PORTLAND, Ore. — (June 29, 2026) — The Horse Brass Pub, one of Portland’s most beloved beer destinations and a defining institution in Oregon craft beer history, will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a week of events at 4534 SE Belmont St. from Friday, July 10 through Thursday, July 16, 2026.
Founded in 1976 by Don Younger, Horse Brass played a vital role in shaping Oregon’s beer culture. Long before the city’s craft brewing reputation turned it into a beer-lovers’ destination, Horse Brass was pouring imports, cask ales, and the earliest Oregon microbrews. It gave fledgling local breweries a place to be discovered and provided brewers, drinkers, writers, regulars, and future publicans a place to talk shop and bond over a few pints.
For five decades, the pub has remained a destination and one of the city’s greatest equalizing rooms, with old-timers seated next to newcomers, brewers next to bartenders, and industry legends next to someone walking in for their first proper pint. The dark wood, darts, fish and chips, cask ale, and history displayed on every wall evoke a singular blend of old Portland and old England.
The celebration comes in the same year that Horse Brass co-owner Jerry Fechter was inducted into the Oregon Beer Awards Hall of Fame, a fitting honor for one of the people helping carry the pub’s legacy into its next chapter.
“When most people think of Horse Brass, they think of the beer first. But for me, it’s the people,” said Fechter. “The brewers, our staff, our regulars, the musicians, the spirit of Don, and everyone who has stepped through our doors. For fifty years we’ve been transporting people to an English pub in the heart of Portland, and this celebration is for every one of them.”
Younger’s legacy is inseparable from the story of Oregon beer. He is remembered as one of the great American publicans and a vital early supporter of the region’s emerging microbrewery scene. Horse Brass is widely credited as a place where Oregon brewers found an audience, and where the industry-changing 1985 Oregon Brewpub Bill was discussed among key industry figures.
The anniversary week will also give many guests their first look at the Pony Room, the Horse Brass Pub’s newly opened companion space across the breezeway from the main pub. The room occupies the former Belmont Station storefront and now gives the Horse Brass additional room for private gatherings, busy nights, and special events. During the 50th celebration, it will serve as both overflow space and a living archive, with historic photos, breweriana, rare keepsakes, and pieces of Oregon beer history on display. The room also includes its own small bar setup and a newly completed stained-glass piece by Alan Sprints of Hair of the Dog Brewing.
The celebration kicks off on Friday, July 10 with the tapping of a series of special anniversary collaboration beers and cider brewed or blended with friends of the pub. The lineup includes Russian River’s special anniversary release, Don the Younger, along with collaborations with Double Mountain, Solera, Everybody’s Brewing, Ninkasi, Ecliptic, Gigantic, Fort George, Lompoc, Breakside, Sunriver, Bauman’s Cider, McMenamins, Widmer Brothers, Migration, and Georgetown, among others. Beers will rotate throughout the week, with the newly opened Pony Room available for overflow on busier nights.
On Saturday, July 11, Horse Brass will honor what would have been Don Younger’s 86th birthday with cake and a special toast at 5 p.m. Younger’s presence lives on in the pub’s character, beer list, and sense of humor.
Sunday, July 12 brings Tom May & Friends at 2 p.m. May, now 78, has been performing his folk music at Horse Brass since its first year.
Monday, July 13 celebrates the birth of punk rock, also 50 years ago. The Punk Rock Review begins at 8 p.m., featuring Renegade Leathers, Velvet Merkin, and Stumblebum.
Tuesday, July 14 features the Buds of May Revival from 8 to 10 p.m., with legendary Portland brewer John Harris joining a night of bluegrass and psychedelic jam rock.
Wednesday, July 15 is Craft Industry Night, with DJ Ben Love of Gigantic Brewing spinning the sounds of ’76 from 8 p.m. to midnight. Brewers, cidermakers, and industry friends from across the Pacific Northwest will gather for a night honoring the pub’s deep ties to the regional beer community. The Pony Room will be open with historic photos laid out for guests to help identify the people, moments, and memories captured over the years.
Last call for the first 50 will be Thursday, July 16 with The Rolling Tones, a Rolling Stones tribute band, playing from 8 to 11 p.m.
Horse Brass Pub Anniversary Collabs
- Double Mountain, Solera, Everybody’s Brewing — “It’s About the Beer”* — West Coast IPA
- Russian River Brewing — Don the Younger — Session IPA
- Ninkasi, Ecliptic Brewing — Younger Special IPA — West Coast IPA
- Gigantic, Fort George, Lompoc — Thrupple IPA 2005 — West Coast IPA
- Breakside Brewing, Sunriver — Mad Hatter IPA** — West Coast IPA
- Bauman’s Cider — Special Dry Blend — Cider
- McMenamins — Sunflower IPA — IPA
- Widmer Bros. — Wheat from Beyond — Dunkel Alt
- Migration Brewing, Puff Coffee — Clem’s Coffee Cream Ale — Coffee Cream Ale
- Georgetown Brewing — The Bitter Horseman — ESB
*Don Younger was known for his quote, “It’s not about the beer. It’s about the beer.”
**Named after one of Don Younger’s earlier bars.
Horse Brass Pub 50th Anniversary Schedule
Friday, July 10: Collaboration Release Day featuring anniversary beers and cider brewed or blended with friends of Horse Brass. Pony Room open.
Saturday, July 11: Don Younger’s 86th birthday celebration with cake and a special toast at 5 p.m.
Sunday, July 12: Tom May & Friends at 2 p.m.
Monday, July 13: Punk Rock Review at 8 p.m. with Renegade Leathers, Velvet Merkin, and Stumblebum.
Tuesday, July 14: Buds of May Revival from 8 to 10 p.m.
Wednesday, July 15: Craft Industry Night with DJ Love from 8 p.m. to midnight. Group photo planned for 9 p.m. Pony Room open with historic photos for guests to help identify.
Thursday, July 16: The Rolling Tones, Rolling Stones tribute band, from 8 to 11 p.m.
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About Horse Brass Pub
Founded in 1976, Horse Brass Pub helped introduce Portland drinkers to the depth, range, and community spirit that would come to define Oregon craft beer. For 50 years, Horse Brass has served as a gathering place for brewers, beer lovers, musicians, regulars, and visitors from around the world.
With its classic English pub atmosphere, deep tap list, and long-standing connection to the region’s brewing industry, Horse Brass became a place where beer history was made one pint, one conversation, and one song at a time.
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