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 Coronavirus Diaries

In the early weeks of 2020, we began to hear disturbing reports of a new virus striking the people of Wuhan, China. The novel coronavirus, COVID-19, spread slowly at first, but by March 15, most of the country was shut down. My coverage began in February, and starting in March I began relying on the reports of local Oregon breweries about how they were managing the closures, the risk to employees, and the unrelenting stress the virus created. Each post is linked, and the whole series starts with this post.

 
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The Beginning of the End of Covid
The Beginning of the End of Covid

If we think of normal as the way we lived in February 2020, we have a long way to go. And yet last week something changed. For the first time in 15 months, many of us can safely sit together in a pub drinking beer.

Covid Reveals the Importance of Fan Service
Covid Reveals the Importance of Fan Service

Breweries managed to survive the pandemic far more ably than anyone expected a year ago. They did it by retrenching and focusing on core fans rather than chasing those tantalizing customer just beyond reach. The “fan service” approach may be Covid’s greatest legacy.

Coronavirus at One: The Long-Lasting Trauma
Coronavirus at One: The Long-Lasting Trauma

In this latest Coronavirus update, the always-candid Ben Parsons describes the real costs and long-lasting trauma he and his team has survived getting through this crisis. 

Coronavirus at One: Unexpected Benefits
Coronavirus at One: Unexpected Benefits

The pandemic caused major crises for breweries, but also smaller, unexpected side-benefits, including this one: for some small breweries, it meant tank space for neglected favorites.

Coronavirus at One: An Opportunity to Rethink Business
Coronavirus at One: An Opportunity to Rethink Business

Today we hear from Zoiglhaus’ Alan Taylor. During the pandemic, Taylor has retooled the restaurant, added a canning line, and with draft sales picking up, he looks toward the coming year with hope.

Coronavirus at One: Harsh Lessons for Brewpubs
Coronavirus at One: Harsh Lessons for Brewpubs

Despite their resilience and creativity, the Covid pandemic didn’t hit breweries equally hard. It hit those focused on a restaurant, like Old Town Brewing, with special violence. The brewery’s owner, Adam Milne, describes how he fought to keep from folding his bad hand.

Coronavirus at One: The Resilience of Beer
Coronavirus at One: The Resilience of Beer

In the first report from brewers surviving a year of pandemic, Gigantic’s Van Havig points to the ways beer proved to be more resilient than similar industries. 

Coronavirus Diaries: The Other Crises
Coronavirus Diaries: The Other Crises

In today’s diary, Nat West of Reverend Nat’s encourages breweries, cideries, and drinkers to remember other crises unfolding in 2020.

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How Covid is Changing Beer

The Covid pandemic has forced breweries to change the beers they brew, how they market and sell those beers, and how customers find them. How will these changes affect beer long-term in a post-Covid world?

Coronavirus Diaries (Oct 12): Bracing for Winter
Coronavirus Diaries (Oct 12): Bracing for Winter

Checking in on breweries as winter approaches. Up today, Matt Van Wyk of Alesong Brewing and Lisa Allen of Heater Allen.