Vagabond Brewery co-owners and founders, Dean Howes (left), Alvin Klausen and James Cardwell (not pictured), took on a new project when they opened Victory Club in downtown Salem. Photo courtesy of Starlight Films
By Sam Wheeler
For the Oregon Beer Growler
The fellas behind Vagabond Brewing have done it again. Their Victory Club opened June 3 in downtown Salem as the premier venue to experience a taste of Salem’s thriving craft beer scene.
The approximately 2,500-square-foot taphouse inside the Salem Arts Building has an adjoining event lounge, features 39 tap handles showcasing the area’s beers, ciders and spirits, serves a quality traditional pub menu, and it fits about 150 people.
As if running a successful and expanding commercial brewery wasn’t enough work, Vagabond Brewing co-owners Dean Howes, Alvin Klausen and James Cardwell adopted another project when they took over the space at 155 Liberty St. NE about nine months ago.
“The opportunity was too good to pass up and we are ambitious by nature so we decided to go for it,” said Howes.
The entrance to Victory Club is in an alleyway between Liberty and Commercial Streets NE, with plenty of nearby street parking. Doors are open 5–10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 5 p.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday.
Hardwood floors and a 13-seat bar made of reclaimed timber will greet you from the left coming through the door. Private dining booths line the right wall, each enclosed on three sides. A pair of TVs hang above the bar, with another pair directly above a 29-handle tap wall. A double-wide sliding door opens into the event lounge, which includes a small corner stage, short bar, two TVs, table seating along one wall and a pair of couches and coffee tables.
A pair of rugs also help tie the room together.
“The look and feel is a lot different than the (Vagabond) brewery and is focused on a warmer, more intimate setting,” Howes said. “We were definitely going for the speakeasy vibe.”
The taproom emphasizes Salem-area beers and ciders, but some taps will feature breweries and cideries from around the Pacific Northwest and occasionally across the country.
“We are also excited to be serving unique craft cocktails in collaboration with Salem's Archive Coffee & Bar,” Howes said. "We genuinely hope that Victory Club is seen as a gathering and focal point for our local craft scene. We love our city and our community and want to show as many people as possible what it has to offer.”
To help keep the taps flowing at Victory Club, Howes said Salem-based Vagabond has increased production to about 50-70 barrels per month since adding a 15-barrel tank in January to accompany a pair of 12-barrel tanks.
And things aren’t slowing down, he said.
“We are in the process of planning for a full brewhouse upgrade sometime in the first half of 2017.”
Victory Club
[a] 155 Liberty St. NE, Salem
[p] 971-304-0004
[w] facebook.com/VictoryClubSalem
For the Oregon Beer Growler
The fellas behind Vagabond Brewing have done it again. Their Victory Club opened June 3 in downtown Salem as the premier venue to experience a taste of Salem’s thriving craft beer scene.
The approximately 2,500-square-foot taphouse inside the Salem Arts Building has an adjoining event lounge, features 39 tap handles showcasing the area’s beers, ciders and spirits, serves a quality traditional pub menu, and it fits about 150 people.
As if running a successful and expanding commercial brewery wasn’t enough work, Vagabond Brewing co-owners Dean Howes, Alvin Klausen and James Cardwell adopted another project when they took over the space at 155 Liberty St. NE about nine months ago.
“The opportunity was too good to pass up and we are ambitious by nature so we decided to go for it,” said Howes.
The entrance to Victory Club is in an alleyway between Liberty and Commercial Streets NE, with plenty of nearby street parking. Doors are open 5–10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 5 p.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday.
Hardwood floors and a 13-seat bar made of reclaimed timber will greet you from the left coming through the door. Private dining booths line the right wall, each enclosed on three sides. A pair of TVs hang above the bar, with another pair directly above a 29-handle tap wall. A double-wide sliding door opens into the event lounge, which includes a small corner stage, short bar, two TVs, table seating along one wall and a pair of couches and coffee tables.
A pair of rugs also help tie the room together.
“The look and feel is a lot different than the (Vagabond) brewery and is focused on a warmer, more intimate setting,” Howes said. “We were definitely going for the speakeasy vibe.”
The taproom emphasizes Salem-area beers and ciders, but some taps will feature breweries and cideries from around the Pacific Northwest and occasionally across the country.
“We are also excited to be serving unique craft cocktails in collaboration with Salem's Archive Coffee & Bar,” Howes said. "We genuinely hope that Victory Club is seen as a gathering and focal point for our local craft scene. We love our city and our community and want to show as many people as possible what it has to offer.”
To help keep the taps flowing at Victory Club, Howes said Salem-based Vagabond has increased production to about 50-70 barrels per month since adding a 15-barrel tank in January to accompany a pair of 12-barrel tanks.
And things aren’t slowing down, he said.
“We are in the process of planning for a full brewhouse upgrade sometime in the first half of 2017.”
Victory Club
[a] 155 Liberty St. NE, Salem
[p] 971-304-0004
[w] facebook.com/VictoryClubSalem
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