Clear Creek Distillery
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Distilling |
| Founded | 1985 |
| Founder | Stephen McCarthy |
| Headquarters | Hood River, Oregon , United States |
Area served | United States |
Key people | Stephen McCarthy (founder) |
| Products | Eau de vie, fruit brandies, liqueurs, whiskey |
| Owner | Hood River Distillers |
| Parent | Hood River Distillers |
Clear Creek Distillery is a distillery located in Hood River, Oregon, United States, having previously operated out of Portland, Oregon. Established in 1985, the distillery has been under the ownership of Hood River Distillers since 2014. It is primarily recognized for its eau de vie crafted from Bartlett pears and also offers an assortment of other fruit brandies, matured spirits, and liqueurs.
History
The distillery was established in 1985 by Stephen McCarthy. The McCarthy family had managed orchards in Oregon since the early twentieth century, while Stephen himself ran a parts manufacturing firm for hunting firearms that involved trips to Europe. During his travels, he discovered the Alsace tradition of producing pear eau de vie and chose to replicate this method using Bartlett pears cultivated in Oregon, which are akin to the European Williams pear. The initial production took place in 1985.
Crafting European-style fruit brandies remains relatively rare within the United States, positioning Clear Creek as one of the leading American producers of eau de vie. Although well-known within this specialty sector, its products appeal to a niche audience rather than broad mainstream consumers.
In 2014, ownership transferred to Hood River Distillers, enhancing their offerings in the craft spirits market.
Products
Clear Creek Distillery’s flagship offering is its pear eau de vie, inspired by the classic eau de vie de Poire Williams, including a special edition featuring a pear enclosed inside the bottle.
The distillery also produces a variety of traditional fruit brandies such as an aged apple brandy made from Golden Delicious apples, Oregon grape-based grappa, as well as eau de vie varieties like framboise, Mirabelle plum, kirschwasser, and slivovitz. Furthermore, Clear Creek creates an eau de vie infused with springtime buds from the Douglas fir tree.
In addition to fruit brandies, Clear Creek offers a selection of fruit-infused liqueurs alongside its proprietary McCarthy's Single Malt whiskey.