Hello Friday. March 29 2024 |
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Though Portland Kettle Works (PKW) may not ring a bell, if you’ve enjoyed a pint or two around the city, then you’ve probably seen the company’s handiwork without knowing it.
As one of the world’s leading manufacturers of stainless steel craft beer brewing and beverage systems, it supplies many of the giant, shiny tanks that loom behind the scenes at some of your favorite breweries, like Grains of Wrath and Rogue Ales & Spirits.
We spoke with founder Thad Fisco about what goes into creating these colossal cauldrons that enable the magic of Portland’s beer scene and beyond to bubble at its best.
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Growing up in Cleveland, Ohio, he worked in his family’s manufacturing business. | Photo via Thad Fisco |
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Q: How did you start your company?
A: Portland Kettle Works kind of came out of the recession. I was in real estate development and had a construction business, but all that kind of shut down.
Local brewers started to bring their brewing equipment into our shops to do repairs on it. One thing led to another and we designed a little three-barrel, 100-gallon brewery system in 2011.
Q: How do you make your products? A: We buy plate steel, and we bend it, roll it, and weld it — basically the fabrication from small parts to finished components. |
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PKW has worked with 400+ clients in Portland, Oregon, and across the country. | Photo via PKW |
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Q: What kind of equipment goes into the brewing process?
A: You got the hot side, which is a brew house that can be heated with either gas, electric, or steam — the preferred method.
And then you've got fermentation tanks, where yeast gets pitched into the wort. Everything's got a name in there that's different from anything else, it’s kind of like sailing.
The yeast eats the sugar, creates alcohol, gets the flavor, and then it goes into another set of tanks called bright tanks, sort of like finishing tanks that are used for clarifying and carbonating the beer. At that point, it's ready to serve and you put it in kegs, bottles, and cans. The equipment that's associated with brewing, it's sort of like having a commercial kitchen. Once you have it, technically you can brew any kind of beer that you want to brew. |
Share this with your friends who love to know what’s behind their brews. |
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Today -
Barre3 Portland Pop up at Shine Distillery | Thurs., July 28 | 3-5 p.m. | Shine Distillery, 4232 N. Williams Ave. | $30 | Bring a yoga mat for a class led with silent disco headsets and stay for appetizers + drinks afterward. 🧘
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Cam | Thurs., July 28 | 7:30 p.m. | Wonder Ballroom, 128 NE Russell St. | $26 | This American country music singer + songwriter has composed material for superstar artists like Sam Smith and Miley Cyrus.
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Secret Roller Disco | Thurs., July 28 | 7-9 p.m. | Pier Park tennis courts, 9700 N. Pier Park Pl. | Dress up in beachwear to skate to the beats of DJ Disco B, and maybe hop in the public pool too. 🛼
Friday - Women’s Group | Fri., July 29 | 1-2 p.m. | Maybelle Center for Community, 121 NW Sixth Ave. | Free | This weekly spiritual + social support meetup is a safe space for women to gather + share stories in a welcoming environment.
Saturday - The Roots | Sat., July 30 | 6 p.m. | Pioneer Courthouse Square | $60 | Catch the prolific rhymes from this iconic hip-hop duo formed by Black Thought and Questlove.
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Kamasi Washington | Sat., July 30 | 8 p.m. | McMenamins Crystal Ballroom | $39.95+ | This young saxophonist is pushing the boundaries of what “jazz” really is, incorporating hip-hop, R+B, and classical styles into his improvisational music. 🎷
Sunday - Painting and Pints | Sun., July 31 | 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. | DIY BAR, 3522 N. Vancouver Ave. | $39 | A brew in one hand and a brush in the other — you’re ready to create your masterpiece. 🎨
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Pittock Mansion Picnic | Sun., July 31 | 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | Pittock Mansion | Free+ | Grab your bonnets and parasols to join the Oregon Regency Society’s legacy event on the lawn in front of the chateau; it’s bring your own food and chairs, with limited parking.
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Spice Girls Ride | Sun., July 31 | 6:30 p.m. | Peninsula Park Rose Fountain, 700 N. Rosa Parks Way | Free | Colors of the world, spice up your bike. 🚲
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Slammedenuff Portland | Sun., July 31 | 1-7 p.m. | Portland Expo Center | $30 | This car show for showy sports cars is coming to the City of Rose for the first time ever. 🚗
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We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends. |
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Hampton Farms has been in biz for 75+ years, so you know they’ve got the snacking thing down. | Photo provided by Hampton Farms |
We’re four days into PDXtoday’s first Drink Up Week — and we’re loving every second. Here’s something else to add to your plate: Hampton Farms gourmet peanuts — because the only thing better than a drink is a drink + a snack. Here are three of our go-to pairings: Is your stomach rumbling? Click the button to start your order. 🥜 * |
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Weather - 98º | Excessive heat warning | 7% chance of rain
Sunrise + Sunset -
Rise: 5:49 a.m.
- Set: 8:43 p.m.
Community -
According to the Black Swimming Initiative, 70% of Black children have little to no swimming skills and those ages 10-14 drown at a higher rate than white children. This Sat., July 30, the group will host free swimming lessons, open to anyone, at Broughton Beach from 10 a..m-12 p.m. + 1-3 p.m. 💦 (KGW)
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Washington County is asking the public for input on its Transit Development Plan, which will enact changes over the next two to five years. Priorities include increasing service for areas outside the TriMet + SMART districts, connecting rural communities to the urban area, and more. 🚃
Environment -
This month, Portland City Council received a proposal to cut carbon emissions; one element involved phasing out petroleum-based diesel — the fourth-largest source of CO2 in the city — at all fueling stations. It would be replaced with cleaner burning renewable diesel made from waste animal fats and vegetable oil. ♻️ (Willamette Week)
Edu -
At the Dealer Service Technology Building, a collaboration between Portland Community College Rock Creek campus and machinery company Caterpillar, students will gain firsthand experience using equipment + vehicles commonly employed in the construction and agriculture industries. The facility, built with support from Portland voters, opened Tuesday. 🚜 (OPB)
Health -
The USFDA has granted a Breakthrough Device Designation to Sklip Inc., a telehealth company focused on dermatology that’s based in Lake Oswego. Its proprietary AI uses a dermascope that clips onto your phone's camera to help detect skin cancer early and raise five-year survival rates of melanoma. (Portland Inno)
Opening -
Sound the trumpets. Elephants Delicatessen is moving into the former Bargarten Bavarian Social House at Beaverton’s Cedar Hills Crossing, with tentative plans to open in early 2023. The location will be full service, offering sandwiches, soups, salads, and desserts, plus grilled entrees, wine and beer, and groceries. 🐘 (Willamette Week)
Sports -
Like a 100-meter sprinter, the World Athletics Championships in Eugene came + went in the blink of an eye. From Fri., July 15-Sun., July 24, world, national + meet records were smashed, and the seemingly successful event brought an economic boost to the region, with 146,033 tickets sold. 🏅 (The Oregonian/Oregon Live)
Finance -
When beginning the journey of buying a home, getting pre-approved should be the least of anyone’s worries. Opendoor recently announced a financing app that enables consumers to get a mortgage pre-approval in less than two minutes. It’s currently available to CA customers, with availability in additional states coming soon. 🏡 *
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‘Tis the season to be… sweaty?
Outside, it’s like everyone set their ovens to broil and left the doors open. But inside the Lloyd Center, you’ll find a whimsical winter wonderland with honest-to-goodness snow, set to flutter and flurry during daily sessions (1 + 3 p.m.) at the ice skating rink.
If you’re looking for a way to beat the heat, look no further. It’s like Christmas in July. ⛸️
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Editor’s pick: While scouring Portland for Drink Up Week content, I came across Field & Vine, a full-service catering and events company that arranges farm dinners throughout the summer and into early fall. 🍇 You can expect six-to-seven courses made with the freshest ingredients and libations from local wineries, breweries, and distilleries — not to mention the feasts take place in some of the region’s most beautiful settings.
Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Take a Slabtown coffee crawl to meet your month’s caffeine quota.
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