Journeyman and Brewmaster John Harris announced his latest brewing adventure: Ecliptic Brewing, a North Portland brewery and brewpub. Harris has had a storied career in craft brewing. He spent his first two years, from 1986-1988, as a brewer at McMenamins’ breweries; his next four were at Deschutes, where he created the recipes for Mirror Pond, Black Butte Porter, Jubelale and Obsidian Stout; and Harris spent the next 20 years of his illustrious career as a brewmaster at Full Sail in charge of creating the Brewmaster Reserve line of Beers.
“After many months of planning and building, I am very excited to see this project come to opening,” Harris said. “I have been involved in this industry for many years and strive to bring the two hottest things in Portland right now together in a creative firestorm — beer and food. We want Ecliptic to be known for both, and will strive to bring them together like no one has.”
Harris will open his doors on Oct. 21 and begin serving three Ecliptic beers, all brewed on-site in Ecliptic’s 15-barrel (bbl) brewhouse, and one collaboration beer brewed with Gigantic Brewing. Harris and Executive Chef Michael Molitor will also be unveiling Ecliptic’s menu, which features local, seasonal fare and a heightened food experience.
Almost everything about Ecliptic Brewing pays homage to the brewery’s name, and Harris’s passion for astronomy. As Harris says, “Ecliptic Brewing is all about celebrating our journey around the sun.” The seasonal menu will change every six weeks based on the old world Wheel of the Year; we are entering into Samhain otherwise known as Halloween, the season that signifies the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere. The menu from Chef Molitor, formerly the sous chef at Pazzo Ristorante, will reflect the astronomical seasons and be further complemented by Harris’ beers.
The first beer brewed at Ecliptic’s facility was Procyon Pale Ale, named after the little dog star in Canis Minor. The other two Ecliptic beers available will be Arcturus IPA, named after the biggest star in the sky, and Capella Porter, named after the brightest star in the constellation Auriga. On opening day, Ecliptic will also be pouring Harris’s recent collaboration with Gigantic Brewing, called TICWITTIC, an American sour wit.
Ecliptic’s layout will accommodate families on one side and adults looking to relax in a bar environment on the other. The same menu will be offered throughout the restaurant.
