Chris Hodge Departs Worthy Brewing For Oregon Fruit Products
After almost four years as CEO of Worthy Brewing, Chris Hodge departs the Bend, Oregon based brewery to reunite with his longtime industry friend, Chris Sarles, at Oregon Fruit Products to lead its growing sales division. Sarles who is CEO of Salem, Oregon based Oregon Fruit Products broke to news to us yesterday while he was working his company’s booth during Brunch Village at Feast Portland yesterday.
Prior to joining Worthy Brewing in November 2012, Hodge spent 18 years at Columbia Distributing leading its sales division and ten years at Admiralty Beverage. Through the years Hodge held a close relationship with Sarles who also has a rich history in the beer industry spending nearly 28 years at Young’s Market Company and Alehouse Distributing.
Hodge will now lead the sales efforts for Oregon Fruit Products that sells a considerable amount of its fruit puree to breweries in all 50 states. If a brewery is producing a fruit flavored beer from fruit puree, there is a good chance that Oregon Fruit Products provided this puree. With the growth of craft breweries both here and abroad, Oregon Fruit Products sees an opportunity for expansion and Hodge will help lead this effort.
About The Author
DJ
D.J. is a Portland, Oregon based writer that spent his formative years in the Midwest. With over 25 years under his belt of drinking beer at festivals across America and the world, he has developed a strong appreciation and understanding of craft beer and the industry that surrounds it. He can be found in any of the great breweries or beer bars that make Portland the best beer city in the world. His writing can also be found in the archives of Northwest Brewing News and can be followed on Twitter and Instagram at @hopapalooza.
Ah, two good men!