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Ecliptic, a much-honored and influential Portland brewery, is sold

One of Portland's destination craft breweries has sold after 10 years.
Credit: Pat Dooris
John Harris owns Ecliptic Brewing in North Portland.

PORTLAND, Ore. — One of Portland's destination breweries has sold after a much-lauded 10-year run.

Ecliptic Brewing's John Harris did not, in a social media post announcing the sale, reveal the buyer. The brand will apparently still exist, and Harris will participate in some fashion, he wrote in the post.

UPDATE: New Ecliptic owner revealed as a West Coast beverage brand collective

Harris is a mainstay of Oregon brewing. He's credited with creating the recipe for Mirror Pond Pale Ale and for honing the recipe for Black Butte Porter, both of which are signature brands for both the state and for Deschutes Brewery.

He opened Ecliptic as both a craft brewing brand and a North Portland restaurant in 2013. It was known for its exceptional food, its space-dotted decor and Harris' new beers. The Starburst IPA became a staple in Northwest stores, and Harris proved his barrel-aging mettle with selections of the barleywine Orange Giant.

Along the way, the company is a three-time winner of the Portland Business Journal Beer Showdown, in which readers pick their favorite alemakers.

Ecliptic opened a second Portland location, called the Moon Room, in Southeast Portland earlier this decade. The spot closed temporarily before reopening this year.

Credit: Ecliptic Brewing

RELATED: Wave of Portland breweries have either shut their doors or plan to close down

The company didn't immediately respond to a request for more information. Here's the letter that Harris posted on social media.

Hi all:

Our business has been really challenging the past two years. We have encountered so many issues that other small businesses have faced: a pandemic, rising costs of goods, supply chain issues and the overall economic climate. It has gotten to the point where we are no longer able to continue operations, and the company has sold.

The sale will allow me to pay back our debts and align the brand with a bigger entity to allow it to continue. Ecliptic beer will still be available in stores and restaurants. I will still be involved in the Ecliptic brand and beer development, just not in our current site.

Thank you to all my staff past and present for "pouring space" in everyone's faces for the past 10 years. And a super thanks to all of you who have supported Ecliptic Brewing by enjoying our beers out in the world as well as with food in our restaurant.

Our restaurant will be open through Saturday Nov. 18. Please come join us one last time and toast what has been a wild ride here on Spaceship Earth.

Cheers, John

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