About What a Mug!

We're a veteran-owned, independent creator shop offering two complementary brands; Boilermaker Babes^™ and Papa Bear Spices. Our mission and vision are to provide a great experience for our customers with quality products, unique to our brands. Whether talking about our inspiring, personally designed and crafted art logos fused with premium products, or our home-grown, farm-direct-to-you spices from our garden in the heart of the Willamette Valley, What A Mug! envisions a "mug" [our artful faces] in every hand, and our spices in every kitchen, four star or your star as we build better life experiences for all! For more details regarding Boilermaker Babes^™ or Papa Bear Spices, read on below. Meantime, enjoy your day!

- Doug "Papa Bear" Fox

🔧 Boilermaker Babes^™

Celebrating All Who Build America

Boilermaker Babes^™ celebrates human endeavors, intent and craft — as symbolized by the mixed drink being offered in a toast by our personally designed and crafted Vargas-inspired pin-ups. Our goal over time is to continue creating more works of art for a broader representation of all tradespeople and professionals who keep our world running.

In my business life I have worn many hats: Student, Cook, Respiratory Therapy Tech, Airframe Repair Craftsman, Mold Maker, CAD Designer, PC/Server Systems Builder, Database Builder, Systems Administrator, Data Analyst, Business Owner, and Writer. Now a 'Retired' gentleman farmer, my days have recently been consumed with tending things that grow and provide life: My Koi, our aquaponic garden, What A Mug!, my family. I list my experiences, because they are my muse. I know what it means to bust knuckles in tight spaces, and deaden fingertips/eyes on screens and keyboards. Your desire to make a difference in the lives of your family is shared, understood, but most important, respected.

Boilermaker Babes^™ is our tribute to all professionals who show up every day and get it done — often without the recognition you deserve.

We design pictorial art in logo form that speaks to the culture of all trades, all professions: the pride, the grit, the camaraderie, and the humor that keeps a crew going through a long shift. Whether you're buying for yourself or gifting to someone who earns their calluses, Boilermaker Babes^™ is made for you who build things that last.

Veteran-owned. Independent. Proudly made for all.

— What a Mug! 🔩

🐻 Papa Bear Spices

Fresh from Our Garden to Your Kitchen — Grown with Purpose. Freeze-Dried & Packed with Care.

Papa Bear Spices was born from roots that run deep — literally.

For generations before us, the men and women in our family worked the earth the old-fashioned way — raising fruits and vegetables because that's what you did to survive. You grew what you needed, you shared what you had. Over time and abundance, those harvests became Christmas gifts, party staples, and the kind of food memories that outlast the people who made them.

When they passed, we took on the mantle with our own twist. We're Papa Bear and Son — carrying forward what those before us started.

But true to the Oregon way, we do things a little differently.

Aquaponically Grown in Oregon

Our crops grow in gravel beds fed by nutrient-rich, oxygenated water from a living Koi pond — flowing up from beneath the waterfalls and into the roots of every plant we grow. No synthetic fertilizers. No shortcuts. Just clean water, healthy fish, and plants that thrive the way nature intended.

Freeze-Dried at Peak for Maximum Flavor & Freshness

We freeze-dry our spices — not just dry them. Freeze-drying locks in the essential oils, color, and flavor compounds that traditional drying methods drive off with heat. The result is a more vibrant, potent spice that rehydrates and mixes beautifully and lasts longer on your shelf.

Salt Limits, No Fillers — Your Kitchen, Your Rules.

When we cook, we want to control our own salt and flavor profiles — not have someone else make that decision for us. So we don't make that decision for you either. The only exceptions to our salt-free policy are our Pickle Powder (the brining process requires it) and our Dry Roasted Garlic Mix (Garlic, Black Pepper, and Salt). Everything else is pure, clean harvested and dried spice — nothing added, nothing hidden. We even post regular updates of garden progress on our Facebook page at Papa Bear Spices.

Our small-batch lineup: Freeze-Dried Garlic Powder · Dry Roasted Garlic Mix · Flaked Garlic · Pizza Mix · Six Pepper Mix · Pickle Powder · Basil

A Note on Our Farm-Direct Status

Papa Bear Spices are grown and sold farm-direct in Oregon. As a small-batch operation, our products are not USDA inspected and are available for sale and delivery within Oregon only. By purchasing, you confirm you are an Oregon resident receiving delivery within the state.

We believe in full transparency — about how we grow, what we add (and don't), and where we can ship. No surprises.

— Papa Bear & Son, Oregon 🐻