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.
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
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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.”
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.
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 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.
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.
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Starting this December, the Montavilla business community will launch into a month-long celebration of the Winter holidays. Businesses and organizations will offer a mix of giving opportunities while encouraging people to support their community through shopping locally. Even without spending money, people can participate through two free events offered on SE Stark Street to get into the seasonal mood with friends and neighbors.
Next Saturday, the Montavilla East Tabor Business Association (METBA) will host its Tree Lighting in the public plaza at SE 79th Avenue and Stark Street. The tree lighting ceremony will take place on December 7th from 4 to 6 p.m. Organizers will light up the Montavilla holiday tree at 5 p.m. and serve hot cocoa while supplies last. Participants can enjoy community cheer and seasonal music as they start the countdown to the new year.
A week later, on December 14th, people can gather for a free Santa picture event from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Board Bard Games. The gaming shop at 7960 SE Stark Street will offer an opportunity to take a seasonal family picture with Santa. People waiting for their turn to pose with the jolly icon can partake in hot cocoa and other treats. The organizers remind people to bring their own cameras to capture the moment.
Shopping locally is essential to maintaining a strong community, and METBA wants to reward those who help keep Montavilla thriving. From December 1st through the 21st, people who eat, drink, shop, and recreate at participating businesses will earn raffle entries through completed passports. Every qualifying purchase of $5 or more from the list of locations earns a sticker to go inside a passport. Participating businesses will have passports to get people started, and collecting six stickers completes a passport. Each entry increases your odds of winning the raffle, and there is no limit to the number of passports a person can complete. To enter, drop off completed passports at Redwood at 7915 SE Stark Street or Arbor Hall at 7907 SE Stark Street by the close of business on December 21st.
Graphic courtesy METBA
As a bonus, purchases made during the Merry Montavilla Soiree on December 21st earn participants two stickers for their passports. The Soiree is a one-day event full of special offers and discounts to help last-minute shoppers and Portlanders looking for a special night out.
Many Montavilla shops are embracing the giving season with a donation drive. Participating businesses will collect Adult-sized jackets or coats, warm hats, gloves, scarves, hand warmers, and sleeping bags for Rahab’s Sisters. The organization’s beneficiaries will appreciate those new and gently used items during the cold weather. Rahab’s Sisters have a particular need for plus-size or extended-size donations. Participating locations are listed on the METBA website.
Montavilla Brew Works at 7805 SE Stark Street will host a special Giving Tuesday event on December 3rd, supporting Cultivate Initiatives. Giving Tuesday follows the busy seasonal shopping days and encourages people to support local organizations supporting positive change in their communities. Michael Kora from Montavilla Brew Works explained that his company has a long relationship with Cultivate Initiatives’ leadership, which has grown into the brewery’s expanded support of the group’s efforts. “Over the years, we’ve spearheaded a winter clothing donation drive in the neighborhood that directly supports the more marginalized people in our neighborhood and beyond. With its success during the winter season, we eventually just made it an all-year-long donation drive.”
Graphic courtesy Montavilla Brew Works
Montavilla Brew Works’ Giving Tuesday event runs from 5 to 8 p.m., and donators will receive $1 off their first beverage. People should bring new or gently used warm clothing. They will also accept new underwear, socks, pet food, and hygiene products. Briel’s Barbecue popup will sell food at the event, but Kora noted the BBQ food often sells out and recommends people stop by early. This event is limited to people 21 or older, and organizers hope people will have a good time while supporting a cause they care about.
Once again, Montavilla businesses are doing what they can to celebrate the winter through giving and creating a space for people to enjoy the company of their community.
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On Saturday, July 13th, Montavilla Brew Works will celebrate nine years of serving locally brewed beer with an all-ages event from noon to 9 p.m. Although this event commemorates the years since this pioneering neighborhood destination greeted guests, it represents a decade of work for founders Melissa and Michael Kora, who nurtured this ten-barrel brewery and taproom through good and challenging times. The festivities at 7805 SE Stark Street will have DJ MD providing music to guests inside and under the covered patio area, while Demarco’s Sandwiches will sell food from their food truck parked on SE 78th Avenue. The brew masters will also break out archived beers at the peak of their aging cycle for special pours of brewing history.
Montavilla Brew Works grew from a home-brewer’s passion and a desire to create a neighborhood-scale enterprise. Before starting his brewery, Michael Kora secured work with Bridgeport Brewing Company after briefly working for the owner’s winery business. When the seasonal wine work ended, Dick Ponzi learned of Kora’s desire to work in the brewing industry and found a place for him in his other business where he could learn about operations. “I didn’t get to brew because I didn’t go to brew school. I was driving a truck, working in the warehouse, shipping, distributing, moving beer around, and learning brewing at home. I then nano brewed for a while at the Green Dragon,” recalled Kora. After growing his skills and experiencing the brewing business from the inside, it seemed time to branch out on his own. Sitting at McMenamins Edgefield, Michael and Melissa Kora sketched out a five-year business plan and agreed to start looking for a space to rent.
Melissa and Michael Kora touring the Daugherty Auto Service garage 2013. Photo courtesy Michael Kora
The couple moved into Montavilla several years before starting their business. After agreeing to start a brewery, they looked for commercial spaces in neighboring areas but could not find a suitable location that fit their vision for the taproom. However, with some luck and good timing, Michael Kora discovered the neglected former Daugherty Auto Service garage at the corner of SE 78th and Stark Street. “I was riding home from the gym and came by Stark Street just to kind of look at what was going on and there was a for sale or lease sign. This building was so dilapidated it was nothing to look at, but Melissa and I were from the Detroit area of Michigan. I’d seen worse, so [I thought] this building is pretty cool and would make a cool brewery,” said Michael Kora. William “Dave” Beets, the operator of the now-demolished Beets Auto Body, owned the property and was excited to see it go to new owners for such an unexpected use. “He was a character, but he was surprisingly stoked. He said, ‘I think this is awesome. You guys are gonna be the first. There’s no breweries around here like this. It’s gonna be good for the community and the neighborhood.’ He was a neighborhood guy even though he didn’t live here,” recalled Kora.
Daugherty Auto Service garage. Photo courtesy Michael Kora
The Kora’s became tenants of the Stark Street building in 2013, but it would take over two years to open the doors to the public. The original owners of the 1922-era auto garage never designed it to house any other type of business, and it took substantial efforts to rehabilitate the building. Permits took four months to approve, and construction lasted another nine months. Kora discovered that the building roof slopes significantly to the northwest corner of the property for rainwater drainage, forcing him to place his tall brewing equipment at the south-facing front of the building, blocking windows and putting beer production centerstage. During construction, he added onto the north side of the building to create a walk-in cooler and storage room needed to keep finished beer and ingredients out of the limited customer-facing space.
Montavilla Brew Works construction. Photo courtesy Michael Kora
Construction delays, the added brewery inspections, and unanticipated expenses drained their cash reserves. Michael Kora started beer production offsite to begin bringing in funds and building the brand. Flying Pie Pizzeria was an early supporter, buying the pre-opening batches and installing a permanent Montavilla Brew Works tap handle at the restaurant, replacing Bud Light. Initially, they relied on help from friends, but the couple mainly worked alone at Montavilla Brew Works for the first few years. “Melissa designed everything on the interior. So she made this place feel like it does. And I was the beer guy and eventually the business guy. It was her and I for the first four and a half years,” recalled Kora. After the early lean years, they brought in help to brew their beers and cover bar shifts. With the added staff, it was beginning to feel sustainable until the pandemic upended the business model. Montavilla Brew Works focused on serving draft beer onsite with little attention paid to the at-home market. They distributed a limited number of kegs to local businesses but had not embraced canning. COVID-19 bar closures forced a change in the whole microbrewery industry. “We completely 180’d, and we’re in this world where we were doing 100% draft, and then we switched to 100% cans. Melissa and I were out there every week delivering to people’s homes,” said Michael Kora. They had to let their employees go to keep the business going. The brewery survived that scary time and invested early in outdoor seating to bring people back as soon as possible. Business is still recovering, but Kora expects it will not be on the same trajectory it was on before the pandemic.
Post-COVID, Melissa and Michael Kora spend less time in the brewery during service hours. Both are more focused on improving operations and branding, with a goal to make each subsequent batch better than the last. Although they retained canned beer to some degree, wide expansion is not part of the company’s plans. “A good 80 plus percent is still draft, and the remainder is packaged because we don’t distribute that far out of Portland. Hence putting the name of the neighborhood on it. We want people to come here. You want them to come to the neighborhood,” explained Michael Kora. Montavilla Brew Works’ hyper-local interest extends beyond just its business name. Over the years, Kora collaborated with area businesses to produce cross-promoting brews. These include an American amber beer titled Academy Amber after the Academy Theater, East Glisan Mosaic is dedicated to East Glisan Pizza Lounge, and a German Pilsner-style lager called Plywood Pilsner spotlights neighbor business Mr. Plywood. “We figured we live here, bought our house here, our business is here. We’re going all in, and you know, it’s worked. It’s helped build a really loyal fan base,” said Kora.
People can find limited supplies of Montavilla Brew Works beer at around 300 locations from Hood River to Hillsborough and as far south as Eugene and Corvallis. However, the corner of SE Stark Street and 78th Avenue is the best place to experience it. This weekend’s celebration will feature vintage beers that Kora has stored for years, just waiting for a special accession. The staff will sell these beers in smaller sipper cups to let more people experience the limited stock of aged brews. The event will also allow children to attend. Montavilla Brew Works has famously prohibited children, smoking, and televisions inside the tap room during regular business hours. However, on street fair days and special events, they set aside the rules prohibiting kids and open the space to all ages. Guests are encouraged to stop by July 13th starting at noon, and those interested in the archival beers should drop by early to get a taste while supplies last.
By
Jacob Loeb
Neighborhood news site focused on buildings and changing businesses
