Published by Leonardo Calcagno
Who are you and your current job?
I am Matt Swihart and am the owner and brewmaster of Double Mountain Brewery
What was the inspiration behind your brewery?
I started the brewery because I was at a stage in my beer career where I wanted to have a more complete control over the final beer, from inception through production and where it got enjoyed. Since I was in love with my community and where I lived but wanted a new gig, a friend and I started Double Mountain because we loved beer and wanted to create a comfortable place to hang out to drink it.
Can you give us a tour of your beer scene?
Hood River, Oregon has developed into a more notable beer destination over the last few years. Due to the abundance of high quality, local ingredients, brewers are able to express their art of making craft beer with few limitations. This results in a number of diverse, exceptional beers that cater to a wide range of pallets. Combine all of this with the scenic backdrop of the Columbia River Gorge and it’s easy to see why the beer culture here has advanced over the last decade. Brewers of the Gorge embrace the unique lifestyle and culture of making craft beer, and it is clearly reflected in what is produced.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to start a brewery?
My advice would be to stay small, plan for small, stay relevant and local. Make it work for a 35 seat space and still put food on the table at home. The days to grow to take over the world and gone, there is always room from small, nimble, heartfelt, and quality.
facebook.com/doublemountainbrewery
