Big Horse Brew Pub, Untapped, & Ochoco Brewing all Permanently Close in October
With 2020 already primed to be a grim year for craft beer even before COVID-19, the closures are beginning to stack up in Oregon. Though by many measures we have not seen the mass exodus of craft breweries that some had predicted, small businesses are particularly hard hit without the economies of scale or the cash and credit available to weather a storm that has no clear end in sight.
Big Horse Brew Pub - Hood River, OR
The longtime Hood River, Oregon tourist staple Big Horse Brew Pub has decided to call it quits and close for good. Big Horse hasn’t actually been open since May 5th 2019 when a kitchen fire caused the 23 year-old brewery and 32 year old restaurant to close. The fire damage was said not to be extensive and repairs quickly got underway for a planned reopening.
In June, Big Horse Brew Pub announced on social media they planned to reopen with an outdoor bar and bbq pop-up, but those plans were dashed by an ongoing dispute with their insurance provider. According to the Columbia Gorge News, Big Horse owners have now reached a settlement leading to retire, permanently close the brewpub, and sell the historical building. Maybe someone can turn it into a great new brewery.
Ochoco Brewing - Prineville, OR
In Prineville, Oregon, the 9 year-old Ochoco Brewing permanently closed last Saturday, October 10th. Owner/brewer Joseph Barker says the decision was directly related to COVID-19.
“We make money off of our pub location and with state restrictions for table spacing etc we are at about 45% capacity. There is also a low volume of indoor business and we are primarily an indoor facility. These are the main factors in our decisions,” says Joseph Barker.
Barker also says they have taken full advantage of grants and PPP loans but they just haven’t been enough. But with the lure of a turnkey restaurant and brewery location, Barker is hopeful they will be able to sell the brewpub to a growing brand and says they already have a number of interested buyers.
“If we are able to consummate a sale we will likely no longer see the Ochoco Brand any longer although some or our recipes and beers will live on,” says Barker.
Untapped - Portland, OR
Small neighborhood taproom and bottle shop Untapped has announced they are shutting down at the end of October. Opened six years ago, Untapped built a loyal following on N. Interstate Ave. just a short walk from the busy Mississippi Ave. strip. For a small footprint, Untapped had a deep lineup of 28+ drafts and craft beer, cider, hard-seltzer, kombucha, sparkling CBD beverages, and wine in bottles and cans.
Untapped, 4320 N Interstate Ave. Portland, OR 97217 (503) 206-4830.
The wave of permanent closures also include Rogue Ales northwest Portland pub and Hopworks Urban Brewery’s North Williams Pub. Others like Bailey’s Taproom hope to reopen in 2021. All this and we have not yet entered winter, which is historically the period when many brewery, restaurant and taprooms close down for good during that slow season.