From Fields of Hops to Lines of Code: Oregon’s Unique Place in the Craft Beer Industry
On the latest edition of Making Oregon, we discuss the craft beer industry in Oregon with a great panel representing the breadth of an industry that is constantly growing and evolving. And one that has close to a $4 Billion economic impact in the state. The panel is moderated by Mellie Pullman, a Supply Chain Management professor and the director of the Business of Craft Brewing Certificate at Portland State University, an Online education program, which teaches all the business skills for starting and running a craft beverage business. The members of the panel include Kevin Shaw, head brewer of Astoria based Buoy Beer, Brad Windecker, Founder/CEO of Orchestra Software, and Blake Crosby of Crosby Hop Farms. We asked the group about the innovations that are driving the beer industry, and what makes Oregon such a hotbed of craft beer. We discussed how raw material production can keep up with growing demand, the ways software is helping to reduce operational inefficiencies within breweries, and how you break into a crowded market. We also dived into some of the challenges and opportunities that face the industry as craft beer continues to evolve. And of course, we asked each member on the panel to name their favorite beer. At the core, this panel gives us a snapshot of all the moving parts that are associated with craft beer, and how through collaboration and community, Oregon remains one of the key cogs in the future of the industry.