Buoy Beer and Astoria Coffee commemorative releases celebrate 100th anniversary of the Astoria Column
Buoy Beer and Astoria Coffee Launch Centennial Blends to Honor The 100th Birthday of the Astoria Column
Two of Astoria, Oregon’s favorite brands have created special beverages to celebrate the centennial anniversary of the historic Astoria Column this July. Buoy Beer Co. has crafted a limited-edition Czech Pilsner in commemorative cans, and Astoria Coffee Company a Column Centennial Blend. This is just a few of the ways that the city is paying tribute to the landmark's 100-year legacy of guarding regional history and providing breathtaking views of the Columbia River.
The iconic Astoria Column is one of the Pacific Northwest’s most recognizable landmarks, will celebrate its centennial in July, 2026, marking 100 years since its dedication in 1926. Rising high above the Columbia River and the city of Astoria, the Column has stood for a century as a monument to the region’s rich and layered history. Completed in 1926, the Astoria Column was inspired by Rome’s Trajan Column and built to commemorate the pioneering spirit of the Pacific Northwest and the founding of Astoria—the oldest permanent United States settlement west of the Rocky Mountains.
Centennial activities planned for 2026 will honor the Column’s legacy while inviting new generations to engage with Astoria’s past. Visitors and locals will enjoy multicultural entertainment and food, community booths, arts and crafts, live music and more. A rededication ceremony will also occur at the base of the Column.
The Astoria Column, located atop Coxcom Hill, in Astoria, OR. Camden Benesh/PSU Vanguard
Astoria Column 100 Centennial Celebration
July 18th 11am - 4pm
Celebrate 100 years of community and honor the past and the future! Free to the public with activities for all ages. Heritage Square Parking lot on 12th and Duane Street. Enjoy multicultural music & food, arts & crafts, and more!
Astoria Column Rededication Ceremony
July 18th 2pm
100 years following the original dedication of the Column, we come together to honor the past and look towards the future.
Joining the celebration on the waterfront, Buoy Beer Co. is showcasing a special edition of its award-winning Czech Pilsner. Brewed to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Astoria Column, this commemorative release showcases the award-winning qualities—classic, clean, and rooted in history. Crafted with traditional Pilsen malt and Czech Saaz hops, it carries notes of biscuit and fresh bread dough with delicate aromatics of black pepper, honey, and bergamot. A crisp tribute from Astoria, best enjoyed overlooking the river below.
Astoria Coffee Company, a small-batch roaster established in 1993, is releasing the Column Centennial Blend. Crafted by current owners Peter Aiken and Sara Moot, who took over operations in 2020, the blend features premium, mountain-grown coffees sourced from Latin America and Indonesia. The specific combination yields a rich, full-bodied cup with sweet and subtly spicy notes designed to match the enduring spirit of the monument.
"We love sending tourists to the Column for the beautiful views and the opportunity to set balsa planes aloft from the top," said Peter Aiken, co-owner of Astoria Coffee Company. "Creating this Centennial Blend is our way of celebrating a landmark that defines the horizon and the history of the community we call home."
Both centennial products will be available locally in Astoria, Oregon throughout the summer. The Column Centennial Blend coffee will be featured at the Astoria Coffee Company retail storefront located at 304 37th Street and is available for shipment within the continental United States via their website. The special-release Czech Pilsner will be available on tap and in cans at the Buoy Beer Co. Taproom located at 1343 Duane Street in downtown Astoria, just blocks away from the celebration!
The public is invited to join in the Centennial Celebration in downtown Astoria on July 18th from 11am – 4PM. Enjoy live entertainment, food, cultural exhibits and more!
For more information about the Astoria Column Centennial and upcoming events, visit www.astoriacolumn100.org
About Astoria Coffee Company
Established in 1993 and operated by Peter Aiken and Sara Moot since 2020, Astoria Coffee Company is a small-batch coffee roaster located in Astoria, Oregon. The company roasts single-origin coffee beans from around the world and creates well-balanced blends. Products are sold at their brick-and-mortar location and shipped across the continental United States.
About Buoy Beer Co.
Founded in Astoria, Oregon, Buoy Beer Company brews traditional European-style lagers and crisp Northwest ales on the bustling Columbia River. Dedicated to quality, history, and community, Buoy Beer serves fresh food and award-winning beer to locals and travelers alike from its downtown taproom.
About the Astoria Column
The Astoria Column is a 125-foot-tall monument located in Astoria, Oregon. Dedicated in 1926, it features a hand-applied sgraffito mural, the only one of its kind in the world, illustrating significant events in Oregon and Pacific Northwest history, from Native American heritage to the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The Column is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and remains one of Oregon’s most beloved historic landmarks.