54-40 Brewing opening Beer Lodge taproom and pizzeria in the Gorge

54-40 Brewing Beer Lodge has now opened in the space formerly home to Andrew’s Pizza in Stevenson, Washington.

Rendering of 5440 Brewing’s Beer Lodge: Brewery and Pizzeria is now open in Stevenson, Washington

Former Portland Brewing, Rock Bottom, and Old Town Brewing veteran brewer Bolt Minister opened Washougal, Washington’s great 54-40 Brewing in 2015, quickly establishing themselves as a SW Washington favorite known for classic beer styles. This fall 54-40 Brewing will expand to the the Columbia River Gorge with a new location on the Washington side of the Bridge of the Gods in Stevenson.

UPDATE 9/25/2021: 54-40 Beer Lodge is now OPEN.

Bolt Minister was exploring opening a location in Portland before he heard that a pizzeria in Stevenson was becoming available. Minister had brewed at Stevenson’s only brewery Walking Man Brewing for nearly a decade in the 2000’s and during his tenure had become friends with Derek Ostergard, owner of Andrew’s Pizza. When Minister found out that Ostergard was interested in selling the business, he jumped at the opportunity to open a second location in a smaller community like Stevenson. Ostergard was a great advocate for craft beer, and has been easy to work with in transitioning Andrew’s into the second location for 5440 Brewing at 310 SW Second St, Stevenson, WA

The Beer Lodge will be in a 2,800 sq. ft old school style family friendly pub space that will restore classic Americana elements of the past like old school light up beer marquees, pinball games and Pac-Man, and 80’s nostalgia. Among the bigger changes to the building is an elevated seating area with arm chairs for lounging that can be removed to use it as a stage for live music. They have also added a wall mural of Cape Horn and a live edge wood slab to the seating options. There will be some front patio seating and the brewery wants to add a back patio in for the winter.

The menu will be the biggest difference between the Beer Lodge and the flagship 5440 Brewing taproom with only a 30 minute drive between the two pubs. While the original location is in an industrial park and primarily a production space with an emphasis on burgers and salads, the new taproom will be all about New York style pizza and a shareable family friendly menu.

Bolt Minister is already boning up on his pizza making skills. “I’m an avid baker, but I’ve never played with much pizza at home. So I’m jumping in all at once,” he says. Minister’s at home specialty has been quick breads, cookies, and pie. With 5440 Lodge he will get an opportunity to take his enthusiasm for home baking from hobby to full blown pizzeria in a manner similar to the way many homebrewers turn pro.

“Seeing the change in the dough over several days has been pretty eye opening. The flavor and texture develop every day and the bakes are completely different too.”

The pizza will remain similar to Andrew’s NY-style pizzas, and even keep some of their most popular pies on the menu but with new names. There will also be sandwiches, a new 8” thin crust pie, and smaller bites to share over pints. Like the taproom at their flagship Washougal location the 5440 Lodge will not have a bar to sidle up to, but 9 dedicated taps for their beers, one handle of Swift Cider, and a draft red and white wine.

Another leftover remnant of the old school pizzeria that Minister is unreasonably excited about is a classic soda fountain machine, “so for anyone itching to make a graveyard in a craft beer setting, you’ll have that going for you.”

5440 Brewing Beer Lodge taproom and pizzeria is NOW OPEN Wednesday - Sunday from 1130am - 8pm at 310 SW Second St, Stevenson, WA.