Nearly twelve years ago, three college friends decided to turn an old Southwest Portland convenience store into a beer store called Uptown Market. During its infancy it focused on homebrew supplies and packaged goods with a few items on draft. In 2018, the business was renovated and rebranded as Uptown Beer Co. as it is currently known by. This name change was done to better encompass the pub and bottleshop that it evolved into over the years. Today, Uptown Beer Co. boasts over 30 beers on tap, ample dog friendly seating, an all ages patio, and more than 700 freshly refrigerated bottles and cans.
To celebrate this 12 year milestone, Uptown Beer Co. will host its 12 Year Anniversary Party on Saturday, December 9th, 2023 from 6pm to 9pm. The pub and bottleshop plans to celebrate with live music, raffles, specialty beers, and burgers.
“What a wild run we’ve been on! It’s been great evolving the Uptown space from homebrew and a few taps, then more bottles, then cans, then so many taps to becoming the beer store we are now,” says Uptown’s Managing Partner, Josh Johnson.
Chris and AJ Shepherd, brothers and two of Uptown’s original founders, say the business is personal for them. “My life wouldn’t be the same if we didn’t start Uptown, I wouldn’t have met my wife or hundreds of friends,” says Chris. “I’m sure it’s like that for many people and I can’t imagine life if it didn’t exist.” His brother AJ interjects, “Excited to see where we go and very proud of where we’ve come from.”
Uptown’s Anniversary party will feature Corvallis based brewery, Block 15 Brewing. “It was just too easy to want to partner with Block 15 for our Anniversary,” says Johnson, “Sticky Hands [IPA] has been our number one seller from the moment it was released.” A special magnum bottle of Sticky Hands will be bottled for Uptown’s traditional anniversary toast. Uptown will also be tapping multiple Block 15 brews for the event.
In addition to specialty beers, Uptown’s 12 year celebration will host live music from a local band, Chinese Cloud Machine. There will be raffles with various prizes including Block 15 swag and a free year of Mug Club, Uptown’s waitlisted loyalty program. Mid City SmashedBurgers, named Big 7 Travel’s 4th Best Burger in the Nation, will be showcasing their menu as well.
Uptown Beer Co.
6620 SW Scholls Ferry Rd
Portland, OR
About The Author
DJ
D.J. is a Portland, Oregon based writer that spent his formative years in the Midwest. With over 25 years under his belt of drinking beer at festivals across America and the world, he has developed a strong appreciation and understanding of craft beer and the industry that surrounds it. He can be found in any of the great breweries or beer bars that make Portland the best beer city in the world. His writing can also be found in the archives of Northwest Brewing News and can be followed on Twitter and Instagram at @hopapalooza.
