Binary Brewing celebrates Grand Opening; the first brewery in Beaverton in 7 years
Binary Brewing is the first brewery in Beaverton, Oregon with on-site production in more than 5 years. The retro computer programming, and gaming themed brand has moved out of Uptown Beer Co. where they were originally producing beers under the name Uptown Brewing. The brewery was relaunched as Binary Beer with a new vision in 2018 and the motto “Good beer is like software – in the end it’s Binary.”
Earlier this summer they moved into new digs in a former Bakery building at 12345 SW Broadway St, Beaverton, OR 97005, now that they have gotten their bearings Binary Brewing officially celebrates their grand opening this Saturday, September 24th.
For nearly 100 years the Beaverton Bakery created amazing treats and cakes for Westsiders to enjoy. When they closed there was sadness throughout Beaverton and the Portland Metro. After years of planning, BinaryBrewing.co opened there in July with a mix of modern technology and classic nods to the bakery and the 135 year old building. With a picture window looking into the brewery behind the one of a kind draft towers, the pub seems like something straight out of a computer.
Binary Brewing’s Roger Wood (left) and Josh Johnson (right)
BinaryBrewing.co is the brainchild of a team led by Roger Wood and Joshua Johnson. Wood, a retired Product Management Executive and Johnson, managing partner of Uptown Beer Co. melded together their love of technology and craft beer to create a brewery focused on simple classic beer styles. Brewing, like software coding, is a language. Binary creates digital universes from 1s and 0s. BinaryBrewing.co’s brews aim to create deep flavor from nigh-infinite spectrum of hop and malt combinations.
The restart was a success, pretty soon the 7bbl brewery outgrew their space and 7bbl brewhouse straddling the border of Portland/Beaverton at Uptown Beer Co. The reopening in Beaverton has already allowed them to increase production and their aspirations to can and distribute beer with a new 10bbl Practical Fusion brewhouse, and continue to grow distribution with Running Man Distributing.
Most importantly the new Binary Brewing brewpub is the first fully branded location and experience true to the brand. After tearing down the interior of the former old Beaverton Bakery building, Binary Brewing has created a surprisingly bright and modern brewpub with lots of light and smart design touches.
Roll-up glass doors let the air and the sounds of the cute section of old town Beaverton shops waft into the Binary taproom. A plant lined skylight adds warmth to the white, black and cold metal blue tones of the taproom with the punch of bright plants to liven up the computer circuitry themed space. A small countertop bar is inspired by a High School science class work table, and the hanging LED lighting feels custom and slightly sci-fi by way of an 80’s genre flick.
The smartest design choice is a clear view from the back of the bar to the well lit 10 barrel brewhouse, a clear difference from the back room production space they had at Uptown. The open windows to the brewing operations are framed with the coolest customized aspect of the taproom, the draft towers that emulate the circuit board art of the Binary logo.
A back room offers a quieter space with a large group table, and a couple retro arcade games. The patio is gated between Binary and their neighbors at See See Coffee in an alcove below Cottage Golf, a high-tech golf studio for women that has an events space upstairs that Binary hopes to use for private gatherings or movie nights.
Binary Brewing Beaverton has their own kitchen but it’s slightly confusingly branded separately as MegaBites: Food for Humans. This menu is primarily fried snack food and salads. The main course items are a selection of 7 slider sized burgers that can be customized and include one house-made veggie brown-rice black bean burger option. Bite sized options include deviled eggs, mac & cheese, cheese curds, and a bacon flight. For something less heavy check out the Roast Pear Salad or Ahi Tuna Salad.
Head brewer Roger Wood comes from 15 years of homebrewing experience and 30+ years in networking and software security product management, culminating in senior executive positions at McAfee and Intel Security. Roger's interest in craft brewing goes way back - in grad school in 1988, Roger developed marketing plans for Catamount Brewery (Vt).
Binary beers are fairly straight ahead American pub styles like West Coast and Hazy IPA, but they were pouring a superior crusher in the 4.3% ABVE Helle-O World helles lager as well as theQuantum Kolsch. They have some throwback styles as well like theVirtual Redality red ale, and the Resolution Wrecker CDA. Lots of collaborations are featured with the likes of Georgetown Brewing and Level Beer. And the brewers got more experimental with the Magic Smoke Peated Porter, and didn’t forget the dark beer lovers with the well balanced Motherboard Milk Stout.
BinaryBrewing.co will be hosting its Grand Opening Saturday September 24th from noon to 8pm. There will be live music provided by Straw Boss, brewery tours, and a chance to meet the head brewery Roger Wood. BinaryBrewing.co will be teaming up with their next door neighbor See See Motor Coffee and Rudy’s Barbershop to create a block party to celebrate the two new businesses' recent openings.
Binary Beer is now open 5-10pm at 12345 SW Broadway St, Beaverton, OR 97005
