Pono Brewing, Magna & Natasha Mesa Join Forces To Reopen Bit House
[PORTLAND, ORE., February 23, 2021] – Three Portland food and drink innovators – Pono Brewing, Magna, and Mixtress Natasha Mesa (formerly of Deadshot) – have teamed up to form Bit House Collective, a new bar dedicated to hospitality, inclusivity, creativity and island vibes. Bit House Collective opens on March 3rd in the former Bit House Saloon space at 727 SE Grand Avenue.
“Under Head Brewer Larry Clouser, Pono has been making exceptional beer here in Portland for the last 5 years. As we don’t have a taproom of our own, this long-term tap takeover of Bit House will allow fans to find all our beers in one place,” says Pono Brewing’s Sales Manager and Hype Man Erick Russ. “With the island influence in a lot of our beers, Magna’s food and Natasha’s cocktails fit perfectly with how we like our beers to be experienced. On top of that, they are close friends who we love!”
Featured Pono Brewing beers on tap at Bit House Collective to start:
El Garrote IPA – Pono’s flagship IPA
Mango to Moon Hazy IPA — Dry hopped with Idaho 7 and oh yes, mango
All Mai Love Berry Stout – Packed with Oregon grown raspberries and blackberries
Po No You Didn’t Gin Farmhouse – A collaboration using the same botanicals as Aria Gin
D’Visionary Pinot Porter – Made with Pinot Noir skins from Division Wines
Natasha Mesa, Mixtress behind the bar of Bit House Collective, and her passionate bar team aim to create a self-described Michelin Star Dive Bar.’ Natasha is also very committed to helping up-and-coming female bartenders achieve their goals and join the ranks behind the bar.
“I’m most excited about the raw talent and creative mindset of all our bar staff,” says Mesa. “Our goal is to create the most inclusive space for every type of drinker while flexing our creativity to build new cocktail flavors and combinations in a fun way.”
Chefs Carlo Lamagna, Dante Fernandez and Roberto Almodovar will run Bit House Collective’s food program as Magna Kantina, a playful offshoot of their popular Magna Kusina restaurant with dishes designed to complement the adventurous beverage program.
The menu features bar-friendly Filipino favorites like Lumpia, Sisig, Longipan, and Sinigang Shrimp Chips, as well as inventive new dishes inspired by a range of Pacific island flavors, like Crab Fat Gravy Waffle Fries and an Isla Hamburgesa with crispy cheese, fermented habanero and roasted pineapple bbq glaze, and atcharra (filipino style pickles).
Bit House Collective hours of operation are Tuesday – Saturday 4pm – 11pm, Sundays 2pm – 9pm, and closed on Mondays. They offer indoor and outdoor dining – strictly abiding by all COVID guidelines and safety measures – as well as to-go food and drink. The space is also available for private events.
ABOUT BIT HOUSE COLLECTIVE:
Bit House Collective is a bar serving hospitality, inclusivity, creativity and island vibes through a collaboration between three of Portland’s most innovative food and drink creators: Pono Brewing, Magna Kantina, and Mixtress Natasha Mesa. Under Head Brewer Larry Clouser, Pono Brewing has been making exceptional beer since 2016 for coveted tap lists and bottle shops across the Northwest; Bit House Collective is a place where fans can find Pono’s full selection of offerings on tap at all times. Natasha Mesa (formerly of Deadshot) and her passionate bar team flex their raw talent to develop intriguing new cocktail flavors and combinations layered on the classics within an inclusive space self-described as ‘Michelin Star Dive Bar.’ The crew behind celebrated Filipino restaurant Magna Kusina – Chefs Carlo Lamagna, Dante Fernandez and Roberto Almodovar – run Bit House’s food program as Magna Kantina, offering playful and punchy Filipino bar food featuring flavors found throughout the Pacific islands to compliment the adventurous beverage program. These three forces (and long-time friends) bring exciting new energy to their 1892 historic building at the bustling corner of SE Grand and Morrison. Bit House Collective is paving the way for the new future of hospitality and the rebirth of the Portland bar scene. Follow along at @bithousecollective
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