Crux Fermentation Project sold to new Oregon Beverage Collective w/ Cascade Lakes, GoodLife, Silver Moon, & Tumalo Cider
In another major shakeup to the Oregon craft beverage industry Central Oregon’s Cascade Lakes Brewing’s owners have acquired Crux Fermentation Project in a merger that forms the basis of a new 'Oregon Beverage Collective.’ Similar to other beverage collective’s like Ninkasi Brewing’s Great Frontier Collective or Colorado’s Wilding Brands the Oregon Beverage Collective combines small and independent brewer resources to form a stronger and more sustainable business model.
The Oregon Beverage Collective is a collaboration between five iconic Central Oregon brands - Crux Fermentation Project, Silver Moon Brewing, Cascade Lakes Brewing Co., GoodLife Brewing, and Tumalo Cider Co. The strategic partnership is more than a business decision says OBC; it’s a shared commitment to preserving local legacy brands, investing in community, and building a sustainable future for regional beverages.
Cascade Lakes Brewing co-owner Andy Rhine will serve as the President of OBC while Silver Moon Brewing’s owner Steve Augustyn will serve as the CEO. GoodLife, Silver Moon, and Tumalo Cider remain privately owned and controlled, while Cascade Lakes and Crux are merging to expand production capabilities. Rhine also clarifies that the Rhine family has purchased Crux as an independent acquisition, anotherwords Cascade Lakes doesn’t own Crux but the same people own both brands.
“Together we feel we can offer more to our distributors in terms of product/beverage types, take advantage of economies of scale with regards to materials, collaborate with one another, and expand distribution more effectively,” says OBC president Andy Rhine who also noted the recent acquisition of Point Blank Distributing by Columbia Distributing as a major cause for concern in the craft industry and members of the collective.
Cascade Lakes Brewing is one of the 13 oldest breweries in Oregon. Cascade Lakes was sold for the second time to the Rhine family in 2019, they transitioned it into Oregon’s first and only not-for-profit brewery and then opened the SW Reed Crossing brewpub in 2023-24. Cascade Lakes maintains their original homebase in Redmond with a pub and production brewery. The Rhine family is the heart of the new OBC collective organizing around a mission of legacy preservation for their brands and others.
“With our production facility in Redmond, we’ve felt the pressure of rising costs firsthand,” said Rhine. “This partnership allows us to continue operations while staying true to our mission. Beer and alternative beverages are key to growth and sustainability, and we’re excited to explore new possibilities together.”
GoodLife Brewing, founded in 2011, eliminated their production brewery last summer and the owners of the Century Center where they are located reportedly plan to turn that area into pickleball courts. Brewing of of GoodLife’s beers has moved to Cascade Lakes. GoodLife’s neighbors at The Ale Apothecary also recently announced they would be forced to leave the Century Center due to rising rent which is becoming a major hurdle to livability in Bend as residents and small businesses get priced out as the city becomes more of a tech hub and playground for outdoor recreation and the wealthy.
“GoodLife was built on community, creativity, and innovation,” said Garett Oliphant, co-owner of GoodLife Brewing. “With rising costs from real estate and suppliers, collaboration just makes sense. It allows us to protect what matters most: keeping beer accessible for our customers, and ensuring GoodLife thrives long into the future.”
Billy Muzio, another Goodlife co-owner and business strategist, added: “By sharing resources, we gain purchasing power, efficiency, and scalability that make growth possible.”
Silver Moon Brewing is also at the heart of the OBC with owner Steve Augustyn who has a history with maintaining the 25 year-old brewery’s pub at 24 NW Greenwood Ave, Bend and remaking their back patio into a food cart pod. Silver Moon has went through multiple owners and in 2023 pivoted away from their production brewery by selling it to Avid Cider and in turn partnered with Portland’s Migration Brewing to brew and package Silver Moon’s beers. Now the brewing of Silver Moon’s beers has moved to Cascade Lakes Brewing as well. Silver Moon’s collaborative partnership with Tumalo Cider, which began in early 2025, will also bring the cidery into the new OBC family and give it a diversity of offerings outside of beer.
“Silver Moon has always thrived on energy, creativity, and connection,” said Steve Augustyn, owner of Silver Moon Brewing. “After 25 years, it seems as if we’ve lived every role in the brewing world, and that gives us a unique lens on what works—and what doesn’t. This coalition is a chance to share those lessons, amplify our strengths, and keep pushing the boundaries of what Oregon beer can be.”
Crux Fermentation Project may be the most well known of the five founding OBC members. Founded in 2012 by Paul Evers and Larry Sidor, the Bend-based brewery sold their original location famed for it’s extensive beer garden in, and opened then closed a Portland satellite location in 2024 and 2025.
Over the years Crux has been synonymous with pushing boundaries, from their own wine label to spontaneously fermented coolship beers. More recently Crux has become known for their NØMØ non-alcoholic brews, and a commitment to traditional techniques, such as barrel aging and brewing with whole-cone hops.
“We’re incredibly proud to have the Crux legacy join those who call Central Oregon home, but who also share our passion for pushing forward,” said Larry Sidor, Crux co-founder and former brewmaster. “This alliance will ensure Crux will grow in the collaborative hands of folks who truly get what makes it special.”
Added Paul Evers, Crux co-founder: “Crux has always been anchored in community and collaboration from the beginning — in many ways, it's always belonged to the people who gathered on the lawn and filled the tasting room. This Collective is a natural extension of that ethos — a community of breweries marching together into the next era of craft beverages. We’ve known the team behind the other brands in this Collective for years, and they’re a natural fit to join forces in this next chapter.”
OBC and Cascade Lakes’s Andy Rhine says “Larry and Paul have passed the torch but are close friends and mentors of mine and will continue to be assets for the Crux brand.”
Tumalo Cider was founded in 2014 by Jeff Bennett and friends. Tumalos specializes in small batch, artisan cider with a focus on dry, complex apple profiles. Their mission is to stay true to balanced dry and complex full flavored ciders and semi-sweet cider blends. They operate a tasting room at 64654 Cook Ave, Bend, OR 97703 open 7-days a week and package in 16oz cans.
“With our production facility in Redmond, we’ve felt the pressure of rising costs firsthand,” said Andy Rhine, of Cascade Lakes. “This partnership allows us to continue operations while staying true to our mission. Beer and alternative beverages are key to growth and sustainability, and we’re excited to explore new possibilities together.”
Cascade Lakes Brewing’s production facility in Redmond, Oregon
“This coalition is about more than beer—it’s about legacy, leadership, and lasting local impact,” says OBC and Silver Moon’s Steve Augustyn, “We’re coming together to ensure beloved brands not only survive, but thrive. Our strategic partners reflect the spirit of Central Oregon: from Crux Fermentation’s innovation and creativity, to Cascade Lakes’ not-for-profit driven model, to Silver Moon’s community-forward events like F Cancer, to GoodLife’s investment in family-friendly spaces, to Tumalo's strong branding and community presence.
“This isn’t just business—it’s a shared commitment to the people and places that make this region special,” Augustyn added. “And with new products on the horizon, we’re just getting started.”