Last weekend Ground Breaker made their annual trek to Goschie Farms in Silverton, Oregon to pick up 150 pounds of fresh Meridian hops. Most of the brewery crew cut their Labor Day weekend short to take advantage of this once a year opportunity, and we thank them.

The fresh hop version of Ground Breaker’s Pale Ale is unlike anything else the brewery offers. Fresh Meridian hops add an herbal character and brings their lemon-candy characteristic forward in a far different way from brewing with kilned hops.

Fresh Hop Meridian Pale Ale will be available in bottles and on draft Wednesday, September 16th, in the Ground Breaker Gastropub. Bottles and a few kegs will be headed to retailers in Oregon and Washington later the same week.

We are pleased to announce the release of Johnny, Ground Breaker’s latest Experiment Ale. Johnny, an ale and cider hybrid, is a light, golden-style ale that finishes at 5% ABV and 27 IBUs. This beer was built to be enjoyed during the hottest days of summer.

“By blending beer and cider we can accentuate the aspects we most appreciate in each,” explains James Neumeister, Ground Breaker’s head of R&D. Johnny begins with a fermenter filled with apple cider and ale wort. The wort has been custom tailored to bring out the best in the blend by emphasizing the hop flavor and body. Once fermentation is complete Johnny is generously dry-hopped with Sterling hops.

Johnny is an homage to all of Ground Breaker’s favorite Johnnies: Johnny D., who built the brewery; Johnny Galecki, considered by many of us to be the best Russ Griswold; Johnny Cash, whose soothing baritone often accompanies a brewday; and Johnny 5, star of one of Oregon’s greatest films.

Johnny will be released in the Ground Breaker Gastropub on Thursday, July 9th on draft and in bottles on July 10th. Bottles of Johnny will head to retailers the following week.

Ground Breaker Brewing, the nation’s first dedicated gluten-free brewery, is pleased to announce the release of their first canned beers. The cans will be available June 13th at the Ground Breaker Gastropub in southeast Portland. The first to be released, Olallie Ale and IPA No.5, will both be available in four-packs of 12 ounce cans.

Head of Research & Development, James Neumeister, has made canning Ground Breaker’s gluten-free beer a top priority. “Since we started the brewery, the number one request has been for a 12 ounce package. We are happy to finally give our customers what they want,” he said. Canning Ground Breaker’s beers was made possible by the generous support of fans through a crowdfunding campaign this past winter. They would like to extend a large thank you to everybody who pitched in to make their dream a reality.

Ground Breaker Brewing is especially excited to offer their newest beer, Olallie Ale, in a 12 ounce can. Neumeister explains, “Olallie Ale was designed from the beginning to be served in a can and on draft. Olallie has been kept light and dry while maintaining a pronounced hop aroma. The rose hips provide the bridge between the hops and the blackberries making it all work.”

While the award-winning dedicated gluten-free brewery is successfully launching their 12 ounce products, they’re also seeking help from their gluten-free fans in California. The brewery has been unsuccessful in finding a distributor willing to offer their beers in the state. “We have been trying to establish a relationship with a craft beer distributor since last year with no success,” Neumeister said. “The craft beer distributors in California do not seem to believe Californians would want our delicious gluten-free craft beer.”

Ground Breaker Brewing has decided to appeal to the masses by urging individuals in California to ask their local stores, restaurants, and pubs to please carry their beers. They hope to generate enough interest so distributors will decide to sell their award-winning offerings, especially now that Olallie Ale and IPA No. 5 will be available in an easy to transport 12-ounce package.

Ground Breaker Releases Luella April 8th
 
Ground Breaker Brewing is pleased to announce the release of Luella, a Belgian-style pale ale. Luella was brewed to be enjoyed as spring transitions into summer. In the tradition of a Belgian pale ale, Luella finishes dry but offers a perceived candy sweetness with aromas of grape and bread, spice from a late addition of Sterling hops, and a bit of Belgian funkiness to round it out. Luella finishes at 5.7% ABV with only 22 IBUs.
 
The idea for Luella began with the simple question of what kind of beer we would want to drink this summer. We knew we wanted to make something very different from what we already offer, but we weren’t sure what that should be. On bottling days we discussed aromas, flavors, and ingredients until we settled on something we liked the sound of, a Belgian pale ale. It’s a first for us, and it’s something we’re very excited to share. The name Luella comes from Luella Love, who started Love Farm with her husband John in 1905.
 
Luella will be released in our pub on Wednesday, April 8th, with a Belgian-inspired menu. During the release, Ground Breaker Gastropub will be offering a Belgian-style beer flight featuring Luella, our last keg of St. Denny, and two variations of Luella, one aged with apricots and one aged with currants.

We are pleased to announce the launch of our Kickstarter campaign that will allow us to start canning our delicious gluten-free craft ales.
 
More information on our Kickstarter campaign can be found here: YES WE CAN
 
We plan to launch canning with our best selling beer, IPA No. 5, and our latest beer, Olallie Ale.  Olallie is making its first appearance tonight, in the Ground Breaker Gastropub.
 
Olallie was developed from the beginning with canning in mind. Olallie is brewed with blackberries and rose hips and then finished with copious amounts of Crystal hops for a classic Northwest aroma.  At the same time Olallie is light and dry with only a hint of bitterness.  Olallie Ale is 4.5% ABV and 30 IBUs.

“Many of our customers have expressed an interest in a light berry beer” explains Ground Breaker’s Head of R&D, James Neumeister. "We knew that it had to have a pronounced hop aroma if we were going to like it. Rose hips provided the bridge between the hops and the blackberries that make it all work."

On Thursday, February 12th, we will be celebrating the release of Olallie Ale by offering a berry beer flight that includes Corsa Rose Gold, New Planet Raspberry Ale, and Dogfish Head Tweason’ Ale.  Olallie Ale will only be available on draft and in bottles at our pub until we are able to offer it in a 12 ounce can.