Biography

Established: 1988

Owners: Gary and Carol Fish

Brewers: Karl Ockert, director of brewing operations; Veronica Vega, brewmaster

Locations: Bend Public House, 1044 NW Bond St., Bend, (541) 382-9242

Bend Tasting Room
901 SW Simpson Ave.
Bend, OR 97702

Portland Public House
210 NW 11^th Ave.
Portland, OR 97209

PDX Airport Pub
7000 NE Airport Way
Portland, OR 97218

Roanoke Tasting Room
315 Market St. SE
Roanoke, VA 24011

Status:
Still standing tall on the banks of its namesake river, Deschutes Brewery remains a titan of the craft beer cosmos. From its humble brewpub origins to national distribution and its third location in Roanoke, Virginia, Deschutes continues to brew with West Coast heart, Old World soul, and just enough experimental mischief to keep things deliciously weird. Shipping to 32 states, two Canadian provinces, and most recently launching its East Coast brewpub into full operation, Deschutes is still very much family- and employee-owned — and perhaps more importantly, still deliciously drinkable.

The Story (with bubbles and echoes):
It all began in 1988, when Gary Fish, a Californian with a public house vision and a stubborn streak the size of Mt. Bachelor, opened Deschutes Public House in downtown Bend. The town was sleepy. The beer scene was embryonic. And Oregon’s now-booming love affair with craft beer was just a glint in a pint glass.

Fish hired John Harris (future Ecliptic Brewing founder, then a McMenamins star) to helm the kettles, and together they brewed Mirror Pond Pale Ale and Black Butte Porter, foundational beers that quietly upended the idea that beer had to be yellow, watery, and anonymous. By 1992, Deschutes had jumped from 310 barrels to nearly 4,000. By 2015, they were pumping out 385,000 barrels — without sacrificing quality, balance, or that signature Deschutes magic.

And while the beer grew, so did the company’s community-first DNA. Their yeast is proprietary. Their culture is democratic (employees own about 7.9%). Their innovation is steady but not stunt-driven. In 2016, Fortune named them the 8th largest craft brewery in America, but you’d never know it from the way they still whisper over wort or obsess over hop freshness.

Today, you’ll find Deschutes pouring everywhere from Bend to British Columbia, from Roanoke to your favorite Peaks & Pints pint. Their East Coast brewery officially broke ground in Roanoke, Virginia and has already opened a taproom and restaurant. Full production brewing is in the works — a calculated, thoughtful eastward expansion in true Deschutes form.

Specialty:
Balance. Consistency. Ingenuity with restraint. Every Deschutes pint is layered, thoughtful, and quietly excellent — like a jazz solo from a monk in flannel. The beers are brewed with a proprietary yeast strain (think Wyeast #1187 Ringwood Ale with a Central Oregon accent), and a commitment to drinkability without dumbing it down.

Five Notable Beers (a Greatest Hits that still slaps):

• Black Butte Porter – The gateway porter for a generation. Roasty, chocolatey, smooth as a Benedictine chant.

• Mirror Pond Pale Ale – Hoppy, citrusy, subtle. The definition of “approachable.”

• Obsidian Stout – Bold, volcanic, and deeply layered. As dark as a moonless Oregon night.

• Fresh Squeezed IPA – Bursting with Citra and Mosaic hops, like a grapefruit cannon to the soul.

• The Abyss – An imperial stout of near-mythic darkness. Barrel-aged. Seasonal. Sinister in the best way.

Awards & Accolades (The Hall of Hops):

• 2013 & 2014 World Beer Awards – Obsidian Stout, Best Stout in the World

• 2014 World Beer Awards – Hop Hedge, Fresh Squeezed – Gold

• 2015 North American Beer Awards – Fresh Squeezed IPA, Silver

• 2016 European Beer Star – Mirror Pond, Bronze

• 2016 World Beer Awards –

  • Obsidian: Gold + World’s Best Stout

  • Mirror Pond: World’s Best Bitter (4–5%)

  • Hop Slice Summer Ale: World’s Best Low Strength Beer

  • Mirror Mirror: World’s Best Dark Beer

• 2012 – Sustainability Award, Central Oregon Environmental Center

• 2011 – Green Power Partner, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Fun Facts & Fermentation Lore:
🍻 Deschutes still brews with a deep commitment to community, sustainability, and craft integrity.
👥 Employee-owned (nearly 8%) and still family-led.
📈 Brewed just 310 barrels in its first year. By 2015? 385,000 barrels.
🌍 Shipping to 32 states, D.C., and parts of Canada.
🏗 East Coast expansion: Roanoke, Virginia brewpub now open, full brewery facility in development.
🏆 In 2013, Gary Fish was named Pacific Northwest Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young.
🍺 Peaks & Pints loves Deschutes so much we’ve probably poured every one of their major seasonals, including The Dissident (barrel-aged Flanders-style brown) and every twisted variant of The Abyss.

Philosophy:
Don’t just brew for the moment. Brew for the community, for the conversation, for the next pint. Brew beer that earns its second round. Then brew one that surprises you.

Deschutes isn’t loud. It’s legendary. It’s the quiet confidence of a brewery that’s seen the trends come and go, the pastry stouts and glitter IPAs rise and fall—and is still out there by the river, brewing something timeless.

LINK: Deschutes Brewery archives