To take the first certified organic nonalcoholic beer nationwide, Patagonia Provisions needed a partner — one with the same commitment to the environment and outdoors.

Why it matters: Patagonia, once named the most reputable brand in America, has found its match in Oregon's Deschutes Brewery, and together the two now represent one of the most powerful collaborations in craft beer.

State of play: The partnership, forged in 2024, is the force behind two leading and award-winning NA beers, a golden lager and IPA that both feature the iconic Patagonia logo and climate change-fighting grains.

• The beers are made with Kernza, a regenerative perennial wheatgrass with deep roots that build soil health, prevent erosion, store more carbon and minimize the need for fossil fuel machinery.

What they're saying: "We're really delivering an experience that is very compatible with … the lifestyle that people associate with Patagonia," says Jen Berliner, Patagonia Provisions' brand and innovation leader.

• "Organic is another way that people are thinking about their health, and so being able to deliver people an organic, nonalcoholic option that also tastes great is just such a game changer."

The big picture: The interest in alcohol-free beer goes well beyond Dry January. The category was expected to reach $1 billion in sales through 2025, analysts note.

• Most customers are not the teetotaling type, but rather turn to NA beer for more mindful drinking or to enjoy "zebra striping," where you alternate between alcoholic and NA drinks, Deschutes' research finds.

Zoom in: Patagonia's mission is to redefine craft beer by encouraging others in the industry to shift to organic ingredients and more climate-friendly supply chains.

• Meanwhile, making beer — and its new snack line — is an opportunity to reach more people and raise awareness about the environment, Berliner says.

It's a shared value for the Bend, Oregon-based Deschutes. The brewery made Green Lakes Organic Ale more than a decade ago, but sales languished.

• Now, with backing from Patagonia's name on the can and an improved brewing process, the team's NA offerings and one alcoholic lager are becoming some of Deschutes' top-selling beers.
• "Hopefully some folks see the merit in the organic proposition and believe in that," Peter Skrbek, Deschutes Brewery CEO, tells Axios. "But if not, you win them with flavor."

Tell an outdoorsy beer nerd

⚖️ Oregon does not have to hand over personal voter registration data to the Trump administration, a federal judge tentatively ruled, saying he plans to dismiss the Department of Justice's lawsuit against the state. (OPB)

🏥 A draft bill up for consideration in the upcoming legislative session would cut red tape to hasten the hiring of mental health care workers in Oregon, which has thousands of positions that need to be filled. (The Oregonian)

🚎 The former Greyhound station, across from Union Station in Old Town, could soon be used as a layover facility for TriMet buses, after the agency announced plans to purchase the vacant building. (Bike Portland)

🥎 Professional women's softball is coming to Oregon with the Athletes Unlimited Softball League announcing the Portland Cascade will play at the Hops' ballpark in Hillsboro starting this summer. (KATU)

Grocery prices in the West rose at the fastest pace in three years, keeping pressure on household budgets even as overall inflation held steady in December.

Why it matters: The jump in costs highlights the challenge for the White House in the lead-up to midterm elections.

• Broad inflation relief is little consolation for Americans if they aren't seeing it reflected in grocery bills.

By the numbers: Grocery prices (or "food at home," as the Bureau of Labor Statistics calls it) in the West rose by 1.1% in December, the largest monthly gain since the peak inflation period in August 2022.

• Food inflation was evident at restaurants, too: Costs for dining out (or "food away from home") rose by 0.7%.

Zoom out: Grocery prices across the U.S. were up roughly 2.4% in December compared to the prior year.

• But that masks double-digit price increases for a slew of household staples over the past 12 months, including coffee (+20%), beef (+16%) and candy (+10%).

Yes, but: There is some relief elsewhere in the grocery store: Egg prices, for instance, are down more than 20% from a year ago, with an 8% decline in December alone.

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