Interview with Barley Browns' owner Tyler Brown
By Angelo M. De Ieso II
Far from the majority of Oregon's craft beer community, Barley Brown's is one of the eastern-most breweries in the state, not to mention one of the best. At home in Baker City, the brewery is not the most likely spot for full-bodied craft beers with rich hop and malt profiles. Sitting off Interstate-84 about 45 miles east of La Grande and a few hours from the Idaho border, the high desert city is rich with history and 19th Century architecture. Once Oregon's most populated community during the bustling Oregon Trail days, Baker City today is a laid back blue collar community of farmers and small business owners. Proprietor Tyler Brown, with his parents came to Baker from Connecticut in 1974 when their automobile broke down on the way to Seattle. The family liked the town so much, they decided to call it home. The building at 2190 Main Street in the heart of Baker wad erected as Gwilliam's Bakery, in the 1940's. Brown's parents bought the property in 1976 and ran a bakery there until 1983. Tyler took over the space in 1998 and converted it to Barley Brown's in June of that year. Since then the quaint brewpub has grown into a thriving local stop for tasty pub fair and undeniably delicious brews. With the help of current brewer Shawn Kelso (who is also a professional painter), Bailey Brown's has become a destination for beer lovers everywhere. The brewery has received numerous accolades including 10 medals at the N.A.B.A. (North American Beer Awards) in 2008, following five in 2007, eight in 2006, and two in 2005--the first year the brewery entered the contest. In 2006, Brown's Tumble Off Pale Ale (aka AM Pale Ale) won one or the most prestigious awards in America, a gold medal at the Great American Beer Awards. The brewery is especially well recognized in its area, locally being voted the best burger, best place to take a friend, and for having the best server by the Baker City Herald's readers. Further, Historic Baker City awarded Barley Brown's with a Downtown Business Success Award. With the tremendous success of the cozy establishment, comes a lot of pride in the business and a humble approach to the trade by Tyler Brown. He recently answered some of my questions over some hoppy treats.
Tyler Brown and brewer Shawn Kelso @ Barley Brown's
Angelo De Ieso II: What spawned your interest in craft beer and brewing?
Tyler Brown: Swiping good beer out of my parents restaurant when I was younger, and a home brew kit, that was put to use in the restaurant kitchen in the early days on slow nights.
AD: How did the brewery come to life?
TB: A dream, a restaurant in need of a facelift, and an IPO of our local bank...
Head brewer Shawn Kelso
Barley Brown's owner Tyler Brown
AD: You are so far away from the majority of Oregon's craft beer community. What is it like doing what you do where you do it?
TB: Sometimes it takes a week to get a malt order from Portland... I don't make it to Portland very much so I don't know what we're missing. We have loyal brewery friends that fill a shelf in our cooler with growlers and bottles of beer from brewers all over Oregon.
AD: Do you have any connections or interaction with the other breweries in the "area" (Terminal Gravity, Beer Valley, Idaho etc)?
TB: Pete (Ricks)from Beer Valley usually stops in on his way through, and I try to do the same. Also have got to know Josh King the brewer at Sockeye Brewing in Boise pretty well. The Boise Brewers refer a lot of friends to our place if they are going our way. Dean (Duquette) from TG (Terminal Gravity) was in the other night, we're a long twisty road apart from Enterprise--a perfect road if you're on two wheels.
AD: What do you foresee for BB's in the future? Expansion? World Domination?
TB: We will keep on making the best product we can. Expansion... why not?!
Stop by Barley Brown's Brewpub in Baker City and enjoy a wide assortment of flavorful brews and delicious food. For more information go to www.BarleyBrowns.com
Barley Brown's high alpha hopped Imperial IPA and Double Whiskey Malt!
Far from the majority of Oregon's craft beer community, Barley Brown's is one of the eastern-most breweries in the state, not to mention one of the best. At home in Baker City, the brewery is not the most likely spot for full-bodied craft beers with rich hop and malt profiles. Sitting off Interstate-84 about 45 miles east of La Grande and a few hours from the Idaho border, the high desert city is rich with history and 19th Century architecture. Once Oregon's most populated community during the bustling Oregon Trail days, Baker City today is a laid back blue collar community of farmers and small business owners. Proprietor Tyler Brown, with his parents came to Baker from Connecticut in 1974 when their automobile broke down on the way to Seattle. The family liked the town so much, they decided to call it home. The building at 2190 Main Street in the heart of Baker wad erected as Gwilliam's Bakery, in the 1940's. Brown's parents bought the property in 1976 and ran a bakery there until 1983. Tyler took over the space in 1998 and converted it to Barley Brown's in June of that year. Since then the quaint brewpub has grown into a thriving local stop for tasty pub fair and undeniably delicious brews. With the help of current brewer Shawn Kelso (who is also a professional painter), Bailey Brown's has become a destination for beer lovers everywhere. The brewery has received numerous accolades including 10 medals at the N.A.B.A. (North American Beer Awards) in 2008, following five in 2007, eight in 2006, and two in 2005--the first year the brewery entered the contest. In 2006, Brown's Tumble Off Pale Ale (aka AM Pale Ale) won one or the most prestigious awards in America, a gold medal at the Great American Beer Awards. The brewery is especially well recognized in its area, locally being voted the best burger, best place to take a friend, and for having the best server by the Baker City Herald's readers. Further, Historic Baker City awarded Barley Brown's with a Downtown Business Success Award. With the tremendous success of the cozy establishment, comes a lot of pride in the business and a humble approach to the trade by Tyler Brown. He recently answered some of my questions over some hoppy treats.
Tyler Brown and brewer Shawn Kelso @ Barley Brown's
Angelo De Ieso II: What spawned your interest in craft beer and brewing?
Tyler Brown: Swiping good beer out of my parents restaurant when I was younger, and a home brew kit, that was put to use in the restaurant kitchen in the early days on slow nights.
AD: How did the brewery come to life?
TB: A dream, a restaurant in need of a facelift, and an IPO of our local bank...
Head brewer Shawn Kelso
Barley Brown's owner Tyler Brown
AD: You are so far away from the majority of Oregon's craft beer community. What is it like doing what you do where you do it?
TB: Sometimes it takes a week to get a malt order from Portland... I don't make it to Portland very much so I don't know what we're missing. We have loyal brewery friends that fill a shelf in our cooler with growlers and bottles of beer from brewers all over Oregon.
AD: Do you have any connections or interaction with the other breweries in the "area" (Terminal Gravity, Beer Valley, Idaho etc)?
TB: Pete (Ricks)from Beer Valley usually stops in on his way through, and I try to do the same. Also have got to know Josh King the brewer at Sockeye Brewing in Boise pretty well. The Boise Brewers refer a lot of friends to our place if they are going our way. Dean (Duquette) from TG (Terminal Gravity) was in the other night, we're a long twisty road apart from Enterprise--a perfect road if you're on two wheels.
AD: What do you foresee for BB's in the future? Expansion? World Domination?
TB: We will keep on making the best product we can. Expansion... why not?!
Stop by Barley Brown's Brewpub in Baker City and enjoy a wide assortment of flavorful brews and delicious food. For more information go to www.BarleyBrowns.com
Barley Brown's high alpha hopped Imperial IPA and Double Whiskey Malt!
Labels: Baker City, Barley, Barley Brown's, beer, Brown, GABF, NABA, Oregon, Shawn Kelso, Tyler Brown
posted by Angelo De Ieso II at 2:24 PM
2 Comments:
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cheers!!!
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