Drop Bear Brewery: Aussie Craft Beer Takes on Eugene
Drop Bear Brewery located in south Eugene is home to a unique Australian brewery. Founded by Australian Lorraine Lehane and her husband David Lahane as the head brewer. The adventurous couple spent their earlier years working, traveling and starting a family. Post retirement they finally decided to open a Brewery as a passion project. After long consideration they decided to expand David’s home-brewing talents to go ahead and start opening up Drop Bear Brewery.
The Legends Behind The Name
When you ask about the name, you will be treated to the story about the mythological Drop Bear. The Australian legend looks like a koala bear, but it drops out of trees and attacks people. But, no one has actually survived to see one. The name mirrors the founder’s playful, adventurous spirit as you may be surprised by the craft beer’s delightful, unique flavors.
A Brew Apart
Lorraine and David have created their business around making the customers experience the best that it can be. With good beer, good food and good wine & liquor Drop Bear Brewery works to satisfy anyone’s needs.
Unlike other breweries in Eugene, Drop Bear Brewery emphasizes European and Australian style beers. They are well balanced with layers of flavors to fulfill their market. David creates a wide range of beers, styles and ABVs. “With brewing we deviate from the norms to develop
our custom flavors.”
Brewing Science
The process of beer is not as simple as it may seem. There is a science that is perfected in each batch of beer. David explains, every patch starts with a malting process. This is the process where the barley grains are soaked in water. After the barley is drained it is then mashed into a fine powder. The mash is then stirred into hot water which allows the enzymes to break down and creates a sugary liquid. The amount of time that this mixture is stirred and the temperature in which it is stirred affects the alcohol content and the flavor of the beer. After boiling the mixture to a point he desires depending on flavor and ABV, it is then able to ferment after the yeast is added. The fermentation takes a few days to a few weeks. On average David ferments his beers for around two weeks or less. Finally David is able to let it go through the final conditioning phase which allows the liquid to mature and develop its final flavors and make it so that it is more visibly clear. The brewer, David says, “Brewing is a mixture of arts, science and creativity, brewing is always a challenge but one that motivates me everyday.” Every step in the process is handled precisely.
HOPes: For The Future
Drop Bear Brewery is in the works of expanding their name and brand throughout Oregon. Each batch of beer is made with love and attention to detail. David’s focus while brewing is creating delicious beers for everyone to enjoy. No matter your beer preference David has one for you.
Currently Drop Bear Beer is being sold in local Market of Choices and in Corvallis at Phils grocery store and of course in-house as well. In the next few months Lorraine and David continue to expand their name and brand by attending beer festivals and hosting local events.
Cheers to Determination and Dreams
Drop Bear started from just an idea to a flourishing brewery. The hard work and determination is what got David and Lorraine where they are today. With strategic marketing and detailed business plans Drop Bear Brewery hopes to expand throughout Oregon. Whether you are a craft beer drinker or not Drop Bear Brewery welcomes you to experience the warmth of Australian hospitality. Drop Bear Brewery invites you to come try an exceptional pint of craft beer and hopes to bring the community together. This lovely destination is a haven for those who seek to enjoy good beer, good company and an even better experience.
[Second Feature Piece]
BySoltana: Not just Any Clothes
The table is covered in pages of clothes designs and fabric samples as I sit down with third-year student Daniela Aflalo. Aflalo is a student at the University of California, Santa Barbara, studying Environmental Studies. Her newly made clothes business has been thriving for just two years in the making. Her unique designs are handmade and sewn together from sustainable and reused materials and fabrics.
Since Aflalo was a young child she has always had a dream to work in the fashion industry but was discouraged by her surrounding peers and family. She dropped her dream but continued sewing and drawing as a hobby. When she got to college she started to pick up a niche for environment and sustainability. Throughout her studies, there was a lot of discussion about fast fashion and how it is harming our environment.
In the winter of 2021 when the United States started to shut down again due to the spread of Covid-19. Many things in Aflalo’s life began to move back to the remote world.
Aflalo began doing something meaningful with her time. She started by making a business model for her clothing company and slowly started to create a website, Instagram, and branding for this small business.
Aflalo put countless hours into her business and had it up and running quickly. She has been working hard to create a company that is giving back to the community and the surrounding environment. She says, “I am trying to involve the knowledge I have learned in school with the fashion industry so I can enjoy work and pleasure by making the world a better place.”
Aflalo hopes that her clothing company, “BySoltana” becomes more significant in her life and gains more popularity as the years go on. Her best friend Josie Newgard says, “She is so passionate about the designs that she has us model them on the weekends, I have no doubt this will become her empire.” Being a full-time student while also spending time creating media content and gaining traction, along with hours of hand sewing, her dream has become her reality.
Logan Moscatelli 