Releasing at BeerMongers this July, Star Kitchen is a collaboration between pFriem Family Brewers and Nebuleus Beer—a distinctive, cocktail-inspired brew that reimagines a classic drink.
The idea for Star Kitchen wasn't born in a blending room or around a barrel rack. It began at a dinner table during one of pFriem Family Brewers' pFeast events, when a conversation about an obscure botanical unexpectedly connected brewer Kyle Krause with one of Oregon's most intriguing beer projects.
pFriem's pFeast dinners are designed to showcase the relationship between beer and food, pairing thoughtfully prepared menus with the brewery's extensive portfolio of ales, lagers, and barrel-aged offerings. During the brewery's Myths & Moonlight pFeast, Krause found himself sharing drinks and conversation with a couple seated nearby.
As often happens over good food and beer, the conversation wandered. Eventually the topic turned to unusual brewing ingredients, and the couple mentioned a yarrow-infused beer they had recently enjoyed. Krause was already familiar with the herb, a bittering plant used in brewing long before hops became dominant. He had considered experimenting with it himself.
Then the couple revealed the brewery behind the beer: nebuleus.
Known for its membership-driven "open drop" model and a growing reputation among Oregon beer enthusiasts, nebuleus had become one of the state's most talked-about blending projects. Krause mentioned that he'd love to collaborate with the brewery someday.
The couple's response was simple.
Why not make a beer together?
That suggestion lingered long after the dinner ended.
Krause eventually connected with nebuleus founders Tim Crook and Rachel Olen. As conversations evolved and ideas were exchanged, the trio found themselves gravitating toward an unlikely source of inspiration: the Gin Martinez, a nineteenth-century cocktail built around gin, sweet vermouth, maraschino liqueur, bitters, and citrus.
Rather than attempting to recreate the cocktail directly, the goal became something more nuanced. They wanted to create a beer that evoked the impression of a Gin Martinez—the way a drink can suggest familiar flavors without literally containing them.
To achieve that effect, the blend drew from an eclectic collection of ingredients and base beers. pFriem contributed Estate Grown Cherry Lambic, Peach Lambic, barrel-aged Golden Ale, and a spontaneously fermented coolship beer. Nebuleus supplied a gin cask-finished saison. Seville oranges, cinnamon, cloves, and a tincture and a tea made from yarrow, which served as the bitters component, rounded out the final blend.
After the components were selected, they were married together in stainless steel before conditioning in bottle for several months. The extended maturation period gave the team time to monitor the beer's development and ensure the finished product achieved the balance they were seeking.
"We're really pleased with how it turned out," Krause said.
The finished beer, Star Kitchen, ultimately circles back to the conversation that inspired it. The result is a beer that draws inspiration from both a classic cocktail and a chance encounter between strangers sharing a table.
For those hoping to secure a bottle, Star Kitchen will be distributed through both breweries' membership programs, with pFriem allocating bottles to members of pFriemsters Union Local 541 and nebuleus releasing theirs through its open-drop system. Any remaining nebuleus allocation will be made available during a public release at The BeerMongers on July 15.
The Portland bottle shop will serve as more than just a pickup location. For one afternoon, The BeerMongers becomes the meeting point for two of Oregon's most dedicated beer communities, hosting pFriem's monthly pFriemsters Union Local 541 pickup alongside nebuleus' open-drop collection.
pFriem is also using the occasion to showcase a handful of special releases from its cellar, including a hard-to-find barrel-aged coffee stout brewed in collaboration with Coava Coffee. Representatives from Coava will be onsite pouring cold brew throughout the event.
The celebration extends beyond beer. To complement Star Kitchen's bright acidity and layered fruit character, pFriem partnered with Flying Fish Company for an oyster-focused food pop-up. Founded by second-generation fishmonger Lyf Gildersleeve, Flying Fish has built a reputation as one of Portland's premier seafood destinations, blurring the line between fish market and restaurant through a relentless focus on freshness and provenance.
The pairing feels especially fitting. Oysters and Lambic have long shared a natural affinity, with the beer's acidity and minerality amplifying the briny character of fresh shellfish while cleansing the palate between bites.
Beyond the Star Kitchen bottle pickup, attendees will have the chance to sample rare archive releases from pFriem Family Brewers, including a selection of cellar-aged beers curated by Kyle Krause.
