Scoop: Fighting Cavities, One Beer at a Time

1. BEERIDATION: Eyebrows raised as two well-known Oregon breweries appeared to be taking opposing sides of Portland’s heated fluoridation debate. Alex Ganum, owner of Portland’s Upright Brewing Co., has been a vocal supporter of adding fluoride to our municipal water supply, while Eugene’s Ninkasi Brewing gave an in-kind donation of $148 to a group opposing the additive. Contacted, Ganum stood his ground, stating that adding fluoride wouldn’t harm residents in any way. “I know for a fact that it would not negatively impact the quality of beer,” he said. “We have some of the best water in the country, but it’s not because it’s not fluoridated.” Ninkasi’s donations manager, Nicole Nelson, said the brewery has “no stance on the issue” but made the donation because the company likes to encourage local activism.

1. FUTURE DRINKING: The former funeral parlor that previously housed beloved Sellwood music venue the Woods will soon be Relish Gastropub. >> Junior’s Cafe has been sold to Amy Christin Squier, a longtime employee of Dots Cafe. Squier did not return calls, but a Portlander of the same name figured prominently in the 1998 documentary Kurt & Courtney, which tracked conspiracy theories about the Nirvana frontman’s death through Portland’s seedy underbelly. >> Japanese chain Shigezo is opening a second Portland outlet on the criminally under-serviced Southeast Division Street.  >> Linnton’s nautical-themed Lighthouse Inn at 10808 NW St. Helens Road has been sold—Matthew D. Sayler has applied to take over the liquor license. >> Another winery looks to be joining the Clinton-Division Southeast Wine Collective: GMB Inc., which is registered to Gerald M. Bieze of Lake Oswego, has applied for a winery license. Who is the Collective’s eager new oenophile? A probable Republican. According to public records, Bieze donated $500 to Rick Santorum’s failed presidential bid. Pass us the Mad Dog.

1. FROM JUSTIN TO MAGGOTS: Last week, Bieber Fever swept through Portland like the plague, as the Canadian wunderkind successfully got through a sold-out gig at the Rose Garden without vomiting, but the ravages of this as-yet-incurable disease continue to infect one local blog. Actually, “12 Degrees of Justin Bieber” launched three months ago with the intent of seeing if it’s possible for a Pandora station to get from Slipknot to the Biebz in 160 hours through only the “like” and “dislike” functions. Why, exactly? To test the flexibility of the popular Internet radio station, says the owner of the Tumblr site, a guy named Alex. “How much does each like/dislike influence your station?” he poses in a section of the blog labeled “What the Hell Is This?” “To what extent can you manipulate it?” Only in Portland would folks have the time to find out. You can monitor his progress at 12degreesofjustinbieber.tumblr.com.

WWeek 2015