Eugene's Steelhead Brewing Company poured its last pint on March 10, 2024, after 32 years in business. Owner Cordy Jensen decided to retire after more than three decades of running what was Eugene's first major brewpub—a cornerstone of the craft beer community and a fixture in downtown Oregon's second-largest city. The closure marked the end of an era, but the legacy lives on through McKenzie Brewing, a tasting room in the same space, and the generations of brewers and regulars who called Steelhead home.
Here's the story of Steelhead's closing, its place in Oregon's craft beer history, and what comes next.
The Closure
Steelhead Brewing Company closed its doors on March 10, 2024. KVAL and KEZI reported the news in early March. Cordy Jensen, the owner, cited retirement as the reason—a decision that came after decades of dedication to the brewery and the Eugene community.
The Jensen family's roots in the restaurant industry stretch back 85 years. Cordy Jensen is a native of Eugene who spent his entire career in hospitality, managing over 14 ventures. Steelhead Brewing held a special place in that journey, having been under his stewardship for 32 years. As That Oregon Life noted, the establishment wasn't just Eugene's pioneering full-service brewpub but also a cornerstone in the craft beer community, eventually branching out into wholesale distribution due to its success.
Beer on the bar at Steelhead Brewing Co. in Eugene, Oregon, March 2014. (Visitor7, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0)
The Transition: Steakhouse and McKenzie Brewing
The keys were passed to Mark Byrum, a well-known figure in the local restaurant scene with successful establishments like Gordon Tavern and Carlita's. Byrum's vision was to transform the space into a classic steakhouse—something Eugene lacked—while ensuring the legacy of Steelhead's brews lived on. That included setting up a McKenzie Brewing tasting room adjacent to the steakhouse and retaining the skilled brewer who had been part of Steelhead's success.
McKenzie Brewing was spun off from Steelhead in 2014 as a distribution brand for broader retail and bar distribution throughout Oregon. Both brands produced award-winning craft beers under the same ownership. With the brewpub closure, the McKenzie Brewing tasting room in the renovated space keeps the beer tradition alive in the same building at 199 East 5th Avenue in downtown Eugene.
Steelhead's Legacy
Steelhead Brewing Company was founded in 1990 and opened in 1991—Eugene's first major brewpub. It operated a 10-barrel brewing system producing 130 barrels per month and served American-style food prepared from scratch alongside its full beer selection. The brewpub featured an industrial aesthetic—open pipes, corrugated sheet metal, brick, and dark wood—with outdoor seating in a converted garage space.
The brewery was connected to prominent craft beer figures. Jamie Floyd, who later founded Ninkasi Brewing, developed the Hopasaurus Rex recipe at Steelhead. Teri Fahrendorf, founder of the Pink Boots Society and the first female brewmaster west of the Rocky Mountains, was part of the Steelhead story. Who Owns My Beer and The Brew Site document the brewery's place in Oregon's craft beer heritage.
Signature beers included Raging Rhino Red (an American amber/red that won a Gold Medal at the Great American Beer Festival), Bombay Bomber APA, Hopasaurus Rex Imperial DIPA, Barracuda Blonde, Bulldog Premium Stout, and Hazy Hefeweizen, along with seasonal options. At its peak, Steelhead had multiple locations across the Pacific Northwest and California—Eugene, Portland, San Francisco, Burlingame, and Irvine. The Irvine, California location closed in October 2013 after 18 years when its lease ended.
The Human Cost
The transition was not without hardship for long-standing employees, some of whom had dedicated decades of service. That Oregon Life reported that efforts were made to support them through the transition, with promises of assistance and potential employment opportunities in the new steakhouse.
Community reactions echoed a sense of loss. "It's not just the end of a business but the conclusion of a chapter in Eugene's community life," wrote Tyler James. Jensen's parting words reflected on the relationships built and the regulars known by their favorite dishes—the personal connections that make local businesses like Steelhead invaluable.
What Steelhead's Closure Teaches Us
Steelhead's story is part of a broader pattern. As our earlier coverage noted, brewery closures have outpaced openings in recent years. Legacy brands—even those with decades of history, awards, and loyal followings—are not immune. Retirement, rising costs, changing consumer habits, and market saturation have all contributed.
What remains is the legacy: the brewers who trained there, the beers that defined a generation of Eugene drinkers, and the McKenzie Brewing brand that continues in the same space. Steelhead helped make Oregon the craft beer capital of the United States. That doesn't disappear when the doors close.
Sources: KVAL; KEZI; That Oregon Life; Who Owns My Beer; The Brew Site; BrewPublic.
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