When it comes to crisis, the craft beer industry steps up even when they themselves are struggling. As Oregon grapples with the devastating wildfires that are ravaging our community and natural environment, Deschutes Brewery is putting out an open call to the craft beer industry to help in the relief efforts via the Forged Together Oregon Project.

Forged Together Oregon has two tracks: an Oregon Craft Beer Mixed Pack that is now seeking donations from participants, and a West Coast IPA recipe that will be crowd sourced out similar to other collaborative industry efforts. Deschutes will provide the recipe, and has even secured free bottles for breweries interested in packaging the beer and donating proceeds to wildfire relief.

The first 11 Oregon craft breweries to respond and that can meet the criteria, will be included in the Forged Together Oregon mixed 12-pack.

It can be hard to know the best way to help all who are affected, but it sounds like monetary donations for evacuees and people who have lost their homes is the biggest need right now. We know that our breweries have struggled over the past several months through the pandemic, closing our pubs and tasting rooms, the civil unrest within our communities, and now from the impacts of the devastating fires. To make this more manageable and something that a diverse range of breweries from across Oregon can contribute to, we would like to create a Forged Together variety pack. This will be a mixed variety 12-pack including 12 Oregon craft beers from 12 Oregon breweries that we can donate 100% of the proceeds to the Red Cross Cascades Region. We are hoping for cans, but are open to 12 oz cans or a 12 oz bottle, and the beer contributed can be anything you want – a specialty beer, a seasonal, or a brand that you offer year-round. - Deschutes Brewery.

Here are the details:

The first 11 breweries will be included, but Deschutes has left options open to make a second variety pack.

• Each committed brewery will donate 600 beers (12oz cans or 12 oz bottles) for a total of 300 cases and send them to Deschutes. (The deadline for delivery is currently TBD but will likely be in 2-4 weeks, as packaging materials arrive.) 

• Deschutes will design and create the 12-pack carton featuring all of the brewery’s logos. 

• Deschutes will repack the cases featuring the beers, though we will gladly welcome help from local Bend breweries! 

• Deschutes will sell the variety pack at our pubs and tasting rooms, online through our “Pay it Forward” program, and during a 3-day “drive through” event so customers can purchase the 12 packs in both Bend and Portland (event details TBD). 

• Deschutes will donate all of the proceeds to the Red Cross Cascades Region. We are targeting at least a $15,000 donation so 12-packs will cost approximately $25 depending on the selection of beers that are contributed. The more special the beer, the more money we can raise!

If a brewery wants to participate but is not able to donate packaged product, Deschutes has created the West Coast IPA recipe for anyone to brew a Forged Together Oregon beer to sell on draft at their own establishment and donate the proceeds to a wildfire relief fund of their choice.

Deschutes is also asking for help in sourcing raw material donations for the Forged Together Oregon beer and they already have secured glass donations from OI for anyone who would like to bottle their beer.

If you have questions or would like to join the effort, please contact Angie Anderson-May @ AAnderson-May@deschutesbrewery.com. Since this need is urgent, we’ll need your commitment by Oct. 1! Looking forward to working with you all!