Investors seek to build brewery at marina

Is a local microbrewery on the horizon?

At Monday’s Port District #1 meeting, a group of 10 local investors represented by Cathlamet businessman Richard Erickson presented a proposal to port commissioners to site a microbrewery on port-owned property at Elochoman Marina.

The proposal asks the port to build and lease a 1,000-1,200 square foot building to the group for a five-year period.

The Drop Anchor Brewery would sell kegs to local restaurants and growlers and souvenirs to tasting room visitors. Its tasting room would not offer full meals for purchase.

Erickson said the group’s goal is to have the building constructed by the end of July and to have the brewery operational by Labor Day weekend, when Wahkiakum Chamber of Commerce hosts its Buzzard’s Breath Chili Cook-off at the marina.

Commissioner Larry Bonds questioned Erickson about the group’s plans once the five-year lease expired. Erickson said the group had no plans to move away from the marina.

Commissioner Brett Deaton asked if the brewery would cause noise pollution. No noise, said Erickson, but he acknowledged that brewing operations would generate an odor.

Erickson added that the brewery would provide jobs, increase the port’s tax base, and attract visitors to the port and to the community as a whole.

Port commissioners have scheduled a workshop for 5 p.m. next Wednesday (March 6) at the port office for further discussion on the proposal.

An earlier version of this story was first published on February 25.