From Blueberry Muffin to Bright Tanks: Great Notion Brewing’s Love Affair with Fruit and Flavor
Since its humble start in 2016, Great Notion Brewing has made waves in the Pacific Northwest craft beer scene—not just with its pioneering hazy IPAs, but with a bold, fruit-forward approach that’s become central to its identity.
“We’ve been making fruit beers from day one,” says Rob, VP of Brewing Operations since 2018. “And they’re still some of our biggest beers.”
Just ask the fans of Blueberry Muffin, their iconic pastry sour that moves nearly 90 barrels every three weeks. It’s sweet, nostalgic, and unmistakably fruity—and it’s brewed with Oregon Fruit Company’s aseptic blueberry puree.
Brewing with Fruit, Boldly
Fruit isn’t just an accent at Great Notion—it’s a core ingredient. Whether they’re packing smoothie-style beers with tropical blends or layering cheesecake and cotton candy into their sours, intensity is the name of the game.
“We use fruit late in the process to preserve flavor and sweetness,” Rob explains. “We add a lot post-fermentation, then pasteurize to lock it in. Customers expect full flavor. Lightly fruited beers just don’t move the same way.”
While trends may be shifting toward sessionability and balance, Great Notion continues to innovate with new fruit releases nearly every week. From coconut-laced tropical brews to cotton candy and pastry flavors, their lineup is constantly evolving—and fruit is the through line.
Why Oregon Fruit Company?
For over nine years, Great Notion has relied on Oregon Fruit’s aseptic purees for their fruit beers—and the reasons are as practical as they are creative.
“The consistency is huge,” Rob says. “We know what we’re getting every time. That’s critical for beers like Blueberry Muffin. It has to taste the same every release.”
In an era when ingredient shortages and climate events can disrupt entire product lines (like the berry shortage during the 2020 heat dome), having a reliable supplier matters. And for a Portland-based brewery, working with a local partner has added benefits: faster turnaround and lower shipping costs. Rob also mentioned the great customer service from Oregon Fruit: “They pick up when we call. That means a lot.”
Collaboration, Community & Constant Curiosity
While Great Notion has built a cult following online—thanks to a social media presence that’s as colorful as their cans—they remain grounded in community and collaboration.
“The brewing industry is surprisingly non-competitive,” Rob says. “We all want to learn and get better. And when you make friends across the country, you want to see them win, too.”
From collabs with Grains of Wrath and Vice Beer to upcoming fresh hop and Halloween-themed releases, Great Notion remains at the forefront of fun, creative, and flavor-forward brewing.
Their R&D may be minimal these days (they’ve tested nearly every fruit and concentrate on the market), but they’re not done experimenting. And as long as customers keep craving bold, juicy beers, Oregon Fruit’s aseptic puree will be part of the recipe.
Looking to Brew Bigger with Fruit?
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