Gorges Beer Co. opens a three-story Cascade Locks, Oregon location with two patios and views of the beautiful Columbia River this Wednesday, July 14th 2021.

It’s been nearly two years since the New School announced a Gorges Beer Co. would take over the former Coalition Brewing space in southeast Portland. At the time, the new brewing company formed by Travis Preece, Steve Denio, Willis Boyer, and former Lompoc head brewer Bryan Keilty promised they would eventually end up in the Columbia River Gorge with an ambitious plan to open a 2-acre property with multiple bars, a barrel cellar, dog park, amphitheater and more. Little did they know they would have to navigate a pandemic and a successful public wefunder campaign to make it happen.

The opening of Gorges Beer Cascade Locks this week marks the beginning of the end of the journey that broke ground on a vacant overgrown lot only one year ago. The brand new 3-story construction is complete with the opening of the bar and restaurant and gorge-us view, but the project is ongoing with the remaining elements of the “adult playground” with a dog park and outdoor concert/events venue still to come.

On the lower level of Gorges Cascade Locks, head brewer/co-owner Bryan Keilty is beginning to build his home away from home for fruited and barrel-aged wild and mixed culture ales, culinary, cocktail, and wine-inspired beers. Keilty literally made Cascade Locks his home earlier this year when he moved from Portland and bought a house just a 15 minute walk from the property so that he can more easily spend time with his barrels this fall.

The taproom at Gorges Beer CL is bright, open, and airier than expected, with serious summer beach vibes meet pacific northwest outdoorsy accents. You can recline on pool-style lounge chairs on the upstairs deck while catching some rays and warming up next to a fire pit on a cooler day. Indoors a minimalist bar provides full liquor and plenty of natural light flooding in from windows, or you can grab a group table or relax in a corner on a comfy recliner next to salvaged wood stump tables and a blanket. Imagine a mash-up of a beachside resort hotel and a luxury cabin.

Gorges CL chef Rick Garrett comes from a background in Arkansas where he worked at Core Brewing & Distilling and in the early days of Zoiglhaus Brewery when they launched with an authentic German pub menu. Garrett is a Navy veteran who spent a few years stationed in Sicily, and later in Fresno, California, and is now back in Portland, but looking to move to Cascade Locks. With that cultural influence, he describes the food menu at Gorges CL as “Meditteranean Tapas that punches you in the face with a pacific northwest vibe.”

The menu will be approachable but foodie, striking the balance between small town locals and the elevated fare of nicer restaurants in Hood River. The small but expanding launch menu featured brioche with a housemade balsamic glaze, pork belly and mama lil’s sandwiches on housemade ciabatta, a kale and spinach caprese salad, and a classic savory and salty cheeseburger with crispy burnt ends.

The three level building features a more casual taproom on the ground level adjacent to the open cellar and beer blending area where there will be eventually be plenty of stainless steel and a barrel room. One level up on the second floor the mezzanine features a hangout lounging corner and group seating next to a widescreen TV for games and the kitchen. The third level is 21+ only and has the main bar with a full list of cocktail and small but carefully selected menu of spirits, as well as two separate roof level patios.

Pub manager Cagere Creel is operating this 9K square foot indoor/outdoor patio space and managing a taplist full of staples from Saison and Helles, to IPA, Porter and Kriek-style ales, along with a slightly tropical summer cocktail menu. Refreshing, fresh juice drinks are the focus with lots of Gin, Rum, Tequila, Mezcal and Vodka on the menu plus Frose, and a frozen Blackberry Margarita with beer slushies coming soon. The upper level has the best views, gas firepits, and views down the main strip Wa NA Pa and of the river and Washington hills to the north. Each bar and check-in will be hosted, but guests will order by QR code to their tables if not seated at one of the two bars.

Gorges Beer has submitted plans for a proposed campground on-site with tiny homes with a shared kitchen and bathroom. It would be a perfect place to stay for the night before or after a concert or wedding on the east stage they plan to build out by next summer. This modern oasis would even have a man-made river run through it (and maybe even a little waterfall) if everything comes to pass. And although these plans may sound overly ambitious, so did the entire project when they first announced it in 2019.

If all goes according to plan and the taproom passes inspection they will be open this Wednesday, July 14th.

Gorges Beer Co. Cascade Locks

390 Wa Na Pa Street, Cascade Locks, OR 97014
Open Tuesday - Sunday from Noon to 10pm.