Deschutes Brewery Lays Off 300 Workers Amidst COVID-19 Downturn

PORTLAND, Ore. — Deschutes Brewery has laid off the majority of its employees due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Founder Gary Fish told Oregonlive on Wednesday that 300 employees have been let go.

Oregon bars and restaurants that cannot provide take-out service were ordered by Governor Kate Brown to close.

Fish started the brewery in downtown Bend in 1988. They added a second location in Portland’s Pearl District in 2008.

Deschutes Brewery is Oregon’s leading producer of craft-beer, having sold over 60,000 barrels of beer statewide last year.