Ryan Pappe Oral History Interview

Ryan Pappe is the Head Brewer at Portland Brewing Company / Pyramid Breweries. In his interview, Pappe talks about growing up in southern Oregon, theater activities at Roseburg High School, experiences attending Willamette University, and work he did during college (including being a part of the children's theater at the Enchanted Forest). Pappe recounts how he began home brewing after college, living in Portland and sharing his beer with housemates, and his move to Cleveland, Ohio in 2006 to become a professional brewer at Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery.

Pappe moved back to the Northwest in 2007 to work as a brewer at Dick's Brewing Company in Centralia, Washington. Pappe move to Portland to take a job as a brewer at the Portland / Pyramid brewery in 2008; he became a Lead Brewer in 2010 and Head Brewer in 2011. Pappe discusses changes to the brewery during his tenure, reflecting on what led to the final closure of brewing operations in February, 2021.