USA, OR: Assembly Brewing announces last day of its southeast Portlandn brewpub
Assembly Brewing’s last day of service at their southeast Portland brewpub is Sunday, May 11th 2025. The Assembly Pizza Annex satellite location on NE Alberta St. will remain open after the brewery closes permanently, The New School reported on May 6.
Oregon’s first and only black-owned brewery is calling it quits after 6 years. Assembly Brewing opened in southeast Portland in March of 2019 to much fanfare for it’s innovative brewpub and dedication to authentic Detroit culture. Though he didn’t know it or champion it at the time, owner/brewer George Johnson became the first black brewery owner ever in the state of Oregon…and for now he will be the last.
Johnson hails from Detroit, and his brewery has been as much about the culture of Motor City as Assembly’s beers took inspiration from classic Midwest and Pacific Northwest brewpubs where he first learned to love craft beer. From the beginning, Assembly Brewing and Johnson took authenticity seriously and stayed true to his original vision for good or ill.
A brewery serving pizza is almost as common as finding a burger on the menu, but Assembly Brewing’s dedication to a classical and stylisticly strict definition of true Detroit-style Pizza made it arguably the most authentic in town. This definition came down to unwavering commitment to traditional square steel tray pans, a expressly baked 70 percent hydration dough, Wisconsin brick cheese forming crispy edges, a toasty bottom, chewy and tangy cheese in the center but with the toppings always beneath the cheese and the sauce always dobbed on top. Before dialing in his signature pizza, Johnson trained under the late Shawn Randazzo, the Detroit-based chef and 2012 World Champion Pizza Maker.
Eschewing traditional Oregonian brewpub culture, Assembly Brewing remained steadfastly 21+ from day one. The controversial decision, especially in the inner southeast neighborhood dense with families, was meant to cater to the working-class neighborhood bar crowd as an evening kid-free oasis with late night hours for a brewery (initially open until 2am on weekends.) Though Johnson never wavered on being an adults establishment, the hours got shorter by necessity and Assembly opened a satellite Pizza Annex pub at 2934 NE Alberta Street in February 2024 that is all-ages friendly and will remain open after the original location closure.
When it came to beer, Assembly Brewing was also steadfastly old school with approachable proven styles that prized balance over extremes and trends. For this reason Assembly Brewing never became a big beer destination, which was never the goal to begin with. "It doesn't have to come in a goblet," Johnson said to the New School back in 2016. He wanted the pub to be a locals hangout with approachable beers to be enjoyed over music, lively conversation, and comforting filling food.
“It is with great sadness that we must bid farewell to the Foster location of Assembly Brewing,” George Johnson said in a statement to the New School.
“After six incredible years, it's hard to put into words the emotions that fill our hearts. This journey has been one of passion, creativity, and community and we are immensely grateful to everyone who has been a part of it!
“From our very first brew, we aimed to create a space where friends could come together, share stories, and enjoy exceptional craft beer, booze and Detroit style pizza. We’ve welcomed countless faces and formed lasting friendships. We hope to cross paths again down the road.
“We extend our deepest gratitude to our dedicated staff, loyal customers, and the vibrant community that embraced us. Your support has meant the world to us, we couldn’t have done it without you!
“As we approach this farewell, we are filled with hope and excitement for what the future holds, both for us and for the craft beer scene that we love so dearly. We also want to acknowledge the challenges we faced along the way. The craft beer industry is dynamic and ever evolving and we navigated through various hurdles, from heightened costs and market fluctuations to the impacts of global events. Each challenge taught us resilience and adaptability. Unfortunately, the hits kept coming and we no longer have a financial cushion to weather the storms ahead.
“We want to encourage everyone to continue exploring the vibrant Oregon craft beer scene, especially here in Portland. There are so many talented brewers and breweries in this city, each with their own unique story to tell. Support your local breweries, restaurants, venues and bars. Discover new ones and keep the community alive (and Weird).
“Thank you for being a part of our journey. Cheers to new beginnings and the memories we’ve created together!”
Last call at Assembly Brewing (6112 SE Foster Road, Portland, OR 97206) is 10pm on Sunday, May 11th.
07 May, 2025
