E-Malt.com News article: USA, WA: Trap Door Brewing ready to expand by opening a second location

In 2015, Brian Shull formed Trap Door Brewing and opened the brewery and taproom in Vancouver, Washington’s Uptown Village neighborhood. The company just announced that it is now ready to expand by opening a second location, increasing production, and widening distribution, the Washington Beer Blog reported on May 9.

The new location, The Gateway, will open this summer in Washougal, Washington. The 6,500-square-foot facility will include a taproom with a range of Trap Door beers, a kitchen, cocktails, wine, and eventually a new production brewery. The company hopes to host the grand opening sometime this summer.

“We enjoy being a part of the revival of uptown village in Vancouver and we want to create that same experience on Main Street in Washougal,” said Bryan Shull, Trap Door’s founder.

Trap Door Brewing landed on the name, The Gateway, as a nod to Washougal’s geographic position as the gateway to the scenic Columbia River gorge. Shull said Trap Door principals have taken ownership of the century-old building which was converted into a brewery by a prior owner and operator.

Most recently, the location at 1834 Main Street in downtown Washougal was home to Logsdon Farmhouse Ales, which closed in 2021. Before that, it was the home of Amnesia Brewing, which closed in 2017.

Shull said that Trap Door will engage in initiatives in Washougal as they have in Vancouver, including a program offering 360 backpacks filled with school supplies for in-need students, participating in community events, and continuing its popular Founders Club for lifetime customers.

“We will be engaged in the communities we serve,” said Shull. “We are committed to taking care of the people who take care of us.”

Shull left his career in renewable energy a decade ago to open a brewery. In doing so, he became the third generation of his family to work in the brewing industry: his father and grandfather enjoyed careers with Great Western Malting in Vancouver.

The expansion will allow Trap Door Brewing to quintuple its production volume. To help move all that beer, the brewery recently signed an agreement with Kendall’s Pioneer and Browar Polska to distribute its beers across the state. Both of those companies are part of Corwin Beverage, a fourth-generation distributorship that has operated in Washington since 1941.

The new distribution agreement will see some of Trap Door’s award-winning beers find a wider audience all across Washington state.

“Kendall’s [Pioneer] first was a purveyor, supplying us with soda, kombucha and wine,” explained Shull. “They kept showing up on time, they had product, and their consistency really stood out. So, I approached Kendall’s. I’m now thrilled to have my products sitting on shelves or on tap alongside other outstanding local independent craft brews in their distribution book.”

“Trap Door is an outstanding local independent craft brewer whose products are excellent and whose beers already have a following,” said Sam Madrid, COO of Corwin Beverage Co. “We look forward to distributing for another small independent owner.”


11 May, 2022