Falling Sky Brewing has been part of Cheers to the Land each year, offering a Cascadian Dark Ale with spruce tips that is always a hit. This summer, OAT Communications Manager Sal Lopez chatted with Stephen Such, owner of Falling Sky, about the history and philosophy of the brewery, his favorite Oregon-grown ingredients, and why he feels committed to supporting land protection in our beautiful state.
Stephen Such, Owner of Falling Sky
Sal Lopez Can you share a brief history of Falling Sky?
Stephen Such
Falling Sky started in 2012. Jason Carriere and Rob Cohen were the original founders of it, along with the brewer Scott Sieber. It stemmed from the Home Brew Supply shop called the Valley Vintner. And eventually, behind that location was the brewery today. They started pouring beer during the craze of the brewing industry, and were a stable part of Eugene. Then during the pandemic, they were looking to make changes. I came in and purchased the brewery in 2020 and took over the reins and have been there since. So I don't quite know what normal is within the industry.
The funny story was, the week I got the keys to the restaurant it was the week the governor implemented no dining service. For the first six months, it was just trying to figure out how to stay relevant.
Sal Lopez: What is the vision and/or philosophy of Falling Sky brewing?
Pint of Falling Sky beer
Stephen Such
We're a place that really welcomes people. Foodies can come here and get a really quality meal. We make great, award-winning beers. We experiment with new things, and we're not just an IPA brewery. Yes we have IPAs, yes, we have a hazy, but we only have one of each. We have the other stuff that allows people to experiment.
In addition, we offer cocktails and mocktails, and we have NA options, and we still want to be a family-friendly place. We do a pint night every Tuesday where we're giving back to local charities. So it's just being engaged and being part of the community in so many ways.
Sal Lopez: What do you love about making beer?
Stephen Such
When it's something new, there's that curiosity of how it’s going to come out. Is it a winner? There's a little bit of giddiness or excitement when it comes to a one-off or something you were trying. And especially when it's successful, it's fun to see how people react to it. And obviously, if you are in a position to go to a competition and it wins, it makes you feel even a little more giddy. But there is something really fun about the experience and being excited for the process too.
Sal Lopez: What are some of your favorite Oregon-grown ingredients?
Stephen Such
Falling Sky Brewing’s 2022 Cheers to the Land beer in a can
I would say hands down, it really is the hops. Especially during fresh hop season, being able to tell the story that the hops go from the farm to your tank in less than two hours really says it all right? It's amazing. That's what makes it so fun. Part of it is we're all kind of using the same hops at that time, but it doesn't change that experience. And as you know, beer tastes different from brewery to brewery, so the magic really happens in those tanks.
Sal Lopez: What led you to spruce tips for your Cheers to the Land beer, and where do you find them?
Stephen Such
Our brewer Scott does a really great job in brewing spruce tips. And so when I was actually courting the business, the beer that was on draft was called Spruce Wayne. It's a lovely flavor, yet not a really overpowering taste. And when Cheers to the Land came about, obviously the whole point was Oregon-grown ingredients. It turns out those spruce tips are from Oregon, and so you can harvest them yourself. There's a lot along the coastal range. But there is also a local foraging company that does it for you, and believe it or not, we actually prefer to freeze them because it kind of ignites weird flavors. People think they're really tree-like or piney, but they're not. They're almost fruity, like strawberries.
We were going to go a different route this year with some juniper and rye but decided, “Let's just do one more year.” Because the feedback has been great, and it's just a fun beer.
Sal Lopez: Falling Sky has been a supporter of Cheers to the Land since the very beginning. What aspect most resonates with you?
Falling Sky has been a supporter of Cheers to the Land since the very beginning. What aspect most resonates with you?
Falling Sky brewer holding two handfuls of fresh hops near a tank
Stephen Such
Land preservation, water conservation, all those things are important to beer. And so it was an easy thing to align with. And it was seeing the win-win. That's kind of how I like to operate naturally. To be able to support a cause with pride and a lot of support and recognition with our brewers dinner that we did, and then on top of that, to see sales revenue.
Sal Lopez: How do you see agricultural land protection as important to the beer industry and people who love beer?
Stephen Such
A lot of my passion is water, and I'm an avid fly fisherman. So to me, you have to have good water, and good water lends itself to healthy fish. On top of that, good water means great beer. And in Eugene, we're very fortunate, because the Mackenzie River is a significant source for water. It's very well-protected. But in addition to that, land preservation is a big part of that too. a lot of my passion with land preservation is how we're protecting our waters.
This year we are 100% Salmon Safe with the Cheers to the Land beer. And during normal production, we lean that way naturally.
Find Falling Sky’s Cascadian Dark Ale brewed with Oregon spruce tips, Oregon-grown Salmon-Safe malt from Admiral Maltings, and Salmon-Safe hops from Crosby Hops in Woodburn at the Cheers to the Land Portland launch event at John’s Marketplace on Oct. 18! Learn more about Cheers to the Land at www.cheerstotheland.com