Tag: 7805 SE Stark

Event, Food and Drink February 19, 2026

Zwickelmania Brewery Shuttle Service Loops Through Montavilla on Feb 21st

On February 21st, Zwickelmania returns to Oregon, with two of Montavilla’s breweries joining more than 55 other craft beer makers from across the state. Host businesses offer attendees Zwickel tasting pours from the fermentation tanks and guided brewery tours. Montavilla Brew Works at 7805 SE Stark Street and Threshold Brewing & Blending at 403 SE 79th Avenue will again participate in this annual celebration of local beer makers. Event organizers will offer free sober transportation between sites via a network of shuttle buses, which should broaden participants’ exposure to Portland’s selection of independent brewers.

Zwickelmania is an annual celebration of Oregon craft beer during Oregon Craft Beer Month, organized by the Oregon Brewers Guild. Member breweries open their production facility to the public for a behind-the-scenes view of their operation and to offer unique sampling opportunities. The event’s name stems from the industry term Zwickel, describing the valve or sample port mounted outside a cask or tank. Brewers use those ports to test the product during fermentation, and this annual event allows people 21 years or older to taste beer from a producer’s perspective.

The 2026 beer-centric program offers a safe way for event attendees to visit more breweries through a free shuttle service that transports them to 16 participating Portland establishments. Attendees can catch one of six vehicles driving on two routes throughout the Eastside. This service allows drinkers to experience the event in several neighborhoods without getting behind the wheel or losing time taking indirect public transit. The participating businesses want people to enjoy the experience without overindulging while learning about the region’s craft beer producers. “We have bags of pretzels we’ll probably put on the tables to keep people eating and keep them hydrated,” said Michael Kora of Montavilla Brew Works. “Because if you get on the bus and even hit half of one of these routes, that’s a party.” During the event hours of 11 a.m. through 5 p.m., buses will depart from each location approximately every 30 minutes. The two shuttle routes overlap at Migration Brewing on NE Glisan Street for riders to transfer. However, there are too many participating locations to reach them all via the bus service during the event timeline, so people must plan to visit their favorite locations first or decide to explore some new beer makers.

Interior view of a brewing facility, featuring stainless steel fermentation tanks, a staircase, and various brewing equipment. — *_{Montavilla Brew Works at 7805 SE Stark Street}*

Kora explained that Montavilla Brew Works has always made beer production front and center in its tap room, with the fermentation tanks only protected by a table-height wall and a roped-off entrance. “I think you can go to a lot of breweries and there’s a pub out front and there’s some stainless [tanks in the back]. I guess there’s a brewery back there, but we’ve always liked to have it showcased,” Kora said. “So on a day like[Zwickelmania], it’s even more fun because people can cross the line and go into our workspace and hang out with us.” The brewery will be open from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. on Saturday, with the last tour starting around 4:30 p.m. People on the tour can have free samples at the brewer’s discretion, but patrons must pay for anything ordered at the bar or from the Oi! The Sausage food vender working the event. Kora said he will release a new Scottish Porter at the event, adding to a line of brews he has created that honors his heritage. “My mom came here when she was eight years old with her family. Cruised into Ellis Island, signed papers, and moved to Michigan. My grandparents started a family and started a new life. So I get to be a first-generation American,” recalled Kora. “Scottish beers often are thought of as very heavy, big alcohol, dark, which is true in some of them. But the Scots drink a lot of lager, they drink IPAs, they drink porters. So we’re starting to look into more historical styles and bring them out. It’s a cool story to tell, and they’re really good beers.”

Threshold will open for brewery tours every hour starting at 11 a.m. People can also find special beer tappings, unique food menu items, a prize raffle, and a live DJ. The Threshold team also created an “Ultimate Zwickelmania Survival Kit” consisting of wearable snacks, hydration, energy boosts, Underberg digestif bitter, a shuttle map, and a glossary of brewhouse terms. These are offered on a first-come, first-served basis to Threshold visitors while supplies last.

Interior view of a brewery with a wooden bar displaying merchandise and drinks, two staff members behind the counter, and a chalkboard menu listing various beverages and events. — *_{Threshold Brewing & Blending at 403 SE 79th Avenue}*

Zwickelmania’s organizers gear the event toward craft beer enthusiasts who can sample directly from the Zwickel port, find unique beer releases, take tours, and meet brewers who provide educational talks. Kora also stressed how important it is to reach a wider audience that may not know about the breweries in Montavilla. “Zwickelmania sometimes brings out people that are not as familiar with us, or the brand, or the neighborhood. And so that’s where I get really excited.” Some host locations will offer food and beer pairings or specials. This non-ticketed event will only cost the price of beer and food at each location. Designated drivers can also find non-alcoholic drinks at the event. Oi! The Sausage will start selling grilled single sausages on a bun at Montavilla Brew Works in the afternoon. People interested in attending should visit the Zwickelmania website for more information and an up-to-date list of participating brewers.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Event flyer for Zwickelmania, an Oregon brewery tour, scheduled for Saturday, February 21 from 11 am to 5 pm, featuring a free shuttle service with buses departing approximately every 30 minutes. The map displays two routes with various breweries highlighted.

Brewery	What They Offer
1188 Brewing Company	Food and beer pairings, specials, vote for your favorite beer
Allgood Brewing Company	Tours, meet the brewer, $5 pint specials all day
Arch Rock Brewing	Brewery tours, zwickel and/or other free samples
Away Days Brewing	Pin of cask ale for free samples and education about cask conditioned beers
Baerlic Brewing Company	Brewery tours, meet the brewer, zwickel samples, pizza from Ranch Pizza
Barsideous Brewing	Ghost stories, guided theater and brewery tours, special beer releases, zwickel samples
Bevel Craft Brewing	Brewery tours, zwickel samples, meet the brewer, special beer release
Binary Brewing Co.	Brewery tours, special beer release, brewing education, zwickel samples
Boneyard Beer	New beer release, self-guided tours, zwickel samples, free pickles, food truck
Breakside Brewery – Slabtown	Special beer release, brewery tours, meet the brewer, zwickel samples
Buoy Beer Co	State of Excitement beer for 25 cents from 5:00-5:15pm (1 per customer)
Claim 52 Brewing	Final Zwickelmania at original location, zwickel samples with brewers
Conversion Brewing	Brewing and ingredient education, guided tasting, brewery tours
Cooper Mountain Ale Works	Food and beer pairing flights, brewery tours, meet the brewer, special release
Crooked Creek Brewery	Brewery tours, meet the brewer, zwickel samples, food specials, free coozies
Crux Fermentation Project	Samples off barrels, special beer release, beer pairings
Deschutes Brewery – Bend	Self-guided tours, samples of beers, NA brews, flavored malt beverages
Deschutes Brewery – Portland	Brewery tours (first come, first served), meet brewers, special releases, food specials
Double Mountain Brewing	Short tours all day with small bites and zwickel samples, complimentary glass
Falling Sky Brewing	Brewery tours and zwickel samples all day
Ferment Brewing Company	Brewing process tours, zwickel samples, special beer release
Fort George Brewery	Full production facility tour, meet the brewer, multiple zwickel samples
Gigantic Brewing Company	Brewery tours, zwickel tastings, live music in Barrel Room, Flying Fish oysters and seafood
Grand Fir Brewing	Brewery tours, meet the brewer, zwickel samples, food specials
Ground Breaker Brewing	Gluten-free brewery tour with educational points, zwickel samples, food specials with Salvi PDX
Golden Valley Brewery	Guided educational tours and samples at 12pm and 2pm
Heater Allen/Gold Dot Beer	Brewery tours, meet the brewer, zwickel samples, beer & pretzel pairings
Hopworks Urban Brewery	Brewery tours, pizza and beer pairings
Krauski’s Brewski’s	Nano brewery tours, samples from the source, meet the brewer, live music 6-9pm
Lazy Days Brewing	Brewer tours, special beer release, pizza & food specials, zwickel samples
Leikam Brewing	Records with Tasha from Second Chance records, brewery tours, zwickel samples
Level Beer	Brewer led tours, tank samples, free hop water for designated drivers
Living Haus Beer Co	Brewery tours, meet the brewer, zwickel samples
Lucky Lab Brewing	Brewery tours and guided tastings
Migration Brewing Co.	16th Anniversary celebration, collaborations with Upright and Threshold, tours, zwickel samples
***Montavilla Brew Works***	Oi! The Sausage food cart, meet the brewer, zwickel samples, raffles, cask beer release, live music
Ninkasi Brewing	Special beer release
Oakshire Brewing	Food & beer specials, special flight, Hellshire XV barrel-aged blend release
Old Town Brewing	Brewery tours, zwickel samples, guided tastings, pizza and beer pairings with Baby Doll Pizza
pFriem Family Brewers – Hood River	Exclusive brewery tours, complimentary beer tastings, small bites
pFriem Family Brewers – Milwaukie	Complimentary beer tastings, small bites
Public Coast	Brewery tours, guided tasting, zwickel samples
Root and Rye Hop Farm & Brewery	First pint for $5, meet the brewery, tours and zwickel samples
Side A Brewing	Brewery tours and samplings, Dead of Winter party
Sisu Brewing Co.	Brewery tours and samples at 12pm and 1pm on historic theater stage
Spider City Brewing	Time slots with head brewer Melanie Betti, brewery tour/history, guided tasting, food specials
Steeplejack Brewing Co.	Brewery tours, special pin tapping, food and beer pairings
StormBreaker Brewing	Brewery tours, guided tastings, zwickel samples, barrel-aged bottle ring toss, prize wheel, 12th anniversary
Sunriver Brewing	Burlington Hazy IPA release, maple sugar primed cask, Vermont-themed food, ice cream float shots
Terranaut Beer	Brewery tours, special beer release, meet the brewer, zwickel samples
***Threshold Brewery and Blending***	Hourly tours, free shuttle every 30 min, Ultimate Zwickelmania Survival Pack™, food specials
Thunder Island Brewing Co	Brewery tours, meet the brewer, guided tastings with small bites, zwickel samples
UPP Liquids	Meet the brewers, beer samples with Bavarian pretzel pairings, tours
Von Ebert Brewing	Brewer led tours, zwickel samples, guided tastings, free bottle openers
Wayfinder Beer	Brewery tours, guided tastings, meet the brewer, zwickel samples, food specials
Wild Ride Brewing	Guided tours, meet the brewers, zwickel samples, complimentary beer & cookie pairings
Worthy Brewing	Meet the brewer, brewer-led tours, zwickel samples, swag raffle, $5 pints, $3 fries, $6 pizza bites
Zoiglhaus Brewing	Brewer lead tours, meet the brewer, zwickel samples

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Community, Event, Food and Drink October 29, 2025

Oct 30 Food Bank Benefit

On Thursday, October 30th, Montavilla Brew Works (MBW) will host a food bank benefit with matched food donations to Mainspring Community Pantry and the Oregon Food Bank amid a looming food crisis brought about by the Federal Government’s shutdown. Attendees can bring unexpired non-perishable food items to 7805 SE Stark Street from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., and the organizer will match that donation with an equivalent amount of similar food items. MBW’s founder, Michael Kora, created the “Snap to It” event to bolster the local systems that support people experiencing food insecurity. Those supportive programs expect to see increased demand after November 1st, when the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will pause due to a funding halt.

As with many of MBW’s charitable events, attendees are encouraged to stay for music and locally produced beer. Band Two-Dimensional Man will perform live at the event, and anyone over 21 who donates two or more food items will receive $1 off their first pint. Kora hopes these incentives and the general goodwill of Portlanders will make an impact in supporting the one in six Oregonians who rely on food benefits, which federal actions could drastically reduce next month.

_{MBW’s founder Michael Kora on NBC affiliate KGW}

On October 1st, after Congress failed to pass 2026 funding legislation, officials told many Federal workers to stay home, while other essential employees were required to work without pay. Programs with unspent and contingency funds could continue to support those operations. However, a recent notice from the U.S. Department of Agriculture says it will not use reserve funds and halt payments to States for its SNAP program in November. In a partisan message on the agency’s website, it blames Senate Democrats for not passing legislation that would reopen the Federal government.

Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield recently announced Oregon is joining 21 other states in filing a lawsuit against the USDA, contending that the agency is failing to access billions of dollars in contingency funds designated by Congress to maintain SNAP operations during funding lapses.

A box of De Cecco spaghetti, a can of WinCo refried black beans with jalapeño peppers, and a can of Kroger chunk light tuna on a kitchen counter. — *_{Example non-perishable food items}*

Even if funding legislation passes or the USDA taps into its contingency money, support for food banks and anti-hunger organizations is needed. The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) implemented federally required changes to SNAP eligibility on October 1st in reaction to the federal law approved in July 2025. The H.R.1 legislation will reduce benefits and increase work requirements for some SNAP recipients, driving more people to alternative food assistance programs. ODHS officials estimate that under the new law, Oregon will need to contribute $385 million annually to the program to maintain current service levels.

People interested in seeing their non-perishable food donations doubled should attend Montavilla Brew Works’ “Snap to It” event on Thursday, October 30th. Others unable to attend but interested in supporting can make donations to organizations like the Oregon Food Bank and Meals on Wheels People, which anticipate higher demand due to changes in Federal funding for food assistance.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Community, Event, Food and Drink October 17, 2025

Montavilla’s 2025 Fall Crawl and Trick or Treat Events

Starting October 17th, visitors to select Montavilla businesses can pick up a “Fall Crawl Passport” card from participating locations and collect stickers with purchases to earn a raffle entry. Completed passports are due back at Arbor Hall on SE Stark Street or Replicant/Mudd Works Cafe by the close of the event on October 31st. During the sticker collecting and business visiting event, the Montavilla East Tabor Business Association (METBA) will also host a Trick or Treat event on Sunday, October 26th. A printed map shows key participants, and the METBA site displays individual business hours for the candy giveaway.

METBA organized both events as part of its annual tradition to create a safe and fun celebration of Autumn. The idea of a Montavilla pub crawl grew in popularity in 2019 when Threshold opened the neighborhood’s second brewery in the historic SE Stark Street downtown area. The concept grew into a more formalized event as part of METBA’s Harvest Festival and now includes a variety of activities, including a week-long shopping event for a chance to win a prize. Additionally, bars, restaurants, and other participating businesses may offer special entertainment and discounts.

A decorated house at night with colorful green and red lights, featuring Halloween decorations, including skeletons, pumpkin lanterns, and a ghost figure. — *_{Montavilla home decorated for Halloween}*

Burgerville at 8218 NE Glisan Street will offer a free coupon for a food item with purchase for passport holders. Kim’s Tae Kwon-Do at 9003 SE Stark Street will provide free classes for passport holders on Tuesday and Thursday during the event from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Montavilla Brew Works at 7805 SE Stark Street will host a special beer release on Halloween, celebrating its three new fall/winter seasonal brews. NightOwl Custom Apparel will offer free stickers and treats for those visiting the shop at 7114 NE Glisan Street in costume. The Glisan Fred Meyers branch of OnPoint Community Credit Union, located at 6615 NE Glisan Street, will feature a prize wheel on October 31st and offer candy on all other passport dates.

For October 26th specific activities, Beanstalk Children’s Resale at 8021 SE Stark Street will have “trick-or-treat goodies for the kiddos” from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. DolFUN Dynamics will host a free Halloween party from 2 to 3 p.m. for children twelve years old and younger at 9260 SE Stark Street, along with a discount of $50 off the first month of classes for new enrollments. Personal Beast at 8119 SE Stark Street is offering a 25% discount on select dog and cat bulk treats from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Although not included on the map, Threshold Brewing & Blending, Academy Theater, and Flying Pie Pizza will participate in the Trick or Treat event.

A spooky Halloween-themed display featuring a creepy clown figure with glowing yellow eyes, holding a large lollipop, surrounded by colorful banners and festive decorations. — *_{2023 Nightmare on Taylor Street haunted walkthrough animated creature}*

Many more locations will participate. An extensive list is available on the METBA Fall Events website page at metba.org. People trying to win the raffle can receive two stickers per purchase of $5 or more from participating locations, and every five stickers counts towards a raffle entry to increase the chances of winning. For a scarier, yet family-friendly event, consider “Nightmare on Taylor St,” featuring The Madhouse of MonstaVilla at 7926 SE Taylor Street. That October 31st event is a haunted walkthrough hosted by a resident who creates an elaborate experience for the neighborhood. As with most years, Montavilla plans to have an active fall celebration throughout the last half of October. Look for these events and more through the neighborhood.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Community, Food and Drink March 3, 2025March 3, 2025

Montavilla Brew Works Ten Year Celebration

To mark a decade of brewing, Montavilla Brew Works will host ten events celebrating its beer and the brewers behind the process. Melissa and Michael Kora opened Montavilla Brew Works at 7805 SE Stark Street on July 15th, 2015, and started using the annual celebration of that event to host a summertime gathering. Michael Kora saw this year as an opportunity to spread the events across their tenth year, giving people more opportunities to participate in the celebration.

The first of ten events already took place with the Valentine’s Day event that also commemorates the founding of Oregon on February 14th, 1859. Since 2021, Montavilla Brew Works has collaborated with the Heart Sticker Company to produce a West Coast IPA that celebrates living in Oregon and features the iconic green heart in the Oregon State outline. They start brewing the small batch in late January to have it ready for a February release party. There was still snow on the ground this year, but Kora was impressed with the number of people who made it out.

On March 8th, the next event taps into the SheBrew Beer Festival, celebrating women in the craft beer and cider industry on International Women’s Day. Montavilla Brew Works’ Cam Brown will release her batch using the Pink Boots Collaboration Brew Day hops blend. Kora explained that Brown has an affinity for beer as a home brewer and works at his brewhouse in several capacities. This annual event creates an opportunity for the male-dominated industry to make space for underrepresented people to show their skills and encourage more participation while creating tasty beers. “We’re pretty happy with it and it gives me a chance to give the reins to the ladies that work here that are really passionate about beer and want to learn more about it,” said Kora. He stepped aside and let Brown lead the process while helping translate the home brewer skills to a commercial production level. Cam Brown’s SheBrew beer is available on draft only, so people must try it at Montavilla Brew Works or a small selection of taprooms around town. The special batch will yield ten 15.5 gallon-1/2 barrel kegs, so people interested in tasing it should plan on attending the March 8th event for the best chance to experience it. “The idea was for it to stay as fresh as possible and sell as quickly as possible,” remarked Kora.

The following week, on March 15th, Montavilla Brew Works will release Mayor Millie’s Mexican lager in honor of neighborhood icon Millie The Wonder Dog. “We’ve got a little four-legged mayor of Montavilla that comes in here, a little Chiweenie (cross between the Chihuahua and Dachshund dog) named Millie,” explained Kora. “You’ve probably seen her around. Her owner walks her around all the restaurants and some of the bars. She’s just kind of like a mascot; she’s like an ambassador around here.” Montavilla Brew Works will host a launch party, and staff will welcome dogs on the patio. Mayor Millie’s Mexican lager will be available in a can featuring her image.”

*_{Millie The Wonder Dog collaboration label}*

On April 4th, Montavilla Brew Works will release a collaboration with the Dungeons and Dragons-themed brewery on Hawthorne, TPK Brewing Co. The Export Lager is offered on draft only. Then, in mid-April, Montavilla Brew Works will hold another release party for a collaboration with 10 Barrel Brewing Company. Kora has a long history with 10 Barrel’s R&D Brewer, Danny Connors. “He used to be a Rogue and at Buckman Brewing, where the Green Dragon nano Brewers used to brew. Danny kept in contact, and when I started building this place, I asked him a million questions, and he and I got close,” recalled Kora. “He has moved around a bit since Rogue and then hired by 10 Barrel. He reached out to me [about a collaboration], which I thought was great. It gives us a chance to meet a much wider audience with our collaboration beer.” The modern style IPA will utilize terpenes to create a distinct cannabis-inspired aroma to the brew. Terpenes “are basically the compound responsible for giving plants their aroma and even their flavor,” said Kora. “Chemists will use different biosynthetic compounds and build those aromas in a laboratory to mimic the aromas of cannabis without it being THC because putting THC (the active ingredient in Cannabis) in beer is illegal.” Kora explained cannabis is a botanical cousin to the hops used in brewing, and “It’ll blend really well with the hops that we’re already going to use in that brew.” The combined flavor is also a tip of the hat to 10 Barrel Brewing’s ownership by Tilray Brands, which operates in the craft beer and cannabis industries. They are testing flavors before brewing and have created a palette of pineapple, raw fresh cannabis, and strawberry with other forward berry elements. “they really smell great together,” remarked Kora. The collaborators will make the yet-to-be-named beer available as draft only at Montavilla Brew Works and at 10 Barrel’s Portland pub with limited distribution through Maletis Beverage.

*_{Melissa and Michael Kora touring the Daugherty Auto Service garage 2013 that became MBW. Photo courtesy Michael Kora}*

As the year progresses, Montavilla Brew Works will refresh its longtime collaboration with East Glisan Pizza Lounge and launch two summertime projects. One is with Nico’s Ice Cream Company; the other is a collaboration between Portland Brewers from Michigan. Michael Kora is from Michigan and discovered several other brewers with similar roots, including Assembly Brewing, Breakside Brewery, Oregon City Brewing, Ruse Brewing, and Upright Brewing. “I’ve been wanting to do this for a lot of years because there were even more Michigan brewers when we started, and some have since gone away or closed,” recalled Kora. “So the plan is to use Michigan-based raw materials like Michigan hops, Michigan malt, or fruit.” The Michigan collaboration may come together in time for the anniversary party date, but the timing could prove challenging. Heading into the fall, they will work on a Palantir German-style dark lager collaboration with Puff Coffee.

People can expect to hear about more collaborations and events as the year progresses, and they often celebrate the anniversary on a Saturday close to July 15th. Following Montavilla Brew Works’ social media is a good way to stay informed about specific dates and times for each event. Michael Kora hopes people will enjoy the variety of celebration dates and find time to join them in commemorating their decade. “Ten years is a big deal, you know, and I don’t want it to just be on one day,” said Kora. “We’re celebrating our friendship with people throughout the year.”

Jacob Loeb

Bar, Entertainment, Event, Food and Drink February 14, 2025July 7, 2025

Zwickelmania Returns with Shuttle Service

On February 22nd, Zwickelmania returns to Oregon with two of Montavilla’s breweries joining more than 50 other craft beer makers from all areas across the state. Host businesses offer attendees Zwickel tasting pours from the fermentation tanks and leading brewery tours. Montavilla Brew Works at 7805 SE Stark Street and Threshold Brewing & Blending at 403 SE 79th Avenue will again participate in this annual celebration of local beer makers. Event organizers will offer sober transportation between sites through a network of shuttle buses that should widen participants’ exposure to Portland’s selection of independent brewers.

The 2025 beer-centric program features a safe way for event attendees to enjoy more brewery locations through free shuttle buses that transport people to participating establishments. This service allows drinkers to experience the event in several neighborhoods without getting behind the wheel or losing time taking indirect public transit. “On a day where people are tasting a lot of beers, this is a great way for people to see more breweries and do it safely,” explained Michael Kora of Montavilla Brew Works. During the event hours of 11 a.m. through 4 p.m., buses will depart each location at close to 30-minute intervals. The two shuttle routes overlap at Migration Brewing on NE Glisan Street for riders to transfer. However, there are too many participating locations to reach them all via the bus service during the event timeline, so people must plan to visit their favorite locations first or decide to explore some new beer makers.

*_{Threshold Brewing & Blending’s zapiekanka (Jacob Loeb)}*

Zwickelmania’s organizers gear the event towards craft beer enthusiasts who can experience samples directly from the Zwickel port, find unique beer releases, take tours, and meet brewers as they provide educational talks. Some host locations will offer food and beer pairings or specials. This non-ticketed event will only cost the price of beer and food at each location. Designated drivers can also find non-alcoholic drinks at the event. People interested in attending should visit the Zwickelmania website for more information and a complete list of participating brewers.

Jacob Loeb

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Bar, Event, Food and Drink February 12, 2024

Zwickelmania at Montavilla Breweries Feb 17

On February 17th, Zwickelmania® returns to the region with two Montavilla Breweries featuring Zwickel pours from the fermentation tanks and brewery tours. Montavilla Brew Works at 7805 SE Stark Street starts the celebration this Saturday at 11 a.m., followed two hours later by Threshold Brewing & Blending at 403 SE 79th Avenue.

Zwickelmania® is an annual celebration of Oregon craft beer during Oregon Craft Beer Month organized by the Oregon Brewers Guild. Member breweries open their production facility to the public for a behind-the-scenes view of their operation and to offer unique sampling opportunities. The event’s name stems from the word Zwickel, describing the valve or sample port mounted outside a cask or tank. Brewers use those ports to test the product during fermentation, and this annual event allows people 21 years or older to taste beer from a producer’s perspective.

*_{New cask beer engine at Montavilla Brew Works. Image courtesy Montavilla Brew Works}*

Montavilla Brew Works will offer brewery tours with free Zwickel samples from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Guests can meet the brewers and purchase special beer releases throughout the day. The brewery owners will unveil their new cask beer engine and pass out special giveaway items to mark the occasion.

From 1 to 4 p.m., Threshold Brewing & Blending will invite attendees behind their roll-up door into the production area with hourly tours and Zwickel pours. Cousins Maine Lobster food truck will sell its crowd-pleasing food from noon to 8 p.m. on the 17th in partnership with Threshold, allowing people to make a day of Zwickelmania® in Montavilla.

*_{Threshold Brewing & Blending owners Jarek and Sara Szymanski. Image courtesy Threshold}*

This weekend’s Zwickelmania® is taking place outside of Montavilla as well. More than 50 breweries across Oregon are participating, including beer producers StormBreaker Brewing and Gigantic Brewing Company, which have sales locations in Montavilla. However, the event focuses on beer production at the brewing location. Consequentially, those brands will greet Zwickel-seeking guests at their primary locations. A complete list of participating locations is available online at the official Zwickelmania® site.

*_{Zwickel sample. Image courtesy Montavilla Brew Works}*

For people who miss this beer-rich opportunity on the 17th, Threshold Brewing & Blending will hold its 5th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, February 24th. That event will offer five beer releases served in exclusive and limited glassware. A line-up of DJs will provide entertainment, and wood-fired pizza from guest food truck Hearth and Soul will feed the hungry guests. February is a good month for exploring Montavilla’s brewing community, and walking to the potentially inebriating events is easy.

Jacob Loeb

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Bar, Entertainment, Event, Food and Drink September 21, 2023September 21, 2023

Montavilla Brew Works’ Deadtoberfest

This Saturday, September 23rd, Montavilla Brew Works (MBW) will hold its first annual Deadtoberfest. This Grateful Dead infused Oktoberfest celebration will feature German-style Bratwurst and several beers from the brewery’s collection. Founder and head brewer Michael Kora, inspired by MBW’s successful Street Fair beer garden, decided to create this new fall beer and food festival.

Kora has wanted MBW to host an Oktoberfest event for several years. The enthusiastic showing from last July’s Montavilla Street Fair showed that people are ready to come out and enjoy gatherings again. The Grateful Dead tribute group The Weir Dose will provide music from 6 to 9 p.m. for an all-ages performance. From 3 to 9 p.m., MBW will pour selections of their beers brewed in-house, including the Körabräu Helles-style German Lager, Plywood Pilsner, and FH IPAs. Along with the beverages, people can purchase German-style Bratwurst from Zenner’s Sausage Co. throughout the event.

This Saturday’s festivities will occur in the covered outdoor patio area connected to the taproom. Kora has wanted to offer more community gathering opportunities since opening MBW in July 2015. Building the brand and moving past the pandemic hampered those desires, but MBW has now moved past those barriers. 2023 seems to be the year of new traditions for the microbrewer at 7805 SE Stark Street, and they hope people will stop by for a listen, a drink, or a bite on the 23rd.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

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Event March 15, 2020

Windy Farmers Market Open

The opening weekend of the 2020 Montavilla Farmers Market was a cold and windy one. Vendors could all be seen holding onto their canopies while trying to assist customers. The number of booths and customers were smaller usual, although it is early in the season for many crops.

The cold weather brough an unexpected March snow the day before and high winds made the day feel colder than it was. There was also, perhaps, a greater gap between people moving about as some practice “Social Distancing.” However, most people could be seen visibly excited for this Montavilla tradition to start up again.

The future of the Montavilla Farmers Market has been a concern for some residents, as the properties around it transform. Adam Stein represents the Susan J Witt Revocable Trust, who owns the property. The Trust also owns the property on either side of the farmers market, the property that once housed Beets Auto Body and the former veterinary clinic building. Stein, speaking by email, said that the farmers market will continue to have access to its space through the end of 2020.

“We have a year to year agreement w/ MFM, hosting them through 2020. A decision on 2021 is unlikely before the Fall.” Said Stein. When asked about expanding the Farmers Market to the now vacant space to the West, Stein said it was a possibility. However, he had not yet proposed it to the operators of Montavilla Farmers Market.

Adam Stein is no stranger to Old Town Montavilla. His company ARS Property Investments I, LLC owns 7805 SE Stark, the current home of Montavilla Brew Works. Stein and the owner of the trust are both local residents and express an interest in supporting our neighborhood.

Such a large lot on a prominent street, will likely attract a future development project. Fortunately we have community members making the decisions regarding the property. It should be exciting to see what develops there in the coming years.

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