One of Astoria’s craft brewing legends has passed away.
Steve Allen, a businessman who helped revive downtown Astoria and founded the city’s longest-running brewery in 1997, died Dec. 27 in Warrenton, surrounded by loved ones. He was 73.
Allen, a certified public accountant, was an investor in the original Wet Dog Café, a downtown family-friendly pub, and would later take over the business with his wife Karen. They began making craft beer under the name Pacific Rim Brewery, renaming it and the pub Astoria Brewing years later.
The brewery, while still relatively small and based on the waterfront, is the city’s oldest. To put things in perspective, Fort George Brewery wouldn’t come along until 2007, followed by Buoy Beer in 2013.
As Steve and Karen Allen prepared for retirement, the popular restaurant and brewery, along with several other businesses, were handed down to their children, Kera Huber, Andy Huber and Mike Allen, and longtime manager Matthew McClure.
Among the family’s other business holdings are the Columbian Theater, Pier 11, and the Desdemona Club and Chart Room saloons.
Head brewer Andrew Brown, hired a few years ago, has taken Astoria Brewing to new heights, releasing more seasonal and barrel-aged brews, and collaborating with other breweries.
The family could not immediately be reached for comment.
The brewery announced on social media that it’s hosting a “public toast” to Allen at the 11th Street brewpub on Jan. 24 from 1-4 p.m.
You may want to raise a pint of Strawberry Blonde. One of the original beers, it was Allen’s favorite.
