Finally, some good news! Pita & beer! Gratitude Brewing will re-reopen its taproom November 1 with a fresh taplist and Mediterranean/Middle Eastern food menu in collaboration with Tradewinds Cafe. The South Eugene staple, known colloquially as Jiffy Mart, makes some of the finest Greek food in town.

While Gratitude is still for sale, owner Tristan Cooley said that being able to reopen without having to run both the brewery and restaurant is a relief. Tradewinds owners Mark Head and Abbie Shadrick approached him about opening a second retail space, and the pieces fell into place. Guests can expect

Gratitude will reopen with a dozen new beers on tap, including Goodbye Big Yellow Crane, a hazy IPA that references the, you guessed it, big yellow crane that was dangling over the construction site next door. Also in the lineup, a porter brewed with cacao nibs and cold extracted coffee from Equiano Coffee Roasters.

Hours will be Wednesday-Sunday from 4-9pm, and will expand as needed. 540 E 8th Ave.

Alesong Brewing & Blending opened its in-town tasting room, Alesong on 5th, in December of 2020 on the second floor of the 5th Street Market building. According to a press release, Alesong is pulling back to focus on its countryside location in Lorane.

Co-founder Doug Coombs said that although the location had the right vibe and good clientele, he and his business partners, Brian Coombs and Matt Van Wyk, did not have the bandwidth to run both locations and manage the production process for beer, cider, and wine.

“So with the timing of the lease coming up and feeling spread thin, we felt it was time to simplify. If we were making money hand over fist there we would have found a way to work.”

In June of this year, Alesong opened its Country Kitchen, expanding its menu from cheese and charcuterie boards to a bistro-style menu of sandwiches, salad, and small plates. The Kitchen will continue to operate as usual.

The country brewery is already Alesong’s event hub, with live music during the summer, events like Alesong & Friends, and quarterly food pairing release parties for its Blender’s Circle members. Having recently added cider and wine to its production, Alesong remains a dynamic, high-end element in the local beer scene, and has made its name internationally with award-winning barrel-aged wild and strong beers.