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Local Deschutes Brewery and Hopworks Urban Brewery Partner with SSP America

SSP America, a division of SSP Group, a leading operator of food and beverage brands in travel locations worldwide, has 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.”