Overview
Whitney Burnside is leaving her multi award-winning stint as head brewer of 10 Barrel Brewing’s Portland location to stretch her wings and go independent. Doug Adams made a splash in the foodie world during his stint at Paley’s Place and then on Top Chef, before he opened top dining destinations like Bullard Tavern and Holler. The two married in 2019 and have a daughter together, their pairing is like a master class of beer and food that they hope to showcase both on the plate and in the glass, and reflected in the hospitality at Grand Fir Brewing.
By the time Whitney Burnside had met Doug Adams she had made a name for herself as one of the strongest voices and tastemakers in the industry. She started her career in the cellar at Laurelwood Brewing in 2009, and then blossomed as an assistant brewer at Upright Brewing before landing a gig brewing at Elysian Brewing in Seattle pre-buyout and under the direction of legendary brewmaster Dick Cantwell. After 2 years at Elysian she was looking for a change and took a job at Pelican Brewing in Pacific City. Working under brewmaster Darron Welch she designed some of her first and best award-winning beers like Queen of Hearts (World Beer Cup gold medal) and Pelicano Extra (one of the best ever Mexican-style Lagers.) It was then she was offered the role to lead 10 Barrel Brewing’s upcoming Portland location prior to their sale to ABInBev. The opportunity was too good to pass up and she later developed flagships like Pearl IPA.
Texas native Doug Adams came to Portland in 2008, working a succession of cooking jobs at high profile restaurants like Andy Ricker’s Ping and Paley’s Place before he became chef de cuisine at Imperial and Portland Penny Diner. In 2014 he competed on Bravo television networks Top Chef and came in as a top finalist at 3rd place. Known for his Texas inspired cooking and his famous world-class fried chicken, Adams embraced his roots to open Bullard Tavern in downtown Portland in December 2018. Named after his small hometown in east Texas, Bullard serves the kind of down home casual BBQ and Tex-Mex inspired dishes of Adams childhood only prepared at an elevated level that make you believe a roll your own beef rib taco can be life altering. And in 2021 he launched The Royal Coachmen, a dinner series that pops up along streams, lakes and campgrounds that combines the joys of fly fishing and outdoor cooking.
Whitney Burnside had already been developing and refining her vision for a brewery before she had even met Doug. The evolving concept has gone from intimate small plate brewpub, to custom built-out new developments, and female driven brand identities long before family and a pandemic shifted focus and coalesced into a shape that both she and Doug can call their own.
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