Best "New" Brew in Town?

By: Erik Arneson | September 24 2009
Posted in Rogue Valley - Find It - Rogue Valley

If the name "Caldera" sounds familiar, it's because the brewing company has been in Southern Oregon for over a decade. The latest offering, the Caldera Tap Room, doesn't come in a glass with a foamy head, but it's just as enjoyable and finely crafted as one of the brews.

With 20 beers on tap, Caldera offers something for every beer drinker.

Behind the bar of the Caldera Tap House are 20 taps, 11 from Caldera Brewing Company and nine rotating taps from other breweries. The beer menu boasts that it “features year-round, seasonal, and eclectic offerings,” ranging from Caldera classics like their IPA and Ashland Amber to the unexpected, such as the surprisingly fragrant Dry Hop Orange. Beer enthusiasts are also able to purchase glassware and beer to go in quart jars, cases, or 6-packs. In addition to beer, the Tap House offers a full bar and a small selection of wines.

Caldera Brewing Company has been brewing beer in Ashland since 1996, and opened the new Caldera Tap House earlier this summer in the old Siskiyou Brew Pub location in downtown Ashland. “All along we’ve focused on quality ingredients for our beers,” says owner Jim Mills, “and when we opened the Caldera Tap House, we wanted the quality of our food to match the quality of our beer. We use local ingredients as much as we can, especially our produce, and our bread is made by La Baguette here in Ashland.”

The basement setting is cozy and intimate, with a stage for live bands and a gas fireplace. Outside, a multi-level deck overlooks Lithia Creek and provides a great atmosphere to enjoy a pint or offerings from the top-notch bar menu, which features a wide range of appetizers, sandwiches, and delicious burgers that are hand-pressed and cooked to order.

In the spirit of keeping things local, the bar also features Organic Nation liquor made by Cascade Peak Spirits and spirits from Rogue Distillery, in addition to a number of Oregon wines.

Photo: istockphoto.com/peepo