North Portland beer bar and midwest tavern SARAVEZA celebrates 15th anniversary
Saraveza, North Portland’s Mid-west inspired craft beer bar, is celebrating their 15th Anniversary starting October 14th and culminating in a big bash on Saturday, October 21st. In October of 2008 Sarah Pederson, a Pix Patisserie alumni and craft beer lover, opened the doors of Saraveza in craft beer bereft north Portland strip of Killingsworth that now is rife with great options. At Saraveza, Pederson created a home away from home of-sorts, a bar you could have found on the corner in her hometown of Shawano, WI.
Warm brick walls, wood floors, vintage beer kitsch and iconic green coolers salvaged from an old grocery store completed the picture. Little TVs broadcast the Packers games and private booths offered a place to tuck away in and enjoy date night. Wisconsinites and Portlanders alike flocked for the comfort food of pasties (pass-tees NOT paste-tees!), cheese curds, Mac and cheese and house made sausage.
Craft beer took center stage and was the driving force of Saraveza. Carrying local craft beer, often one of the first places in town to support and highlight up-and-coming breweries, and international beers alike, it was heaven for the burgeoning craft beer industry and a place where locals knew they could always find something special.
Pederson sold the bar and bottle shop to Roscoe’s and Tiny Bubble Room owners Jeremy Lewis and Quyen Ly in early 2019, and she returned home to Wisconsin. Lewis and Ly have kept the Saraveza spirit alive, and have even made improvements to the space and added the vintage speakeasy style cocktail bar in Bad Habit Room next door that Pederson always wanted to have.
To mark their 15th year, Saraveza has brewed up a couple beers with some of their very favorite breweries in and around Portland. First off the return of a former longtime staple at Saraveza that has been gone for awhile, the “Wisco” tavern-style Cream Ale lovingly brewed for them by Breakside Brewing. Next up, “Head Cheese” a puppy chow inspired Stout thoughtfully crafted by the incredibly inventive folks at Great Notion Brewing. “QuinceañSara” a foudre-aged Belgian-style Triple from Upright Brewing to fancy up the party. “Sarah” a West Coast IPA from Living Häus Beer Company to honor the lady who started it all. And last, but very much not least “Read Beer, Drink Books”a West Coast IPA from the new Vancouver, Washington coffee roaster adjacent brewery - Irrelevant Beer.
The rest of the special draft list will consist of staff picks of favorite things both current and vintage.
Saraveza will have commemorative hoodies, t-shirts and glassware for sale and of course cans of many of the collaboration beers listed above. An industry toast will top off the night with a special keg being tapped and cupcakes to shove in your mouth!
Saraveza 15th Anniversary
Saturday, October 21st
Saraveza, 1004 N Killingsworth St, Portland, OR 97217