Same Grain. Same Hops. Two Very Different IPAs | pFriem x Fort George Companion IPAs Release Oct. 8

Same Grain. Same Hops. Two Very Different IPAs.

pFriem Family Brewers and Fort George Brewing release companion beers linking the Columbia River Gorge and the Oregon Coast. Plus a giveaway sending one winner to Hood River or Astoria, Oregon.

ASTORIA & HOOD RIVER, Ore. — pFriem Family Brewers and Fort George Brewery have collaborated on two IPAs that are born from the same grain and hop bill, but let the breweries' own processes take them in opposite directions. Vacation Destination, a bright, bone-dry West Coast IPA from pFriem, and Destination Vacation, an opaque, pillowy-soft Hazy IPA from Fort George, release October 8th on draft and in 16oz/4pk cans.

The premise is simple: start from identical raw materials and see how far apart two breweries' philosophies can take these beers. The base recipe was the easy part. Both pFriem and Fort George signed off on the grist and hop bill then brewed independently. Everything after that, yeast, fermentation management, dry hopping, etc was entirely up to the individual brewery.

The two breweries also reside in two of the Pacific Northwest's best weekend vacations: Hood River in the Columbia River Gorge, and Astoria on the Oregon Coast. The question is, are you looking for a Vacation Destination or a Destination Vacation?

"We are so proud to call the amazing folks at Fort George Brewing good friends! We share so much in common from our dedicated and passionate approach to brewing beer, to running businesses that we are proud of, and investing in our communities. We also share commonality with being situated on the Columbia River in two iconic Oregon towns. That said, we both beat to our own drums and find inspiration from each other. So what a great opportunity to stretch our creative wings and collaborate on a set of raw materials, but take them in two totally different directions of a West Coast IPA and a Hazy IPA! The beers alone should take you on a vacation like journey, but we hope you feel the Gorge and Oregon Coast in each of them. We encourage you to try them side by side or maybe even better to have an excuse to go to Hood River and/or Astoria to figure out if you are on a Vacation Destination or a Destination Vacation." Josh Pfriem, Co-Founder/Brewmaster pFriem Family Brewers.

About the Beers

Both beers start from the same build: a clean base of Pilsner and Pale malts, with malted and unmalted wheat for texture without sweetness, and a single hop bill of Eclipse, Krush, Citra Cryo, and Simcoe.

From there they split:

Vacation Destination pFriem West Coast IPA, 7.0%

At pFriem, the focus turns to clarity, brightness, and razor-sharp precision. Through targeted hot-side hop additions and a clean, attenuative fermentation, these shared ingredients are transformed into a brilliant, straw-hued West Coast IPA. The wheat provides just enough body to give the hops traction, letting the resinous pine of Simcoe and the sharp citrus of Citra Cryo slice through with an assertive, satisfying bitterness and a bone-dry finish.

Destination Vacation Fort George Hazy IPA, 7.0%

Meanwhile, down by the coast, Fort George coaxes these exact same raw materials into an opulent, opaque cloud. Utilizing a distinct yeast strain and massive, bio-transformative dry-hop additions, the wheat is activated to form a plush, pillowy-soft mouthfeel. The bitter edge is rounded out entirely, allowing the sweet mandarin notes of Eclipse and the ripe, stone-fruit luxury of Krush to present as a velvety, juicy sensory experience.

This collaboration is more than just a pair of world-class IPAs; it is an exploration of brewing synergy. It serves as a living masterclass for the curious palate, proving that even when we start at the exact same place, the choices we make along the way can yield two entirely unique, yet beautifully complementary IPAs. They are best compared side by side to fully experience the experiment.

"We have a ton of love and respect for our friends at pFriem Family Brewers. Everything they do is world class and it turns out, we have a lot in common. Our dedication to making great beer is first and foremost, matched only by our dedication to providing a fantastic brewpub experience. We also happen to be based in two of the most iconic vacation destinations in the Pacific Northwest, Astoria and Hood River, places that we are lucky enough to call our homes. Is the vacation in the destination, or is your destination the vacation? I think you'll find both in our beers. One's hazy, the other is clear. One is the gateway to the Oregon Coast, while the other is the gateway to Mt. Hood. Try them both for a limited time and enter for your chance to win a trip to one of these cities." Brian Bovenizer, Director of Sales and Marketing, Fort George Brewery.

Win a Weekend in Hood River or Astoria, Oregon.

Alongside the release, pFriem and Fort George are hosting a Weekend Getaway to either Hood River or Astoria Oregon.

One winner will choose between two Pacific Northwest getaways:

• Two-night stay in Astoria, Ore. + $100 gift card to Fort George Brewery

• Two-night stay in Hood River, Ore. + $100 gift card to pFriem Family Brewers

Entries open Oct 1st and close December 1, 2026. Enter at pfriembeer.com/vacation-getaway

No purchase necessary. Must be 21 or older.

Availability

Vacation Destination & Destination Vacation are available beginning October 8th on draft and 16oz 4/pk cans at both Fort George and pFriem Tasting Rooms. The beers will roll out through the month of October at select retailers and draft accounts across Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and parts of Southern California.

Release Parties

• 10/8 - pFriem Milwaukie Tasting Room (party on the patio) from 3-5pm followed by 1847 Taproom from 5-7pm

• 10/10 - Fort George Brewpub pre-party followed by Bridge and Tunnel at 5pm

• 10/14 - Seattle's Queen Anne Beer Hall from 5-8pm

About pFriem Family Brewers

pFriem Family Brewers (pronounced "freem") is a Northwest and European-inspired brewery based in Hood River and Milwaukie, Oregon. Founded in 2012, pFriem has built a reputation for balance-driven, artisanal beers that honor classic European styles while reflecting the spirit of the Pacific Northwest. The brewery has earned widespread recognition for its consistency and quality, including multiple medals at the Great American Beer Festival, World Beer Cup, and international brewing competitions. pFriem distributes throughout Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California and remains deeply rooted in its local community.

About Fort George Brewing

Fort George is an industry leading brewery and public house located in Astoria, Oregon. They put community first by making sustainable choices at every level: from Certified Ocean Friendly restaurants to a solar-powered production brewery. You can find Fort George all over the Pacific Northwest wherever you get good beer and especially in Astoria: from three Oregon Beer Awards winning restaurant spaces downtown, to seasonal venues, legendary festivals and a sustainable waterfront production brewery. The Fort has been growing and supporting their Astoria community for almost 20 years. By investing in sustainable infrastructure, sourcing local ingredients and working with local community non-profits, Fort George is an ongoing community project.