Sasquatch Brewing under new ownership with plans to restart brewing operations
Sasquatch Brewing is now under new ownership. The NW Portland industrial district brewery shut down in November 2022, with it their on-site taproom, wholesale distribution business, and their side project New West Cider. However, their original brewpub in SW Portland’s Hillsdale neighborhood lived on even as brewing and canning operations ended.
“For me I am retiring with no plans to try and make a living by some crazy scheme I cook up. Unless I do a Bud Clark and run for Mayor,” says Sims of his future plans. “I do need to thank all the people in the Oregon beer world that were so helpful and included me in the adventure of being a brewer in Oregon. Opening the pub in 2011 was so much fun, and so fulfilling I can't talk about it without getting a little emotional.”
Nick Scandurro, a brewer with 10 years of experience, closed on the purchase of Sasquatch Brewing on August 1st, 2023. Before moving to Portland he helped start up Port Orleans Brewing Company in New Orleans. Then brewed for a stint at Ecliptic Brewing until he became the head brewer for little known under-the-radar sellwood brewery 13 Virtues.
“I connected with Tom Sims the previous owner and fellow brewer and we shared the goal of restoring the brewhouse to its full potential,” says Scandurro. “Tom spent years building the foundation for Sasquatch in the Hillsdale neighborhood and led an excellent team. I’m looking forward to continuing the relationship with the community, bringing back the in-house brewing, and growing with Sasquatch Brewing Company.”
When Sasquatch Brewing expanded into their northwest production facility in 2017, they shut down the smaller scale brewer at the southwest brewpub. After the production facility closed last winter, Sasquatch tried unsuccessfully to find a buyer, and ended up liquidating that equipment at auction. To keep the beer flowing at their existing brewpub, Sasquatch has been contract brewing through Zoiglhaus Brewing, and Scandurro intends to keep that going until he can fully restore the 7bbl brewhouse in Hillsdale to restart in-house brewing.
“My New Orleans upbringing plus time spent brewing on the west coast will make for an exciting beer lineup,” says Scandurro. “My personal favorite beers are traditional german style beers, but with how close we live to local hops, I plan to make some northwest IPAs and other west coast styles. You can certainly look forward to easy-drinking beers for all to enjoy.”
Scandurro hopes to have the brewery operational and fully licensed again by this Fall. He projects to have a full lineup of atleast a dozen in-house brewed beers by next Spring 2024. In the meantime Sasquatch Brewing’s Hillsdale brewpub in a 1920’s-era commercial building on the west side of the bridge over Bertha Boulevard _ is still open at 6440 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland, OR 97239 serving a series of pub burgers, fried chicken sandwiches, wings, and sweet potato fries.
