Vagabond Brewing in Salem, Ore., lies in the center of the lush Willamette River Valley, 47 miles from Portland. The four owners became friends while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, and have a combined 12 combat tours in Iraq, Afghanistan and Africa. Alvin Klausen, Dean Howes, James Cardwell and Ryan Fineran found craft beer during their service, and once they’d found it, they made a point to try a new beer every chance they had.
“As we deployed and travelled the world during our service and afterwards, the four of us discovered that no corner of the world is untouched by beer,” says Howes, owner and business manager for Vagabond. “We also realized the powerful ability beer has to bring people together and the common ground it creates. This global connection and tie-in with our love of travel and adventure is very much the basis of who we are as a company.”
After a successful Kickstarter campaign, Vagabond Brewing found a home in Salem, and teamed up with Seven Brides Brewing in nearby Silverton to brew their first commercial beer.
“We brewed a collaboration with Seven Brides that was a sweet spiced stout,” says Howes. “It was brewed with lactose to add significant sweetness, and then carefully spiced with imported Vietnamese cinnamon, fresh ground ginger and just a touch of cardamom. We started wondering how a brand new brewery was going to move 20 kegs of a big, 8 percent ABV spiced stout quickly, regardless of how good it turned out. As it happened, the timing was perfect and the beer was so well received that it disappeared quickly and people are still asking about it.”
Starting with a cobbled together brewing system they designed themselves, they soon installed a 3 bbl steam-fired system built in Portland.
“We initially had a four 7 bbl fermenters, but realized quickly we were not keeping up with demand,” says Howes. “We have since installed another 7 bbl tank and purchased more cooperage to up our production volumes. We are currently planning an expansion to a bigger possibly 15 bbl system early next year (2015).”
The popularity of Vagabond can be attributed to the consistently great beer, the fun, beer-loving atmosphere and a community-oriented business model. They’ve built all of the furniture and the bar themselves with locally-sourced materials and parts when available. The beautiful tables, chairs and barstools are welded locally and finished with sustainably harvested Oregon White Oak.
Vagabond is a terrific example of what craft beer can provide for customers, the community and the proprietors themselves. Four Marines brought together during their service start a successful business doing what they love and brewing some of the best beer Oregon has to offer—it’s the American dream. Their service to our country and their beer is something that I can always raise a glass to.
Allan Wolfe is a craft beer brewer, reviewer and whisky connoisseur and is the Online Content Manager for Chilled Magazine. You’ll generally find him smoking a cigar while enjoying his favorite pint or dram. He’s always open to answering questions, talking beer or teaching anyone who is willing to listen about distilling!
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