A Place for All to Gather in the Willamette Valley
Oregon fields have just started to bloom out and have their earliest hop cones form, marking another exciting milestone for growers and agronomists alike–smelling the first cones of the year. Tearing open and rubbing the cones in your hands until you get a fragrant whiff has become my favorite part of agronomic work; To be able to smell the difference in hop varieties while in the field is an invaluable part of learning about beer, making my experience at Xicha Brewing even more irreplaceable and exciting. Growers, brewers, and beer enthusiasts of all backgrounds gathered at Xicha Brewing in North Salem, OR on June 26th to taste and celebrate the release of their Cerveza Común–a limited edition pilsner made with Citra hops grown by Coleman Hop Farms, which just so happened to be from the exact field where I was scouting and smelling hop cops earlier that morning!
Luckily, for the folks who couldn’t smell the hops straight out of the field, Coleman Hops brought multiple dry hop varieties to share in the sensory experience. What a difference the drying process made. Without the green, vegetal smell that fresh hops possess, all that remained in the dry hops were their aromatic properties, allowing notes to come across more clearly. Cerveza Común was, of course, the fan favorite brew of the night. After a long day of work, it was so refreshing to first encounter the plentiful tingly carbonation, followed by the classic dominant aromas of citrusy grapefruit & floral notes that pack a punch (as do most YCR hop varieties) all rounded out by the bready and lightly sweet flavor that defines the pilsner style. The bitterness lingered without being astringent, making it thirst-quenching–the exact beer sought after by anybody who spends long, hot days working in agriculture.
If pilsners aren’t your go-to, fret not. Xicha maintains a tap menu full of a good mix of lagers and ales, including experimental fruited sours–the coveted beer that, if you ask me, truly defines whether a brewery can do it all. While at Xicha, Head Brewer Charlie Van Meter gave us a sneak peek at his first attempt at a hard seltzer. Knowing that it’s still unreleased, I was surprised by the market-ready quality. Though my background is in beer, by being a 20-something who has tried plenty of just-average seltzers (and seen first-hand how the younger markets can tend to favor seltzers over beer), the only light fruity flavor, moderate carbonation, and nearly hidden alcoholic astringency made it seem to me that it would be a hit amongst younger drinkers. A word to the wise: keep your eye out for whatever Xicha releases next.
The folks at Xicha are class acts. The quality of the food and service rivaled that of the beer. The smell of fresh corn tortillas, sharp onions, and perfectly spiced braised beef filled the air and enticed you from the second you walked in the door. The modern atmosphere was welcoming to all, including families, friends, solo travelers, those who only want beer, those who only want food, and those who come for both. With indoor and outdoor patio seating, and a respectable number of beers on top, there is something that everybody will enjoy. As a place with food that is just as good as the beer, Xicha brings to life the true spirit of the hop-growing and brewing industry, in a world where the inspiration is momentarily lacking. Xicha is Oregon’s first Latine-owned brewery, but that isn’t just what makes one’s visit a unique cultural experience. I observed brewers, growers, owners, back-of-house, and front-of-house all swing by to greet customers at their tables, to thank them for coming, and to see what they thought of the experience. It is because of these elements of pride and integrity, genuine care for people and product, that makes Xicha a unique brewery experience. It is so refreshing to meet up with
locals and hear them say some iteration of, “Order anything–everything here is delicious!”. Such a review certainly holds up at Xicha Brewing.
About Xicha Brewing
Xicha Brewing, Oregon’s first Latino-owned brewery, has been a vibrant cornerstone of Salem’s craft beer scene since 2017. Founded by Ricardo Antunez, Ben Mendoza, Maggie Antunez, and Matt Dakopolos, Xicha [chee-chah] blends Latin American flavors with European-style ales and lagers, creating unique brews like their Guava Golden Ale and Mexican Lager, Chela. Committed to community and culture, their family-friendly taprooms in Salem and Eugene offer authentic Latin American cuisine, from barbacoa tacos to Peruvian ceviche, fostering an inclusive environment. With a new brewhouse and head brewer Charlie Van Meter, Xicha continues to innovate, expanding distribution across Oregon while hosting cultural events like lotería nights and Xicha Fest, celebrating their heritage through cerveza, comida, and cultura. Visit www.xichabrewing.com for more.
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