THE CREW
Ron Gansberg - Brew Master / Blender / Lead Imagineer
Having survived 25 years in the micro brewing industry, starting in July of 1986 at BridgePort Brewing and am now 13 years at Cascade Brewing Co. Previous to brewing, I was a wine maker outside of Portland. I have, since my teens, been making fruit wines and honey meads. We began making sour beers about 6 years ago. I now get to use all my experience to steward these beers through maturation, blending and bottling. We use a very low-tech, empirical observation process. My area of interest is in blending and base beer design. A sometimes obedient disciple of beer, with duties at Cascade Brewing that include Brew Master and Chief Imagineer. I am now taking on the roll of Cellar Master and Blender at the Cascade Barrel House in addition to my other duties.
A quote from Ron; "You've angered me deeply, now you'll have to have another beer!"
Chris Baggenstos - Lead production brewer / blender
Found on the brewery doorstep thirsty and cold, he was nurtured back to health and put to work. Chris lives and works in the brewery. Chris makes all the beers, sour and non-sour that keep this ship afloat.
A quote from Chris; "I've been enjoying a cold beer after work in the Mash / Jacuzzi since about the same time we started making sour beers. It really is the ONLY way to end a long day of brewing."
Jonathan Berry – "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" / Blender
Jonathan 'Biochemist turned nefarious brewery craftsman' left a career helping people improve their lives by saving the world from genetic diseases to embark on a career helping people improve their lives by enjoying high quality beers. As a beer designer and creator, he strives to deliver a wide range of one-of-a-kind beers that combine the forgotten arts of the past with the bounty of the Northwest. He believes that the beers Cascade creates are limited only by breadth of its collective imagination.
A quote from Jonathan; "You're killing me, either grab that hose or get a beer, but move!"
Preston Weesner - Barrel tender / Blender
What started out as a home brewing hobby over 15 years ago has turned in to a full time job, where I am expected to blend and drink as my job on a daily basis. What I like best about the blending and sour beers, the endless possibilities and the huge range and depth of flavors you can create with just a slight variation. Favorite Cascade beer, whichever one I just finished!
A quote from Preston: "ADD has a place in the world you just have to know how to harness it... Look, there's a beer!"
Ryan McCarthy
After home brewing for 7+ years I joined Cascade Brewing in 2012. It has been quite an education and wild ride into the realm of "old-world" brewing/blending arts. Since I live/work among the barrels, I am continually amazed at what our quixotic wood vessels ultimately produce from beer, fruits, spices, and imagination! Frankly, I have a great working relationship with barrel-aged beer: I work for it, and it works for me!
Favorite quotes: "Just because I’m Irish, I will detect notes of clover, pipe tobacco, wet knitted wool, sea mist, and Catholic guilt in ALL beers...why do you ask?"
Alissa Larrance - Manager
I was basically born into this industry as the daughter of the co-founder of Portland Brewing Company. I began learning about craft beers before I was old enough to enjoy them. Then in the mid nineties’, I was involved in opening a pub in SE Portland where I worked until the Raccoon Lodge and Brewpub opened in 1998. I managed the Raccoon Lodge for 4 years before I decided to go into Real Estate full time. After several years the economy decided to change for the worse and I had an idea to open a wine shop... a wine shop where people could find a great bottle of wine at a cost they could afford. I specialized in wines from all over the world and educated people on the quality of wines that were available at a price point that was reasonable. In the fall of 2009, I became privy to a building my father bought where he was going to age and sell sour beers. This sounded like something I wanted to be involved in. So I sold my wine shop and here I am! I am very excited to be a part of this new adventure!
