I love playing tourist to beer spots, especially in my home town of Salem, Oregon. So when Cathy Lane Teal joined PNW Beer Moms and I saw she owned not just one, but two tap houses I had never been to, I had to pay her a visit! After all, there is nothing better than a Beer Mom in the industry! You really can't get more beer mom than that!
Cathy and her husband Mitch opened Brew Coffee and Ta House in the little ol' town of Independence, OR. in 2017. If you have ever driven Hwy 22 from Salem to the Oregon Coast, you may have seen the sign to Independence. Growing up in Salem, Independence was most renowned as the place to buy booze if you lived in the neighboring town of Monmouth, home to Western Oregon University. Up until a few years ago Monmouth was a dry town. What is a thirsty college student to do?! Why drive the two minutes to Independence, of course! Interestingly enough, Independence itself was a dry town at one point, as well as West Salem when it was it's own city, but we'll get back to that fact in a minute. Lifting the ban on booze as well as it's beautiful location on the Willamette river has kept this small town alive for decades when other small towns have crumbled. Now Independence is getting quite the revitalization as investors and house flippers flock to the more affordable market with unspoiled western town and Victorian architecture. But first let's go back to West Salem for a moment.
Located on Edgewater next to HWY 22 in West Salem sits the second location of Brew. It's on a side of the street that has little else and you pull into a triangle parking lot surrounded by very tall evergreen trees. That's when you realize the entrance is on the basement level of this historic brick building, tucked nicely away from the street. The brick building is something special in this day and age of strip mall breweries and drive up coffee houses.
As I was tasting a few samples, a 91 year 'young' man came in for his weekly beer. Obviously this is the secret to his long life! In fact, he was one of quite a few elder customers that came in, including Cathy's own mother. Which is a testament to what a welcoming place this is. Too many breweries and tap houses cater to a younger, trendier clientele, when it's the older generation that has appreciates the wide variance of the new craft generation. I'd much rather strike up a conversation with an "old timer" than interrupt someone's Tinder date.
(I hear this is the last remaining coaster of many. Which goes to show that Mitch is a popular guy! I'd like to see some Cathy coaster, too!)
This place is certainly a family affair. Not only did Cathy's mom stop by, but Mitch's brother, too. I imagine this is quite the change of pace from the venture they had before. Cathy and Mitch owned a chain of tanning salons, which they sold off a few years ago.
This was cranberry orange cheesecake. It didn't last long!
Quite a few young families came in with their little ones and a few people roaming solo for a pint or a coffee to-go. Just like the West Salem Brew, there were games to play with and comfy furniture and another penny tiled counter top! (I wonder if they provided the pennies for the counter or if the contractor forfeited his own? Something to ask them later I suppose.) Cathy and Mitch really put a lot of cute reclaimed details and antique treasures into the place. Like I said Salvage King, which must make Cathy the Antiquing Queen). My personal favorite detail was on the historic pew benches. My youngest crawled right into it this wood booster seat! (I really like parenthesis)
Cathy and her husband Mitch opened Brew Coffee and Ta House in the little ol' town of Independence, OR. in 2017. If you have ever driven Hwy 22 from Salem to the Oregon Coast, you may have seen the sign to Independence. Growing up in Salem, Independence was most renowned as the place to buy booze if you lived in the neighboring town of Monmouth, home to Western Oregon University. Up until a few years ago Monmouth was a dry town. What is a thirsty college student to do?! Why drive the two minutes to Independence, of course! Interestingly enough, Independence itself was a dry town at one point, as well as West Salem when it was it's own city, but we'll get back to that fact in a minute. Lifting the ban on booze as well as it's beautiful location on the Willamette river has kept this small town alive for decades when other small towns have crumbled. Now Independence is getting quite the revitalization as investors and house flippers flock to the more affordable market with unspoiled western town and Victorian architecture. But first let's go back to West Salem for a moment.
Located on Edgewater next to HWY 22 in West Salem sits the second location of Brew. It's on a side of the street that has little else and you pull into a triangle parking lot surrounded by very tall evergreen trees. That's when you realize the entrance is on the basement level of this historic brick building, tucked nicely away from the street. The brick building is something special in this day and age of strip mall breweries and drive up coffee houses.
On the way in you spot a patio tent with a long gas outdoor fireplace, which Mitch will tell me later, he constructed from an old stove he reclaimed out of the salvage yard. He is a bit of a salvage yard king, I suspect. They just recently doubled the size of the patio, perfect for the warmer summer nights. I marveled by the fact that even with how close the patio is to the highway, the sound from the cars is not obnoxiously loud. Oooooh fire!
I walked in to the tap house and was instantly blown away by how much detail and charm they had put into the place. Rich red, framed walls, ornate picture frames of art and local historic photos, large antique stuffed leather couches and mission style wood tables and chairs.
Mitch welcomed me with a warm smile and a "Welcome!" from behind the penny tiled counter. By penny tiles, I mean real pennies of many different tarnishes and shine, laid out and varnished into the counter top. I introduced myself and he called Cathy in from her office. She's just as smiley and welcoming as Mitch. Just look at them!
They gave me a quick low down of the place. I hadn't realized, but I was standing in the old West Salem jail! They even have some of the old cell bars hanging on the wall. In the future they plan to turn the old jail cells, which are currently being used as a wine cellar, into a rent-able space. Future themed PNW Beer Mom meetup just waiting to happen. Cathy was quick to point out that we were standing in the old jail, drinking beer, in a town who's first law was to make it a dry town. See I told you I'd get back to that fact! Nothing like drinking a beer in a place where people were jailed for doing the same! Enjoy your beer loving freedom people!
As for what's most important, their beer selection is tops. Thanks to their son's guidance, each beer is as local as possible with a 4.5 or better beer rating and fulfills a few technical (trade secret) criteria. For me, it was great to see all different kinds of beer and not only a majority of IPAs, a pet peeve of mine! They even had a sour! And they were happy, if not straight down right encouraging, to have me taste a few before ordering.
As I was tasting a few samples, a 91 year 'young' man came in for his weekly beer. Obviously this is the secret to his long life! In fact, he was one of quite a few elder customers that came in, including Cathy's own mother. Which is a testament to what a welcoming place this is. Too many breweries and tap houses cater to a younger, trendier clientele, when it's the older generation that has appreciates the wide variance of the new craft generation. I'd much rather strike up a conversation with an "old timer" than interrupt someone's Tinder date.
Brews menu is great, too. They've partnered with a local chief who prepares delicious pizza and Stromboli. They have breakfast sandwiches all day and wraps and cheesecake! I had the Stromboli and it was warm, fresh and perfect for soaking up my beer.
I'm no one, without an entourage so I invited some local Beer Moms to join me and Cathy. (I kid, half of these people I'm related to.)
I'd totally be a regular if I lived in Salem. It is really the perfect casual Northwesty hideaway spot to get some work done or just relax. There was a group of people on laptops there busily plugging away. And because it is coffee and beer, I can recommend it to my mom and her friends for an intimate coffee date. Go morning or evening. Heck why leave? A fact that gets two thumps up from Mitch.
(I hear this is the last remaining coaster of many. Which goes to show that Mitch is a popular guy! I'd like to see some Cathy coaster, too!)
This place is certainly a family affair. Not only did Cathy's mom stop by, but Mitch's brother, too. I imagine this is quite the change of pace from the venture they had before. Cathy and Mitch owned a chain of tanning salons, which they sold off a few years ago.
Which brings me to my next question. How does a couple go from owning tanning salons for over 15 years to serving up coffee and beer?! So I asked them. It turns out they were looking at real estate spots for Mitch's brother, when they fell in love with their Independence location. It wasn't going to work for his brother's business, but when they saw it, they simultaneously turned to each other and said "This place would be great for..." except they didn't quite agree. Mitch said "Beer!" and Cathy said "Coffee!" That's when they has their Brew epiphany! No reason to limit yourself, I say.
They seem to be loving the change. You can tell they have put a lot of sweat equity into each place. They tell me the Independence location had 7 layers of linoleum to peal back and dry wall to break through to get back to the original brick. They obviously have a love for old buildings. Cathy points out that Mitch is the creative visionary of both places. He still has the original sketch of his ideas for the the Independence location. A sketch he plans to frame and display on the wall.
Cathy surprised us PNW Beer Moms with a special surprise. Something they are possibly most known for at their Independence location. Vodka infused lemonade. It is so delicious and refreshing that I bet you can't have just one! Unsurprisingly, the Independence location goes through kegs of this sweet stuff in a week during the summer! You can sit on their patio and listen and see the concerts and movies across the street in the park. They even have plans to expand their back patio this year, which mean they might have to make some extra vodka! I really need to get to their Independence location!
.... hold that thought!.... *gets in the car, picks up family, drives to Independence*
Hello Independence Oregon! Brew's first location is only about 10 minutes away from the West Salem one, but a different, but equally cool vibe.
Having already had the beer, I figured I best try out the coffee and we helped ourselves to cheesecake!
This was cranberry orange cheesecake. It didn't last long!
Quite a few young families came in with their little ones and a few people roaming solo for a pint or a coffee to-go. Just like the West Salem Brew, there were games to play with and comfy furniture and another penny tiled counter top! (I wonder if they provided the pennies for the counter or if the contractor forfeited his own? Something to ask them later I suppose.) Cathy and Mitch really put a lot of cute reclaimed details and antique treasures into the place. Like I said Salvage King, which must make Cathy the Antiquing Queen). My personal favorite detail was on the historic pew benches. My youngest crawled right into it this wood booster seat! (I really like parenthesis)
The views of the water and city park are unmatched. I can easily see why this place would be packed with vodka infused lemonade drinkers in the summer! I picture true Americana, sun shining through the leaves of the trees and flowers hanging in front of the historic store fronts. I'd show you, but it was pouring down rain when we were there. So you'll just have to check it out, yourself. After I visited, Brew was picked as one of the best new places to enjoy beer in Oregon by New School Beer. I will have to agree! I'll definitely be back to soak it up this summer. I look forward to visiting with Cathy and Mitch again, too. Cheers new friends!
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