Tap Handle #686: River Mile 38

March 05, 2018

Tap Handle #686: River Mile 38 - Broken Hose Amber

Tap size: 12"
Rarity: less than 10 seen
Mounting: 3/8" ferrule on 5/16" anchor bolt

It's no secret that I like mermaids. This is the sixth mermaid tap to enter the museum, and there are a couple more waiting in the wings. What makes this one special is that I actually visited the brewery and met the great people that run it (which will be the subject of an upcoming post). The fine people at River Mile 38 (RM38) have named their mermaid Scarlet, and this red-headed mermaid sits atop sculpted waves, holding a beer with one outstretched hand. RM38 appears on the base just under Scarlet, and below that on both the front and the back is a large signage area where a label can be placed. Photos don't do this tap justice...Scarlet is a real beauty. RM38 is a small brewery with a limited distribution area, so these taps are pretty scarce, and I've never seen one on the secondary market.

According to brewery legend, Scarlet's story is as follows:

“If we’re to believe local folklore, mermaids once inhabited the cool, clear water of the Columbia River in the 1700’s. Captain Ankor Drag was sailing his Norse herring boat up the Columbia from the Pacific and was almost over-turned by a storm of epic proportions. He ordered to drop anchor in the sheltered area that is now known to be Wahkiakum Country Marina. After 9 hours of raging winds, driving rain, and 5 foot swells the storm passed and Captain Drag ordered “UP ANCHOR!”

As his shipmen were struggling to pull up the anchor they noticed a colorful shiny glow. As the anchor broke water, attached to it, was an alluring, bewitching mer-maiden, who told the tale of protecting their vessel all night.

The sailors were so grateful, they left her with a barrel of grog – and a smile on her beautiful face – as they raised their glasses and returned to the open water…”

Click through to read more about River Mile 38 Brewing, their Broken Hose Amber, and to see more photos of this alluring tap...

River Mile was founded in Cathlamet, Washington in 2014 by a group of 12 investors. Founding partner Richard Erickson would sit and drink beer with other town members; two of them were homebrewers, and they began to talk about opening a brewery at the marina to see if they could bring tourists in, and provide jobs for a few local people. They wanted it to be a cool place to drink beer and hang out, a sort of "clubhouse". When raising capital to start the business, the partners rounded up 100 “founders.” Each founder pitched in $250 to help with start up costs, and in return received a growler that they could refill for half price ($6 instead of $12) for life. The port built a 1,500 square foot building and gave the brewery a 20 year lease. The founders named the brewery Drop Anchor.

Brewing started out small scale, brewing one barrel at a time, as they didn't think too many local people would drink a lot of craft beer. But after being open for only three weeks, they realized they were wrong and had to expand their tasting room and increase production. Within months they had yacht clubs wanting to hold meetings at the brewery, while other organizations and individuals were asking to book events, and people were traveling from all parts of Oregon and Washington to visit the brewery. So they increased production again. They hadn't planned to distribute their beer until they were well established in Cathlamet, but just two months after opening, a local distributor heard about Drop Anchor, and soon their beer was being sold all over southwest Washington.

The increased success attracted the attention of Anchor Brewing in San Francisco, which felt that their customers could get confused when the two brands were on the shelf next to each other. Drop Anchor was forced to change their name, and after several months and the help of a trademark attorney, the brewery settle on River Mile 38. The name tied them back to the Columbia River and the Cathlamet Marina where they are located - 38 miles upstream (by boat) from the mouth of the river. They announced the name change during their first anniversary party in 2015.

The brewery is now owned by six partners. All six partners at River Mile 38 have full-time jobs outside the brewery, and none of them are looking to retire just yet. But the demand for more beer and more taproom hours is tough to fulfill. So the partners have agreed to put the brewery up for sale. Once sold, the brewery comes with everything: a 10-barrel brewing system and five 10-barrel fermenters producing about 400 barrels of beer a year, recipes, the rest of a 20-year lease on the building, inventory, and a brewer’s assistant. There are 14 beers on tap in the brewery, along with a small canning system. The taproom is open 2 days a week, and 3 days a week during the summer. RM38 distributes north to Tacoma and east to the Columbia River Gorge, with a new distribution agreement recently signed for Oregon.

Broken Hose Amber is RM38's flagship beer. It has an amber color and a full malty taste without the heavy craft beer feeling. A bit of hops provides its rich taste yet still tilts a little on the sweet side. This beer does not fit any “style” of craft beer and it proves that not all craft beers are heavy and filling.