According to a recent permit filing, Barrel Mountain Pizza and Pints will soon come to Vancouver, located at 4219 NE St Johns Road STE A.
A representative of Barrel Mountain Pizza and Pints was not immediately available for commentary upon What Now Portland’s request.
While an official opening date has yet to be confirmed, the story of Barrel Mountain Brewing is a journey that began in the 1950s, where the Steigman and Bechtold families.
Ron Steigman and Sandra Bechtold, united by love, built their home just outside of Battle Ground, where Barrel Mountain’s original location resides. Meanwhile, Dutch and Millie Bechtold purchased a building on the main street, which would serve various purposes, including a laundromat.
As time passed, the Steigman and Bechtold families embarked on their respective adventures. Margaret Mills/Steigman, Ronnie’s mother, ventured into the bar business during the late 1970s, eventually acquiring the Prairie Tavern. Financial challenges led to Ron and Sandy helping her out and ultimately taking over the tavern’s operations. Sandy stepped into a new career as the tavern’s manager/operator.
However, it was on a fishing boat, during a heartfelt conversation with a friend, that the idea of a brewery began to take shape.
These discussions were filled with dreams of crafting spirits, but the idea of brewing beer soon took root. The plan evolved, but the vision remained clear: to create a place that offered both. As Troy’s mother battled cancer, she encouraged him to take a chance. With her inspiring words, “What do you have to lose?” echoing in his mind, Troy delved into beer research, branding, and sketching.
Originally named Silver Star Brewing, the brewery faced a trademark challenge, leading to a rebranding as Barrel Mountain Brewing. In place of a local landmark, the decision was made to create a new one, establishing a destination for everyone to enjoy.
The journey to bring this dream to life was filled with challenges. Securing a loan proved difficult until Dean and Barb Schrader, close friends of Ron and Sandy, stepped in and provided the much-needed support. The transformation began on January 1, 2014, as Troy, Geremy, and Ron began renovating the old laundromat building. After extensive work on utilities and interior design, the pub started to take shape.
Everything in the pub came together piece by piece, with local wood, collected memorabilia, and family heirlooms, finding new life. The brewery building in the back gradually took form, with the entire process taking a year and a half to complete. The family’s hands-on approach and commitment to doing things right drove the project forward, according to the company website.
