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Oregon State University
Special Collections and Archives
Research Center

McMenamins Brewery Collection, 1983-2015View associated digital content.

Predominant Dates: 1985-2010

The McMenamins Brewery Collection includes digitized brew sheets, digital images, brochures, coasters, decals, event programs, flyers, newspaper clippings, tap handles, posters, labels, a wooden cask, and a six-pack of Hammerhead beer. McMenamins is a family-owned chain of brewpubs, breweries, historic hotels, and theater pubs in the Pacific Northwest.

The brew sheets and some event materials were provided to the Special Collections & Archives Research Center in 2015 and 2016 for digitization. The original items have been retained by McMenamins.

This collection contains digital folders described in each series. The materials in these digital folders are available upon request.

ID: MSS McMenamins
Extent: 18.0 gigabytes
More Extent Information
Scope and Content Notes
Biographical / Historical Notes
Statement on Access: Collection is open for research.
Arrangement
Preferred Citation: McMenamins Brewery Collection (MSS McMenamins), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.
Acquisition Note: The collection was donated in 2014 by John Richen and Lyle Hehn of McMenamin's Brewery. The brew sheets and some event materials were provided to the Special Collections and Archives Research Center in 2015 and 2016 for digitization. The original items have been retained by McMenamins.
Acquired: 2014.
Languages of Materials
Other

Container List

Series 1: Ephemera, 1990-2014 Add to Shelf
This series contains ephemeral items produced by the company. Of note is the set of coasters, which feature art inspired by individual properties, the rare 6-pack of Hammerhead beer, and a wooden cask with a hand drawn picture. Digital Folder 1 is available upon request.
Box-Folder 1.01: Coasters, 1990-2002 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.02: Coasters, 2004-2008 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.03: Coasters, 2008-2013 Add to Shelf
Digital Folder 1.01: Digital Images of Coasters, 1990-2013 Add to Shelf
Digital Folder 1.02: Posters, 2000-2014 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.04: Coaster Envelopes, 2014 Add to Shelf
Envelopes for individual coasters with information provided by artist Lyle Hehn.
Box-Folder 1.05: Coaster Descriptive Inventory, 2014 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.06: Labels, circa 2000 Add to Shelf
Including Kris Kringle, Irish Stout, Hammerhead, Workingman’s Red, Erntedank Oktoberfest Ale, Kon-Tiki Kolsch.
Box-Folder 1.07: Stickers and Pin, circa 2010 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.08: Tap Handles, undated Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.09: Tap Handles, undated Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 2.01: Posters, undated Add to Shelf
Growler advertisement, ale sampler.
Box-Item 3.01: 6-Pack of Hammerhead, 1997 Add to Shelf
Hammerhead was first bottled in 1997 and bottles were released before Christmas. Most were not distributed publicly, but instead gifted or purchased by employees.
Box-Item 4.01: Beer Cask, circa 1997 Add to Shelf
This cask from the Oak Hills Pub has a hand drawn picture of the pub label, which was drawn by house brewer Chris Haslett. Pub staff filled up these mini casks with a special beer, usually a dark or strong beer, cask condition it for natural carbonation for about 5 days, and release it on a Friday for Happy Hour. It would be set on the bar by 5:00 and beer was poured directly from the barrel through the attached wooden tap until it was empty. These small oak barrels had a fairly short shelf life because with each successive use the wood character imparted to the beer lessened. This particular barrel was probably in service for around 6 months to 1 year total before being retired.
Series 2: Events, 1996-2014 Add to Shelf
This series contains physical and digital surrogates of fliers, event schedules, and beer information. McMenamins hosts a variety of different events, many of which include live music or public talks, food, brewing competitions, vendor booths, parades, running races, or facility tours. Digital Folder 2 is available upon request.
Box-Folder 1.10: Dad Watson's Brewfest, 1997-1998 Add to Shelf
Dad Watson’s brewpub opened in 1996 in Seattle's Fremont Village Square; it closed in 2011.
Box-Folder 1.11: Edgefield Brewfest and Property Map, 1999 Add to Shelf
Folder also includes undated items. Edgefield opened in 1987, but the first festival wasn't held there until 2018.
Box-Folder 1.12: Highland Pub and Brewery EuroFest, 1999 Add to Shelf
Highland Brew Pub is in Gresham, Oregon, a suburb east of Portland.
Box-Folder 1.13: Hillsdale Brewfest, 1998-2001 Add to Shelf
The first Hillsdale brewfest was held in July 1985 in the parking lot of McMenamins Hillsdale Pub; it is significant to note that McMenamins hadn’t started brewing yet. Breweries included Columbia River Brewery (which became BridgePort Brewing Co.), Hales Ales Ltd. (Colville, WA), Hart Brewing (which became Pyramid Brewing, Inc.), Independent Ale Brewery (which became Redhook Brewing), Sierra Nevada, Widmer Brewing Co., and Yakima Brewing Co.
Box-Folder 1.14: Lighthouse Brewfest, 1997-2006 Add to Shelf
The Lighthouse brewpub opened in 1986; it was the third McMenamins’ brewpub, fifth brewpub in the state, and first brewery to open on the Oregon Coast since Prohibition. The Lighthouse Brewfest was first held in 1996.
Box-Folder 1.15: Mid-Valley Brewfest, 2001 Add to Shelf
Folder also includes undated items. The Mid-Valley Brewfest started in 1997. It is a showcase of Eugene Breweries and regional craft breweries held every September.
Box-Folder 1.16: Mill Creek Festival, 1996-2000 Add to Shelf
The McMenamins Mill Creek Brewery was established in 1995 and is located in Mill Creek, Washington, a city north of Seattle. Each summer the city has a festival with performances, arts, and beer.
Box-Folder 1.17: Miscellaneous Festivals, 1996-2014 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 1.18: Thompson Barley Cup, 1998-2000 Add to Shelf
The Thompson Barley Cup was started in 1997 by brewer Chris Oslin, who loved hockey. He and Mark Gunz, the Brewery Manager wanted to hold the Stanley Cup of brewfests. They set up a beer competition among McMenamins' breweries and the winner would receive the trophy. Like professional hockey's Stanley Cup, the winner would hold it temporarily before it returned to its home at the Thompson Brewery. The event engaged the community and the local Salem Brew Club did the judging. The Thompson brewery opened in 1990.
Box-Folder 2.02: Brewfest posters, 2010-2012 Add to Shelf
Digital Folder 2: Brewfest fliers, 1996-2007 Add to Shelf
Series 3: Operational Records, 1983-2015 Add to Shelf
This series contains information related to individual properties and beers, but also includes promotional materials and digital files of art sketches or labels. Digital Folder 3 is available upon request.
Box-Folder 1.19: Company and Property Information, 2010-2015 Add to Shelf
Includes Kennedy School and Hillsdale information, McMenamins' brewer list from 2011, List of Portland breweries from 2015.
Box-Folder 1.20: Beer Information Sheets, 1996-2013 Add to Shelf
Sleepy Hollow Nut Brown, Seasonal Beers For 2003, McMenamins Pilsner, Proletariat Pale, Southern Sky, Rastafarye, Purple Haze, Mystery Ale, Expedition Stout, Roy Street, Mill Creek, New Horizons Millennium Ale, Erntedank Oktoberfest Ale, Ramshead Maibock, Ruby, Working Man’s Red.
Box-Folder 2.03: Company Newsletter and Newspaper Clippings, 1984-2001 Add to Shelf
Digital Folder 3: Operational Records, 1983-2011 Add to Shelf
Fliers, Fred Eckhardt article, art sketches (including first sketch of Hammerhead), labels, example of fonts, list of brewers and properties in Portland.
Series 4: Photographs, 1985-2010 Add to Shelf
These photographs show the installation of artwork at facilities that were in the process of renovation and operation. They include pictures of the artists in group shots and in the process of creating their art. Digital Folder 3 is available upon request.
Box-Folder 1.21: Hillsdale Brewfest, 1985 Add to Shelf
Digital Folder 3: Photographs, 1985-2010 Add to Shelf
Pictures include Mike McMenamin and Carlos Santos at the Hillsdale brew kettle in 1985; murals and other art by Jenny Joyce, Lyle Hehn, Joe Cotter, Mike Bland, Myrna Yoder, Olivia Behm; photographs of artists. Properties include Crystal Ballroom, Hillsdale, Hotel Oregon, Greenway, Fulton, Rock Creek, Kennedy School, Lincoln City, Vancouver.
Series 5: Brew Sheets, 1985-2002 Add to Shelf

This series contains digital surrogates of brew sheets for the years indicated in the date range, as well as a spreadsheet with the batch number, brew date, name of the beer and brewer, and notes.

Brew sheets are the recipes and fermentation logs that brewers use to track the brewing process. They record the name of the brew, brewer, date, ingredients (hops, yeast, grain), temperature and time, water adjustments and mash procedures, fermentation conditions, and other important notes.

Digital Folders 4-8 are available upon request.

Digital Folder 4: Cornelius Pass Roadhouse brew sheets, 1986-1995 Add to Shelf
Brew sheets and inventory for batches 0001-1386. The Cornelius Pass Roadhouse opened in Hillsboro, Oregon in 1986. The first ten brewers were: Conrad Santos, John Harris, Scott Barrow, Jerry Emmitt, Peter Kane, Jack Harris, Daniel Rothman, Chris Terp, Torin Sandoval, Bart Hance. Between May 22, 1986 and July 23, 1986 brewers made 27 batches total. The beers made were Ruby Tuesday (raspberry), Hillsdale, Crystal Ale, Hammerhead, Terminator, Cornelius Pass Ale (formerly Heavy), Pin Head (pineapple), Big Pink (cherry ale), Barley Mill, Moby Grape.
Digital Folder 5: Fulton Pub and Brewery brew sheets, 1988-2000 Add to Shelf
Brew sheets and inventory for batches 0001-2015. The Fulton Pub and Brewery opened in Portland, Oregon in June 1988. The first ten brewers were: Scott Barrow, Rich Conrad, Keith Mackie, Jay Somers, Lee Medoff, John Richen, Daniel Rothman, Todd Meister, Jeff Kennelly, Craig Gulla. Between June 25, 1988 and September 23, 1988 brewers made 36 batches total. The beers made were Cascade Head, Crystal, Hammerhead, Terminator Ruby Tuesday, Fulton Ale (Raspberry Wheat), Pale Ale, Pale Ale Pirhana, Terminator, Oktoberfest.
Digital Folder 6: High Street Brewery brew sheets, 1988-2002 Add to Shelf
Brew sheets and inventory for batches 0001-1822. The High Street Brewery opened in Eugene, Oregon in June 1988. The first ten brewers were: Rich Conrad, Conrad Santos, Tom Erwin, Steve Van Rossem, John Rich, Matt Beatty, Lane Fricke, Chris Foster, Charlton Fulton, Hanns Anderson. Between Hillsdale December 23, 1988 and March 2, 1989 brewers made 23 batches total. The beers made were Crystal, Terminator, Cascade Head, Ruby Tuesday, Nut Brown Ale, Hammerhead, Hearty Hotcake Ale, Passionfruit, Marionbeery, Raspberry Stout.
Digital Folder 7: Hillsdale Brewery and Public House brew sheets, 1985-1998 Add to Shelf
Brew sheets and inventory for batches 0002-2007. The Hillsdale Brewery and Public House opened in Portland, Oregon in June 1988. The first ten brewers were: Ron Wolf, Conrad Santos, Mike McMenamin, Brian McMenamin, John Harris, Alex Farnham, Mike Burns, Scott Barrow, Lars Larson, Jay Somers. Between Hillsdale October 25, 1985 and November 27, 1985 brewers made 13 batches total. The beers made were Hillsdale Ale, Full Moon - Marion/Blackberry, Halloween Beer, Choco Ale, Hils Heavy Brew, Carma Ale, Bluebeery Ale, Monster Mash, Heavy #2, Cristal #2 (Brian's Wedding Beer), Real Heavy - Terminator (First Terminator and First Barrel Aged), Full Moon - Blueberry 2.
Digital Folder 8: Murray and Allen Pub brew sheets, 1990-1999 Add to Shelf
Brew sheets and inventory for batches 0001-1374. The McMenamins Murray and Allen Pub opened in Beaverton, Oregon in 1990. The first ten brewers were: Scott Barrow, Eric Lengvenis, Charlie Sullivan, John Richen, Duncan Saffir, Tom Kerns, Doug Goding, Brian Gabriel, Andrew Collins, Craig Gulla. Between April 13, 1990 and June 6, 1990 brewers made 22 batches total. The beers made were Cascade Head, Crystal, Terminator, Ruby, Hammerhead, Bock, Stella Blue, Summer Wheat, Fruit-rose festival, Porter.
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