Freebridge Brewing is the dream of a fifth generation Oregon ranch family – Steve Light and Laurie Petroff-Light. Freebridge Brewing is located in the uniquely historical building known as "The Mint". When gold was discovered in Eastern Oregon in 1860, the gold had to be shipped to the San Francisco Mint for processing by pack train and sternwheeler through The Dalles. This was a dangerous task and prompted Congress and President Abraham Lincoln in 1864 to approve building a branch of the US Mint in "Dalles City". Despite several attempts to move the location to Portland, construction of The Mint actually started in 1869, but after construction delays and the Eastern Oregon gold rush ending, The Mint was never fully completed. Today, much of the building’s interior has been restored and is available to now enjoy the "liquid gold" that is being minted out of the brewhouse.