Hopworks Urban Brewery & Deschutes Brewery Partner with SSP America at Portland International Airport

Earlier this week the Portland Business Journal first reported that the Portland International Airport is going to add both Deschutes Brewery and Hopworks Urban Brewery to its roster of airport restaurants. This news report as well as others states that both new outposts will replace ones occupied by Rogue Ales and Laurelwood Brewing. The goal is to have these two new restaurants opened by Fall 2018.

Since from traveling enough at our local airport we were well aware that Laurelwood Brewing occupies two locations, one in Terminal A and one in Terminal E. We reached out to Laurelwood’s James Buxman and he told us that Laurelwood will loose its Terminal E location in the United terminal and this one will be taken over by Hopworks Urban Brewery. However Laurelwood’s other location in Terminal A, where Alaska/Horizon Airlines operates, will continue on. Deschutes Brewery will take over the space currently occupied by Rogue Ales in Terminal D, where Delta operates.

According the report in the Portland Business Journal written by Andy Giegerich, both new outposts of Hopworks and Deschutes will operate on a 10-year lease. Each of the breweries will pay the greater of $80 per square foot for the first year of the lease, recalculating it at 80% of the prior year’s rent paid for subsequent lease years or 11% of revenue earned up to $1M, 13% of revenue between $1M and $1.5M and 15% of revenue earned above $1.5M.

Both Hopworks and Deschutes will work with SSP America to operate each of the establishments. Here’s more information from the press release provided by SSP America two days ago…

SSP America, a division of SSP Group, a leading operator of food and beverage brands in travel locations worldwide, has today been awarded by the Port of Portland Commission two new contracts to bring renowned local craft brewers, Deschutes Brewery and Hopworks Urban Brewery to Portland International Airport. The award-winning Deschutes Brewery, an Oregon craft beer pioneer, will join the Concourse D concessions program and Hopworks Urban Brewery (HUB), Portland’s first eco-brewpub, will join Concourse E. The Port of Portland Commission approved the contracts at its Wednesday, August 9 meeting.

“With more than 260 craft breweries throughout the state and 19 million annual brewery visitors, the craft beer industry is a cornerstone of the Pacific Northwest experience and a tradition embraced by locals and tourists alike,” said Chris Czarnecki, Port of Portland director of PDX terminal business and properties. “For that reason, it’s our pleasure to welcome two of Oregon’s most celebrated breweries to the food and beverage program at PDX, where they will further the local presence so widely appreciated by our passengers.”

Family and employee owned since 1988, Deschutes Brewery has become the cornerstone of Central Oregon’s flourishing craft brew culture. Known for its generous use of whole hops in its defining beers, the brewery also keeps fans on the edge of their bar stools with the release of small batch experimental beers each season. Now available in 29 states and Washington D.C., Deschutes’ flagship brewpub in Bend has been joined by a main brewing facility, a pub in Portland that is known for its scratch kitchen led by Executive Chef Jill Ramseier, and coming in 2021, a new east coast brewery in Roanoke, Virginia.

Founded in 2007 by Brewmaster, Christian Ettinger, HUB is the definitive modern day Portland brewpub with a robust and hearty menu. Utilizing organic malts and a combination of locally-sourced, organic, and Salmon-Safe hops, the 20-barrel brewery produces 13,500 barrels of beer a year for its three brewpubs and distribution throughout the Northwest. HUB is a family-owned and operated business, the first Certified B Corporation brewery in the Pacific Northwest, and donates 1% of their beer sales to environmental causes.

“We fell in love with our planet while traveling the world in search of great beer,” said HUB brewmaster and founder, Christian Ettinger. “As champions of sustainability, we couldn’t be more honored to become beer ambassadors for the best brewing city on earth in the best airport in the country. We are so excited to welcome travelers to Portland with a cold pint of organic beer in our new, beautifully designed pub!”

SSP America’s Chief Executive Officer Michael Svagdis commented: “At SSP America we believe restaurants are at the heart of every community’s story, and airports play a leading role in telling that story. Bringing these two extraordinary breweries to PDX is a wonderful example of our passion for community anchored dining at the airport.”

About SSP America
SSP America is a division of SSP Group, a global leader in the business of creating restaurants, bars, cafés and marches in environments where people are on the move. With over 50 years of experience, SSP Group’s 30,000 employees serve over one million passengers daily in more than 30 countries. Our operations span an estimated 2,200 restaurants across 140 airports and 280 rail stations representing over 400 of the world’s best brands.

The SSP America team is driven by a shared vision to bring authentic restaurant experiences to every airport in North America. Our employees have a passion for exceptional food served by people who believe in heartfelt hospitality. Our airport partners trust SSP America to deliver a world-class portfolio of brands with broad passenger appeal and lasting commercial viability. Our brands heroes trust us to bring a taste of place to their hometown airport. Learn more at www.foodtravelexperts.com/america.