Wolves and People Gathers Steam

Ambitious farmhouse brewery project in Oregon’s wine country breaks ground; launches fast-moving crowd funding effort.

One of the most talked-about brewery startups in America, Wolves & People Farmhouse Brewery, has broken ground. Led by founder and veteran beer writer Christian DeBenedetti (WeeklyPint.com; The Great American Ale Trail, Running Press, 2011), along with Jordan Keeper, former head brewer of Jester King Brewery outside of Austin, Texas, the brewery is expected to open in time for the annual Craft Brewers Conference, coming to Oregon in April. Working in the historic hundred year-old barn on the 21-acre Willamette Valley hazelnut farm where DeBenedetti was raised, the duo is currently restoring the barn, sourcing local wine barrels, and planning pilot batches. This week the team will finish stage one of the barn’s renovation: completing wastewater drainage systems, and overseeing electrical upgrades.

Wolves & People will focus on Belgium-inspired American wild ales, saisons, sour, and barrel-aged beers. The brewery will utilize local and farm-grown hops, stone fruits, and hazelnuts (filberts), and wild yeast successfully propagated from its oldest plum trees. The initial brewing system is comprised of a copper-clad, steam-fired 6bbl brewhouse and four 7bbl fermenters, plus a growing oak barrel cellar. Portland’s premiere beer blogger, Ezra Johnson-Greenough of NewSchoolBeer.com, wrote that Wolves & People brewery’s upcoming opening is the “most highly anticipated in Oregon, though I think it should be across the country as well.”

Wolves & People’s beers will be packaged in 750mL and 375mL bottles and sold primarily through the brewery’s on-site tasting room. With out-of-state and international distribution through Shelton Bros., many Wolves & People releases will reach beer lovers far outside of Oregon as well.

For photos, press clippings, and a newsletter link, visit Wolves & People’s online home at www.wolvesandpeople.com. Their Crowdbrewed campaign has reached over half its goal, with two weeks remaining: www.crowdbrewed.com/rewards/wolves (Crowdbrewed is a crowdfunding platform dedicated to the craft brewing industry). ###

Andy Sparhawk

Andy Sparhawk, the Brewers Association's acting editor-in-chief for CraftBeer.com. Andy is a Certified Cicerone® and BJCP Beer Judge. He lives in Westminster, Colorado where he is an avid craft beer enthusiast. On occasion, Andy is inspired to write on his experiences with craft beer, and if they are not too ridiculous, you might see the results here on CraftBeer.com.