Dean Fassnidge 20260123 oral history

Dean Fassnidge was a biochemist and assistant brewmaster at the Blitz-Weinhard Brewing Company in Portland, Oregon, from 1976 to 1995. In this interview, Fassnidge discusses his education at Oregon State University and reflects on how his work at Blitz-Weinhard evolved over time, including the testing and development of Henry Weinhard’s Private Reserve and the involvement of the Weinhard family prior to the brewery’s sale to Pabst Brewing Company in 1979. Fassnidge grew up in Portland and attended Benson Polytechnic High School before earning a degree in biochemistry and biophysics from Oregon State University in 1972. He later completed a master’s degree in science and mathematics instruction at Concordia University. After leaving Blitz-Weinhard, Fassnidge spent 24 years teaching middle school science, retiring in 2024.This interview was conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton January 23, 2026 on Zoom.