USA, WA: Grains of Wrath Brewing opening third location in Washougal

Camas, Washington’s Grains of Wrath Brewing is making the Port of Washougal’s recently completed ‘Building 20’ the site of their third location. GOW will join the upcoming new brewery Recluse Brew Works in Building 20, which is just around the corner from the well-established 54-40 Brewing, the New School Beer reported on June 7.

“This opportunity presented itself in an ideal location, at an ideal time, when we are looking for ways to supply demands in front of us,” says Grains of Wrath co-owner/partner Brendan Greenen. “Growth & expansion is exciting when the opportunities arise and they make sense.”

Along with the recently opened Trap Door Brewing Washougal location, and lesser known Shoug Brewing, the Washougal site as an entrance to the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge is making it a thriving beer area. Based on statements from leading figures at the Port of Washougal, making the industrial area near Cottonwood Beach and Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife refuge, a hub for craft beverage makers is part of a longer term vision to bring more people and industry to the area. The growing industrial/commerce area is just off SR-14, 10 minutes from I-205 and 15 minutes to Portland International Airport. It is also very close to Grains of Wrath Camas,

“Having it close to home base to invest in our local community is a huge plus,” adds Greenen. “It will allow us to have more hands on control in an area that is lower cost, but also home to other breweries new and old.”

Building 20 is primarily an industrial space split into 15 different tenant spaces each between 3,300 to 13,200 square feet. Limited retail and hospitality space is available in those suites, and both Grains of Wrath and one of our most anticipated new breweries Recluse Brew Works plan to take advantage of having a public open area in the future after production is underway and stabilized. The building is outfitted with LED lighting, electric vehicle charging stations. Recycled materials were used in the sustainability minded design for Building 20, with solar-ready features. The project was partially funded by a $3 million grant from the Economic Development Association and $1.44 million from the Community Economic and Revitalization Board.

Grains of Wrath brewmaster Mike Hunsaker is excited to get more beer in the pipeline and have a location that is designed for brewing first.

“We got the keys, we are dealing with architects, once we get permits we can start floor drains, water piping, and all that stuff. It’s a slow process, but once we get permits…the system is supposed to come in July,” says Hunsaker.

GOW’s original flagship brewery in Camas is a 3-vessel 20bbl brewhouse visible from the bar of the full restaurant. The GOW PDX location which opened in fall of 2020 is a taproom with another custom designed 15bbl brewhouse hidden in the back, where they make many of their lagers. At the GOW Washougal they are upgrading to a 4-vessel Premiere Stainless 20bbl system with 4 x 60bbl fermenters and 1 x 60bbl brite tank to begin with. Installing a silo at the new location will aid in keeping their beers cost-effective by reducing the amount they spend on malt. The Washougal facility will be primarily for making more IPA’s and hop-forward beers, and seasonal releases.

But, the setup is planned with forethought into adding horizontal lagering tanks in the future, so Hunsaker and crew can make their lager dreams come true. As much as GOW is known as a West Coast IPA house, they actually want to be known just as much as a lager haus. Recent accolades such as mid-size brewery of the year at the 2023 Oregon Beer Awards and a gold for Frost Hammer helles in 2022, have made that goal seem very obtainable.

“West Coast IPA is making a big comeback in the market - we are good there, we kind of have that locked in. Helles has taken off for us, Draft Premium our light lager, and our Mexican lager this time of year we keep having to turn tanks of it. And we are always making some kind of Bavarian Hef, we have to keep some kind weizen around because the people demand it. We have seen a huge swing in our lager sales, we keep atleast 4 fermenters full of lager, their sales have been great but IPA has been king,” says Hunsaker.

A Washougal taproom will come later, GOW has leased a 6,600 sq. ft space and there are 3,300 sq. ft. spaces on either side of them that they could expand into.

“The tasting room is really kind of an afterthought, if we do it it will be about this time next year,” says Hunsaker. “I know we will have one, it’s just a matter of time because we have to get the operation up and running and bring some money in first, get more beer.”

The Grains of Wrath Washougal taproom is still TBD in phase two of expansion says Greenen. At the heart of the Washougal location is pleasing their wholesale customers and keeping the quality of their beer up.

“I think that Mike, Owen, Joe & Brandon are making the best beer we have ever made and easily some of the best beer in the country. I know that their commitment to continuously putting out nothing but stellar products will continue to drive demand whether that be in our own pubs or in the market,” added Greenen.

Grains of Wrath Brewing hopes to begin brewing in Washougal at 4035 Grant St. before summer is out.

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