Ecliptic Brewing Brand Sold; Brewery to Close (Developing Story)
Hi all. Our business has been really challenging the past two years. We have encountered so many issues that other small businesses have faced: a pandemic, rising cost of goods, supply chain issues and the overall economic climate. It has gotten to the point where we are no longer able to continue operations, and the company has sold.
The sale will allow me to pay back our debts and align the brand with a bigger entity to allow it to continue. Ecliptic beer will still be available in stores and restaurants; I will still be involved in the Ecliptic brand and beer development- just not in our current site.
Thank you to all my staff, past and present, for “pouring space in everyone’s faces” for the last ten years. And a super thanks to all of you who have supported Ecliptic Brewing by enjoying our beers out in the world, as well as with food in our restaurant.
Our restaurant will be open through Saturday, November 18th. Please come join us one last time, and toast what has been a wild ride here on Spaceship Earth.
Cheers,
John
John Harris is one of the most celebrated and accomplished brewers in the United States, and as close as you can get to a brewing saint in Oregon. He started in the 1980s as the McMenamins started brewing their own beer, was the founding brewer at Deschutes in 1988, where he created some of their most famous beers, and then spent twenty years at Full Sail before finally opening a brewery that was his vision alone.
Ecliptic celebrated the stars, one of John’s great passions. It was a much-lauded brewery and routinely spent time on my best-breweries list. Just last month Ecliptic celebrated its 10th anniversary, and John graciously greeting the throngs of admirers, many of them oldsters like me who have been fans for decades and decades. It must have been a melancholy celebration for John, but he was his usual jovial self.
Indeed, it’s worth mentioning that John wasn’t just a longtime brewer—he was one of the most visible, respected, and beloved members of the Oregon brewing community. Instantly recognizable in his beard, long hair, and shorts, he has been a regular presence at beer events since—well, since there were beer events. He was kind and generous—I remember him treating me, a callow, young writer, with respect when I was first covering beer. I was always happy to see John because I knew he’d greet me with a smile and good cheer. My experience is the norm, and I’m sure in the coming days we’ll see many expressions of appreciation for his long, illustrious career and for him as a person.
The story is developing and I know no more than what John posted on Instagram. I’ll update this as we go along, but for now, think good thoughts for John and the whole team at Ecliptic. This is a rough time in the industry and we’re thinking of them all.