From Pizza Deli to Southern Oregon Craft Beer: The Wild River Story
If you have ever paired a Wild River pizza with a pint of Harbor Lights Kölsch, ordered a tasting tray or discovered a new seasonal beer on tap, you have enjoyed a small part of a Southern Oregon story more than five decades in the making.
Long before “craft beer” became a household phrase, Wild River was building something rooted in family, made-from-scratch food and the communities of Southern Oregon.
It All Started With Pizza in Cave Junction
The Wild River story began in June 1975, when Jerry and Bertha Miller opened Miller’s Shady Oaks Pizza Deli in Cave Junction, Oregon.
From the beginning, the Millers believed good food should be made with fresh ingredients, imagination and plenty of personality. The restaurant became a local gathering place, serving handcrafted pizza with the memorable slogan, “Blame us if your life goes to pizzas.”
In 1980, the family expanded to Brookings-Harbor, bringing its pizza and family-friendly approach to the Southern Oregon Coast. But the Millers were already thinking about what could come next.
Their interest in Old World craft, and their desire to serve beverages that matched the quality and character of their food, eventually led them into brewing.
Brewing Before Craft Beer Was Everywhere
In 1990, the family began brewing beer under the name Steelhead Brewery. This placed Wild River among Oregon’s earlier independent breweries, arriving during the first major wave of the state’s craft beer movement.
The goal wasn’t simply to add beer to the menu. It was to create thoughtfully brewed ales and lagers that belonged alongside the food being made in Wild River’s kitchens.
As the business expanded, the family wanted a name that reflected more than pizza. It needed to represent the brewery, the restaurants and the beautiful place they called home.
In 1994, Wild River Brewing & Pizza Company became the official name. Surrounded by the rivers, forests and rugged landscapes of Southern Oregon, “Wild River” was a natural fit.
Old World Inspiration Meets Southern Oregon Character
Wild River’s beer lineup has always balanced brewing tradition with a distinctly local personality. Some beers draw inspiration from historic European styles, while others take their names and character directly from Southern Oregon.
Harbor Lights Kölsch-Style Ale
Light in color and delicately aromatic, Harbor Lights begins slightly sweet, moves into a touch of spicy hop flavor and finishes clean and dry.
Its brewing heritage is especially meaningful. Wild River’s house Kölsch yeast strain was a gift from the renowned Päffgen Brewery in Köln, Germany—the city where the Kölsch style originated. The result is a refreshing beer with subtle fruitiness and generations of brewing tradition behind it.
Honey Wheat
Despite its name, no honey is used to make Wild River Honey Wheat. Its gentle honey-like character comes from a specially crafted honey malt.
Wheat malt, mild hops and a smooth finish make this an approachable choice for longtime beer drinkers and guests who are just beginning to explore craft beer.
Jerry’s IPA
Deep golden in color with a full malt body and pronounced hop flavor, Jerry’s IPA has become a favorite among Wild River employees and customers.
It offers the bold aroma and bitterness IPA drinkers look for while maintaining enough malt character to create a balanced, satisfying pint.
Hellgate Haze
Hellgate Haze takes its name from Hells Gate Canyon and the iconic Hellgate Bridge near Grants Pass. This pale, hazy beer uses a process called biotransformation, in which hops are added during fermentation. The interaction between the hops and yeast creates new flavors and aromas, giving Hellgate Haze its juicy, floral and tropical character. It is a modern beer with a name rooted unmistakably in Southern Oregon.
Double Eagle Imperial Stout
For something darker, richer and more complex, Double Eagle Imperial Stout reaches deep into brewing history.
Based on an 1880 Whitbread triple stout recipe, this bold beer features layers of roasted malt, warming character and floral hops. It is an ideal companion for a chocolate dessert—or a fitting dessert all by itself.
Beer and Food Were Always Meant to Belong Together
Wild River entered the brewing world because the family wanted beverages that could stand alongside its food. That philosophy continues today.
A crisp Harbor Lights Kölsch is a natural match for wood-fired pizza or beer-battered onion rings. Honey Wheat complements lighter dishes and foods with a little spice. Jerry’s IPA can hold its own beside a burger, BBQ or a generously topped pizza, while Double Eagle is ready for chocolate at the end of the meal.
Can’t decide? A tasting tray is one of the best ways to explore the lineup and find a new favorite. Tap selections and seasonal releases may vary by location, so there is often something different waiting for your next visit.
More Than 50 Years of Southern Oregon History
Wild River has grown considerably since that first Cave Junction pizza deli opened in 1975, but its foundation remains familiar: family, handcrafted food, thoughtfully brewed beer and a commitment to the communities that have supported it.
For more than 35 years, Wild River has been part of Southern Oregon’s brewing story. Each pint connects Old World brewing traditions with the rivers, towns and people of this region.
These are just a few highlights from Wild River’s full beer lineup. Over the years, our brewers have created a wide variety of ales and lagers, from light, approachable favorites to bold IPAs, rich stouts and rotating seasonal releases. Tap selections vary by location and throughout the year, giving guests plenty of opportunities to revisit an old favorite or discover something new.
Whether you visit us in Cave Junction, Brookings-Harbor, Grants Pass or Medford, we invite you to pull up a chair, order something made from scratch and discover the history in your glass.
Come explore Wild River’s handcrafted ales and lagers, ask what’s currently on tap and raise a pint to Southern Oregon craft beer.