Beer Taxes Hurt Oregon Breweries!

The state of Oregon is currently considering an increase to the excise tax on beer.  A whopping 1,370 percent increase to the excise tax on beer!  Yes, it's true.  What would normally be considered absurd is being considered by normally rational people.  This tax is being promoted as a dime-a-drink, as though it is benign.  Even the tired "nickel-a-drink" ruse treats the taxpayer as though they are ignorant of how businesses actually operate.  Due to the system of distribution utilizing wholesalers and retailers, the dime-a-drink concept could add as much as $1.50 to the cost of a six-pack of your favorite beverage and $.50 to $1.00 to your next pint at your favorite watering hole.  Either that, or the brewers absorb the additional cost.  Now, for Deschutes Brewery, that amounts to almost $2 million per year.  That is money that simply does not exist.  

Obviously, Deschutes Brewery cannot absorb the increase and, if we were to pass the cost to you, our customers, the kind of price increases we are talking about will amount to significant sales decreases as many people are not as passionate as you are about your beer.  Breweries in Oregon will go out of business, it's that simple.  Those who are able to hang on will have to significantly change the way they operate to accommodate the additional expense.  

Now consider that Oregon has a small brewing industry that is the envy of the rest of the country.  Our 10% market share is number one by a large margin.  With over 70 companies making great beer and employing great people, the small brewing industry is one of the few areas in Oregon's economy that is actually working.  We should not be looking to devastate these small businesses. 

Write the Governor, your legislators, editors of local papers, and anyone else you can think of and tell them that Oregon's small brewing industry is too valuable and you, the voter, should not be saddled with the states revenue problems because you enjoy the craft beers of Oregon.  Beer did not get the state into this situation and can not get the state out of it.

Call or write today.  800-332-2313 or www.leg.state.or.us and tell your legislature DON’T TAX MY BEER and SAVE OREGON BREWERIES, DON’T INCREASE THE BEER TAX.

Say No!

If You're Not In Bend,
You Should Be

July and August are possibly the best months to be here in Bend.  We're in the midst of our 90 day growing season; the weather is perfect in the daytime and cool in the evenings. 

There is way too much to do: Mountain biking, hiking, boating and fishing in the Cascade lakes or the Deschutes.  There's even a little snow up in the mountains to play in.  If you're already here or on your way, don't forget to stop by the Pub for a pint and say "Hi".

Brewery Expansion News

The new 35,000 square foot warehouse is almost complete!  We are well on our way to July 1st for beneficial occupancy.  Kirby Nagelhout Construction is currently installing a keg cooler in the new warehouse that's over twice the size of our current keg cooler.  They will be pouring the concrete drive, which connects the two buildings, before the end of the month!  This way we can shuttle our cases and kegs to the new building.  We'll be up and shipping in no time! 

Our new brewhouse vessels are on their way to America!  We purchased the brew system from The Huppmann Group, a world-renowned brewing equipment manufacturer located in Germany.  Kirby Nagelhout Construction has begun demolishing the northeast corner of the brewery to make room for the new 137.5-barrel capacity brewhouse, which should be brewin' beer by Halloween!

Pine Mountain Pils ~
A SUMMER CLASSIC

Join a Deschutes Brewery tradition by quenching that summer thirst with Pine Mountain Pils, clean, crisp flavor.  A refreshing selection during the hot summer months, add Pine Mountain Pils to the cooler when heading out for that favorite summer activity - picnics by the river, backyard BBQs or just lounging at the beach. 

Pine Mountain Pils is a German-style lager that uses traditional Pilsner malt, Czech Saaz hops and lager yeast in a 2-week fermentation and a 4-month lager storage, producing an outstanding summer session lager.  

Enjoy a Pine Mountain Pils today and have a great summer.  Available in neighborhood stores and pubs mid-June through September.

Save a Tree!

Remember, The Bitter Truth is also available online.  If you would like to be notified when a new issue comes out, email us at kmorgan@deschutesbrewery.com and we'll switch you to our email list.  (There's also a bunch of other fun stuff on our website.)