This photograph of a copper brewing kettle was taken on December 6, 1985 at the Hillsdale Brewery and Public House, and is one of a series by beer expert Fred Eckhardt. This kettle brewed the first batch of McMenamins' Liquidator Porter-style beer on that day. Although some brewing equipment is stainless steel, copper is traditional for the boiling kettle, sometimes called the "copper". Various reactions take place during this boiling when malts can be steeped and other ingredients may be added. The plate on this boiler reads in part "Hillsdale Copper." The sign on the wall behind it identifies it as a 150 gallon copper brew kettle.