Several West Coast breweries are closing for outdoor service and some have been evacuated due to several wildfires and the impact on air quality in California, Oregon and Washington.
Fires started in California last month after a series of lightning strikes and continued through last week’s heat wave. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Calfire) reported that so far in 2020, the state has seen 3.1 million acres burn in 7,694 different wildfire incidents. As a result, 12 people have died and 6,380 structures have been damaged or destroyed.
Smoke from the fires has clouded the skies over coastal cities, creating an otherworldly orange-tinged glow and unhealthy air conditions. As a result, Russian River Brewing has closed on-site service at its brewpubs in Santa Rosa and Windsor, California.
“Looks like another day with horrible air quality here in the entire Bay Area and the West Coast,” the brewery wrote on social media. “We will not be offering any outdoor dining in Santa Rosa or seating in Windsor, but both pubs will be open normal hours for food and beer to-go.”
The loss of outdoor service is another blow to California’s craft breweries, many of whom have had to close for indoor dining and drinking due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In Oregon, breweries faced similar problems.
Southeast of Portland, Oregon, in Clackamas County, Bent Shovel Brewing had to evacuate its Estacada-based facility, Oregon Brewers Guild executive director Christina LaRue told Brewbound.
“Their taproom is currently sage, but pinned between two fire lines,” LaRue wrote in an email. “The owner and his team are safe.”
About 500,000 Oregonians — more than 10% of the state’s total population — have evacuated as wildfires have burned nearly 1 million acres in the state. Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler issued an emergency order for the city, where smoke is causing unhealthy air quality.
“The smoke has forced many breweries to move to to-go beer/food — especially those in Portland who are still under Phase 1 reopening that does not allow indoor seating,” LaRue said.
Bend-headquartered Deschutes Brewery has closed its brewpubs in Bend and Portland.
Our Portland and Bend Pubs are closed today due to unhealthy air quality in these areas. Stay up to date on news throughout the weekend on our website. Stay safe everyone. https://t.co/Mc9rW5yuc8 pic.twitter.com/eLq73gpocJ
— Deschutes Brewery (@DeschutesBeer) September 11, 2020
Other Portland breweries that have curtailed on-site service due to the smoke include Cascade Brewing and Modern Times Brewing.
Thirty miles south of Portland, Oregon City is under a Level 2 evacuation warning, which requires residents to “prepare to leave at a moment’s notice.” Oregon City is home to Oregon City Brewing, Coin Toss Brewing and Shattered Oak Brewing.
Woodburn, Oregon-based Crosby Hops told customers Wednesday that shipments were on hold after their facilities lost power early Tuesday.
“Outgoing shipments are currently on hold as the Pacific Northwest navigates the impacts of the severe winds, smoke, and fires growing on the West Coast,” Crosby wrote. “Our facilities lost power around 2:30 AM Tuesday morning, with no indications of when it will be turned back on. Unfortunately, we have not been able to ship any orders this week.”
Crosby said it would resume shipments “quickly as possible once power is restored.”
In Washington state, a smoke plume from the California and Oregon fires is expected to create unhealthy air quality conditions all weekend.