Deception Brewing is Where You Drink When You Can’t Handle More Pinot

This Dundee nanobrewery opened in 2014 and impressed us last year—especially the apricot cream ale, which was in serious consideration for a slot in our top 10 beers of 2015.

(Deception Brewing, Michaela Conrads)

1174 Highway 99W, Dundee, 971-832-8054, deceptionbrewingco.com. 4-9 pm Thursday, 4-10 pm Friday, noon-10 pm Saturday, noon-8 pm Sunday.

This Dundee nanobrewery opened in 2014 and impressed us last year—especially the apricot cream ale, which was in serious consideration for a slot in our top 10 beers of 2015. The problem with a nanobrewery with no liquor license and no food beyond packaged peanuts, however, is that it's tough to make things pencil out.

(Deception Brewing, Michaela Conrads)
(Deception Brewing, Michaela Conrads)

While it's still a friendly room, the owners seemed to have checked out. The brewery has been listed for sale, taproom hours have been slashed, a fresh hop beer lingered on in mid-December and everything we sampled lacked the punch we loved last year.

(Deception Brewing, Michaela Conrads)

Drink this: The apricot cream ale was still the best of the bunch. But like that magical batch of Fearless Loki Red that famously won a spot on our 2012 top 10, it doesn't show quite the same touch now.

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