The Tug's Sultry Past...

The Tugboat Brewing Company has had retail ties to downtown Portland for more than 10 years. Terry Nelson moved his antique watch/clock repair business "time for fun" from southeast to downtown in 1987. The Ankeny St. address had been occupied by the great watchmaker, Robert Soga. His unfortunate death in 87' prompted Terry to pick up where Mr. Soga had left off, using the same address to satisfy customers who were accustomed to having their heirloom watches repaired there for years. Terry was elected secretary treasurer of the Oregon Watchmakers guild in 1986, and served until its disbanding in 1993. His success at restoring antique and high quality timepieces depended on an unusually high degree of attention to detail and discipline. This uncompromising discipline shows through in every pint you order from the Tugboat tap wall.

There are typically 150 parts in a mechanical watch the size of a quarter that depend on being in perfect shape and calibration before it will deliver good time. Terry found himself working daily in a miniature world, using only 10 square feet out of the 500 that he was renting, so he transformed the remaining Ankeny street location to an espresso bar/art gallery. Work was underway in 1989, completed in early 1991. Using the name of the fine Swiss watch, "Cafe Omega" sported an amazing 26 foot suspended single slab concrete coffee table top, the only one of its kind in the world. Bohemians and the after-hour "alternative" crowd frequented the 24-hour Cafe Omega, making it Portland's most lively and unpredictable after-hours coffee joint.

Further visions of cool came when Megan and Terry decided that a micro-brewery would be a great use of space within the cafe. Work began in 1991, and the brewery was completed and operational in 1992. The Tug has delivered quality ale and generous hopspitality ever since!

As you can see, the progression from antique watch repair to coffee then to ale is not your normal road map, but it's been a fun, satisfying ride.