including at least one local brewpub. However, brewpubs, by their nature, aren't necessarily romantic places. But Crux offers some romantic amenities that many others don't. For one, there's the expansive view of the Cascade Mountains that's tough to beat. And if you brave the cold to check out the outdoor patio — snow permitting — you can enjoy a beer on a bench in front of a roaring fire. Crux is considered one of the best beer makers in town as well, so it's got a lot going for it on the "craft beer date" front.
50 SW Division St.
cruxfermentation.com
There are plenty of romantic and more upscale eateries to choose from in downtown Bend. But Drake is one of the smaller, more intimate spots to enjoy a meal and/or drink with a significant other. The dim lighting looking out on the hustle and bustle of downtown Bend provides a great spot to catch one's breath. There's not a bad seat in the house for a romantic night out, from the cozy booths along the windows to a beautiful and intimate bar area as well as seating where you can watch the kitchen do its thing. Drake rotates six beers on tap, which usually consist of a couple of standard local offerings along with a few quirkier regional selections.
801 NW Wall St.
drakebend.com
Need to ward off that winter chill in Bend? Snuggle up next to one of the fire pits at McMenamins Old St. Francis School. Photo by Dustin Gouker
It doesn't get much more remote than this for a romantic getaway. In the winter, you can only get there by skiing, snowmobile or the resort's Sno-Cat. In the heart of the Cascade Mountains, it's a beautiful place to enjoy winter activities or just the beauty of the region. Inside, the resort's restaurant is a rustic, romantic spot for a meal or a drink after a day of snow play. There are usually nine different Central Oregon beers on tap. The resort is only open Thursday-Saturday during the winter months.
60000 Century Drive
elklakeresort.net
McMenamins Old St. Francis School
Bend's version of the McMenamins franchise has plenty of charm, and plenty of romantic nooks and crannies to sip a beer. The former Catholic schoolhouse has fire pits all over the property, and you can often find at least one you can enjoy to yourself during an evening. The best outdoor spot is probably O'Kanes, which is set apart from the rest of the property near the back. If you don't want to brave the elements, the Fireside Bar has plenty of booths and a constantly roaring fire. And for an even more intimate setting, try to find the hidden Broom Closet bar. The full lineup of McMenamins' standard beers is available pretty much everywhere on the property, usually along with brews that might only be found in Bend.
700 NW Bond St.
mcmenamins.com/OldStFrancis