From ale romantics to hopheads, the Pacific Northwest is a haven for beer lovers. Considered a mecca for beer enthusiasts, the Northwest earned its reputation from a group of emerging brewers in the 1980s who established a demand for craft beer throughout and beyond the region. Brewing guru Fred Eckhardt, the Grateful Dead–loving McMenamin brothers, the effervescent Art Larrance, the determined Widmer brothers, and entrepreneurial pub owner Don Younger were among the open-minded, vibrant crew who founded a microbrewery industry that became a model for a new era. 

“For those intimately involved or those who merely had a barstool view of the microbrewing revolution, the first decade of the movement was an intoxicating passage from anonymity to celebrity,” writes Tom Gauntt in the introduction. Present at the Fermentation celebrates the rich history of beermaking and those who transformed the business in the Pacific Northwest. Through press coverage of the time, interviews, oral histories, and personal memory, Gauntt offers an engaging history of one of Oregon’s signature industries. 

With more than 9,700 craft brewers now operating in the US, there remains a passion for craft brewing and pride in creating the perfect ale in this evolving market. So, pour a pint and learn how Pacific Northwest microbreweries persevered through risk, hard work, foibles, and a lot of luck to create award-winning beer, connect with their communities, and build thriving businesses.

Tom Gauntt is a retired journalist and editor in Portland, Oregon. For more than twenty years he reported on everything from beer to banking in his native city.