Black Water started out as a southeast Portland record store on 21st and Morrison that offered coffee and metal music. In 2012 they moved to a larger location at 223 NE Russell St, Portland, OR 97212 and birthed with their own punk and metal label that partners with west coast bands as well as recording studios, and screen printers to make themselves a vital part of the underground community.
The New School reported in 2014 that Black Water PDX was to open as Portland’s First Metal Brewery and first Vegan brewery. It opened in 2015 as the second Black Water, a spinoff of the record store that operated as an all-ages bar until 11pm hosting punk and metal shows. Black Water owner Keith Testerman partnered with homebrewers Devin Shollenberger and Alex Carroccio with plans to brew off-site. And they did, often you would find a tap or two of the 12 rotating craft beer handles dedicated to a house brewed beer such as their Hoperation Ryevy Rye IPA. Over time the bar leaned more into cocktails, n/a mocktails, and expanding their food program into a full scratch vegan kitchen with it’s own fan base.
The former Laurelwood Brewing space is considerably larger then Black Water’s current location. Not only is there a full restaurant, large kitchen, production brewery, and offices, but it was also recently home to Celtic Axe Throwing lanes. A semi-hidden feature of the building is an upstairs loft area with a small bar previously called The Brewers Den, with it’s own little rooftop patio. A full on-site parking lot and the large scale footprint of the building could make the new home of Black Water a destination concert venue.
Will Black Water become the craft brewery project they always wanted to be at Laurelwood Brewing? Or alternatively, with Laurelwood beer still being brewed in Oregon, could it be back on the tap handles in the same building? Black Water co-founder Alex Carroccio only confirms “We will be moving the Restaurant, Bar and Record Store into the old Laurelwood building. Details tba!”
