Brewery Spotlight:
Heater Allen + Gold Dot

July 17th

Heater Allen Brewing was founded in 2007 in McMinnville, Oregon, by Rick Allen, a passionate homebrewer who turned his hobby into a brewery focused entirely on traditional European-style lagers. Named after his wife’s maiden name (“Heater”) and his own, the brewery quickly gained a reputation for its meticulous methods—step-mashing, soft water profiles, and long, cold lagering—producing clean, unfiltered beers with clarity and depth. Over the years, Heater Allen grew from a 20-gallon setup into a respected regional name, especially known for its Pilsner and other German-style lagers.

In 2009, Rick’s daughter Lisa Allen joined the brewery and took over as head brewer in 2017, marking the start of a new chapter. By late 2022, Lisa and her partner, acclaimed brewer Kevin Davey (formerly of Wayfinder Beer and creator of the Cold IPA), took over majority ownership of Heater Allen. Together, they expanded operations—upgrading the facility, increasing production capacity, and enhancing the taproom experience—while preserving the brewery’s original commitment to quality lagers.

In 2023, the duo launched Gold Dot Brewing as a premium sister brand within the same facility. Gold Dot focuses on high-end, experimental lagers like helles, Cold IPA, and export styles, using advanced techniques such as decoction mashing, horizontal tank maturation, and extended lagering. While Heater Allen continues to embody tradition and approachability, Gold Dot explores innovation and refinement, offering beers that are both modern and uncompromising