Brewery News: OR: Portland: Gilgamesh Brewing and former Portland Trailblazer collaborate on "Terry Porter" to benefit "Doernbecher Children’s Hospital Foundation"
Press Release
PORTLAND, Oregon ... – Terry Porter, ambassador for the Portland Trail Blazers, and Gilgamesh Brewing want Oregonians to quaff a pint or two for a good cause.
The former NBA point guard and the Salem brewery have teamed up to create a new, limited-edition craft beer – The Terry Porter. It’s a porter-style brew, of course, but Gilgamesh’s latest release is more than just a play on words to sell a dark, malty beer. The Terry Porter was created to honor and raise funds for the Doernbecher Children’s Hospital Foundation.
For each 22oz. bottle sold in retail, Gilgamesh and its distribution partner, Columbia Distributing, will donate $2 to the foundation, as well as $40 for every half-barrel keg sold in bars and restaurants across Oregon. At the Gilgamesh Campus, $1 will be donated for every Terry Porter pint purchased in the restaurant, and $2 during Blazer games. Patrons are encouraged to donate on their own as well.
THE BEER:
THE TERRY PORTER
AMERICAN-STYLE PORTER ALE
A collaboration by Gilgamesh Brewing, former Trail Blazer Terry Porter, and Columbia Distributing
20 IBUs, 6.3% Alc./Vol.
On tap at Gilgamesh Brewing and in bars across Oregon
Sold in 22-ounce bottles throughout Oregon; Featured at Roth’s Fresh Markets and New Seasons Markets
Mid-January through April
DATES TO NOTE:
Week of January 11th: The Terry Porter will be released throughout Oregon
January 13th 5:30-7:30: Beer release party and bottle signing with Terry Porter at Gilgamesh Brewing, 2065 Madrona Avenue, SE, Salem, Oregon
January 16th 3:30-7:30: Beer release party and signing at Blitz Ladd, 2239 SE 11th Ave., Portland, Oregon
February 24th 5:00-7:00: Bottle Signing at New Seasons Concordia. 5320 NE 33rd Ave, Portland, Oregon
THE CAUSE:
OHSU Doernbecher Children's Hospital ranks among the nation's Best Children's Hospitals, and is one of 21 members of the Children's Oncology Group's Phase 1 and Pilot Consortium. Nationally recognized physicians and nurses provide a full range of specialty and subspecialty care to tens of thousands of children annually, resulting in 200,000 discharges, surgeries, transports and outpatient visits annually in a patient- and family-centered environment. OHSU Doernbecher providers also travel throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington, providing specialty care to more than 3,000 children at more than 200 outreach clinics in 15 locations.
The Doernbecher Children’s Hospital Foundation is raising funds for a five-story guest house facility at Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU) South Waterfront campus. The $40 million project will provide housing for families with children receiving care at OHSU Doernbecher, as well as other families whose loved ones are OHSU patients.
In 2014, OHSU Doernbecher housed approximately 500 families for over 5,000 nights at West House Waterfront, a temporary facility located on the fifth floor of the Marriott Residence Inn in Downtown Portland. That same year the hospital had to find alternative accommodations for over 1,000 families because of lack of space at West House.
THE COLLABORATORS:
When Gilgamesh approached Porter, the retired player and coach quickly embraced the concept of The Terry Porter brew. Porter, who played ten seasons with the Trail Blazers in the mid-1980s and 1990s, is a board member of the Doernbecher Children’s Hospital Foundation.
“We’re hoping the fans will get behind it,” Porter said. Many families cannot find or afford hotel rooms near OHSU Doernbecher. Providing housing “takes a burden off the plate” of the families, Porter said.
Matt Radtke, sales manager for Gilgamesh and part of the family that founded the brewery in 2009, said The Terry Porter is the company’s first “co-branded” beer. The idea for The Terry Porter beer sprung from a conversation with one of Radtke’s friends who runs a blog site for Trail Blazer fans, Pinwheel Empire. Pinwheel is helping the project with photography, videos, and social media content.
“We did a test batch and it came out really well. We’ve been selling out in the brewery pub,” Radtke said. “I’m excited to see how it takes off when we launch throughout Oregon.”
Gilgamesh’s best-selling beers to date include Mamba, Oedipus IPA, and DJ Jazzy Hef.
Columbia Distributing is always looking for ways to give back to the community and jumped on board when Radtke proposed the idea.
Columbia Distributing immediately jumped on board when Radtke proposed the idea. Oregon President Mark Walen and his team are constantly searching for charitable activities. “Gilgamesh, Trail Blazer Terry Porter and Doernbecher…that’s a winning combination,” said Walen. “We are always looking for ways to contribute within our community. We’re honored to join in this effort to raise much needed funds for such a great cause.”
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About Gilgamesh Brewing:
Once located in the woods of Turner, Oregon, Gilgamesh Brewing has expanded and moved into a new facility in South Salem on Madrona Avenue. The three Radtke brothers, and their father, Lee, spent the summer of 2012 recreating a former grass seed warehouse into a full scale brewery. They also transformed the warehouse office building into a handcrafted restaurant featuring custom woodwork and metal fabrication. Pringle Creek runs along the covered back patio which opens up into the property’s large back yard creating a nice ambiance. The Gilgamesh motto is “a beer for everyone” and the range of selection provides the delicious proof.
More at gilgameshbrewing.com/
About Columbia Distributing:
Columbia Distributing is one of the nation’s finest beer, cider, and non-alcoholic beverage distributors. Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, the company has been delivering the best-known brands in the beverage business since 1935. Today Columbia Distributing and its 3,000+ employees service over 20,000 retail customers covering more than 135,000 square miles in Oregon and Washington. The company’s success is based on the deep-rooted tradition of delivering quality products, timely service and a genuine concern for customers’ needs.
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