Portland, OR’s Montavilla neighborhood brewery Threshold Brewing & Blending has collaborated with their neighbors at Culmination Brewing in NE PDX’s Sullivan’s Gulch neighborhood to create a Polish cookie inspired Imperial Pastry Stout called 'Dwellers on the Threshold' that will be released today.

Threshold Brewing owners Jarek and Sara and Culmination Brewing owners Tomas and April Sluiter are both husband/wife teams that got to know each other over being simultaneous guests on a podcast together back in July 2020. Tomas Sluiter is a longtime brewery consultant who has traveled the world and was more than happy to share his wisdom with the 2-year new to the industry Threshold Brewing & Blending. After a visit to the brewery they got to talking about Jarek’s background and how it could play into a collaboration.

Culmination Brewing co-owner/brewer Jarek Szymanski grew up in Poland enjoying Delicje cookies, and when Tomas asked about his favorite Polish confections it was on top of the list. “After our initial talks Sara and Jarek brought some Delicje cookies to the brewery. Very tasty! they almost got all gobbled up before we had a chance to take a critical look at the flavors for a beer!” says Culmination’s Tomas Sluiter.

The Delicje is a classic Polish cookie from E. Wedel, a 19th century Polish confectionery company. Delicje (translation: dainty; delicacy) is a biscuit base with an orange jelly or other fruited filling and dark chocolate coating. You can find Delicje at European food stores here in town like Edelweiss deli on SE 12th or closer to Threshold over at CityMaxx on SE Powell and 122nd.

One of the mutually respected styles of interest by both breweries was for big but drinkable stouts. The breweries landed on a high abv pastry stout recipe that would highlight the flavors and ingredients found in traditional Delicje without being overpowering.

”Polish desserts and confections, including Delicje, are above all European: lightly sweet, delicately flavored and deliciously satisfying. It’s those elements that I think we were trying to emulate in this pastry stout. Although don’t get me wrong, Dwellers on the Threshold is still a big ol’ dessert beer no matter how you phrase it,” says Threshold Brewing’s Sara Szymanski.

“In the end we targeted a beer rich enough to honor the Delicje and its decadent chocolate and fruit flavors while keeping the alcohol and residual sugar in balance to make the last sip of the can as pleasing as the first” adds Tomas Sluiter.

Dwellers on the Threshold ended up as a 9.5% Imperial Pastry Stout fermented with cara cara orange and molasses and conditioned with cocoa nibs and vanilla beans. It is smooth, rich and decadent, delivering an indulgent drinking experience with delicate subtleties of the spicing and a delightfully light finish. Draft and 16oz cans of Dwellers goes on sale at both Culmination Brewing and Threshold Brewing & Blending on Tuesday, November 9th.