Zoiglhaus brings new PNW Latino beer brand ‘Cerveceria Norte’ to life
Introducing new Portland-based beer brand Cerveceria Norte from Nick Velasquez and Zoiglhaus Brewing. Cerveceria Norte—Norte for short—is a new beer brand launching this week with a focus on traditional-style beers with a contemporary American Craft Beer vision, using only North American malts and hops to create quality, unique to style beers with a fresh eye and palate.
Cerveceria Norte is the latest in a series of new ghost beer brands produced in otherwise known brewing facilities not of their own, recent Portland-area examples include Kings & Daughters, Oak Union Brewing, Further Beer, and the upcoming Gold Dot Beer. Norte has a brand and identity all it’s own, separate from Zoiglhaus even though their assistant brewmaster Nick Velasquez is also the creative director.
Nick Velasquez is Zoiglhaus assistant brewmaster and creative director for Cervezeria Norte
Nick has almost 20 years of brewing experience in the Craft Beer industry. First starting in the early 2000s, his first exposure to beer brewing was at Steelhead Brewing Company in Eugene, OR, where he was able to gain insights into the process. When he moved back to Southern California, he was able to get hired on at BJ’s in Oxnard,Ca (his hometown).
After spending a couple years there, he stepped out of the industry for several years to work at Patagonia Corporate Headquarters in Ventura, Ca. In time, the desire to get back into the Craft Beer industry grew. He started his own brand Ouroboros Ales that he owned and operated. OA was distributed through most of the Southern California area. He then worked as Head Brewer at Surf Brewery in Ventura before moving to Bozeman, Montana, where he was able to create fun and exciting beers as Head Brewer at Bunkhouse Brewery.
Over the years Nick knew that in time he would like to return to the Pacific Northwest, since he missed the culture that the area has to offer. Back in Portland in January of 2020(!), he was hired on at Widmer. After a short stay there, he was hired on as the Cellar Manager at Great Notion.
In an effort to further his career opportunities, Nick took on the role as the Assistant Brewmaster at Zoiglhaus. It is here where Norte was born.
The first two beers are available year-round in draft (50L and 1/6 bbl sizes) and 12oz cans through Maletis Beverage, River Barrel Distributing and Bigfoot Beverages.
Clara IPA
Extra pale IPA with light malt complexity and fruity citrus aroma. Hopped with Amarillo, Azacca and Citra.
6.2% ABV 35 IBU
Gallo Mexican-Style Lager
Camacho “El Gallo” Maldonado struts through the yard. Gallo (Gay-yoh) refreshingly plumes with light, crisp and clean flavors. A traditional Mexican-Style Lager made with a high percentage of Non-GMO corn, North American malt and hops, Gallo will get your “quiquiriquí” on.
4.7% ABV 19 IBU