As for the beer flowing through the lines, Brewmaster Shaun will be leading with yeast-driven styles, including a saison, a Tripel, as well as a tart Berliner Weisse — all styles that are in short supply around the city. "I'm really interested in sour mashing right now, and brewing well-attenuated, dry, drinkable beers," he says. "And nothing will necessarily be year-round. We don't want people to come into the brewery with expectations of what will be on tap. Of course, if something is popular, it will show up again. But everything will be seasonal." When pressed about more accessible styles, Yasaki explains, "We're not going to ignore hoppy beers, but I've got some unique ideas on how to achieve the IPA flavor I like. I'm more into hop flavor and aroma than intense bitterness. We'll have to wait and see how well those ideas work out."

If that ever-changing lineup of hard-to-brew styles and a small barrel-aging program aren't enough, Yasaki and Benner are excited to experiment on a smaller scale when guest brewers aren't around, saying, "That 3-barrel system is going to allow us to do some pretty crazy stuff and not worry about dumping 10 barrels if it doesn't work out." Soon enough, they'll be able to do all the wild stuff they want. Portland Kettle Works delivered the 3-barrel brew house and initial batch of fermentation equipment on April 25, just days after the coating on the concrete pad dried. And with the bar completed and tap lines installed, Platform is on track for a soft launch with its first five beers in June, just before their 10-barrel system arrives. Once that's fired up, it's aiming for a full launch in late July.

But even before the equipment is assembled, Platform has already chosen its first incubator participant: a highly competent, local home brewer with tons of awards to his name. Even as a seemingly ideal candidate, he had to go through a couple rounds of interviews — both for technical knowledge and personality — as well as a thorough vetting of his lineup of beers. Benner explains the rigor by saying, "It's an investment on our part because it's a free program. Once someone goes through it, our intention is for them to go launch a business. That shows that our program is credible, that we've got some proven success." Even more than their track record, the investment can pay off when graduates become advocates and brand ambassadors, helping to spread the word and build a loyal customer base. In the end, Platform is all about people helping people and providing chances for growth and development. Benner puts it best: "If anybody ever started their own business, they're full of shit if they say they never got help from someone. Everybody needs an opportunity."