Breakside Brewery, located at 1570 NW 22nd Avenue in Portland, is one of several locations operated by the company, which has grown into a multi-unit concept with distribution in 11 states. Led in part by brewmaster and co-owner Ben Edmunds, the company has expanded steadily while maintaining its focus as a neighborhood-driven concept.
Edmunds has spent roughly two decades in the brewing industry, taking on roles across education, production, and leadership.
“I’ve spent the last 20 years in the brewing industry, starting as a hobbyist and growing into advanced roles,” Edmunds said, adding that he initially joined Breakside as a founding employee before taking on equity years later.
The idea behind the brewery traces back to a kayaking trip in Alaska, where time spent in the wilderness — and a stop at Alaska Brewing Company — helped spark what would eventually become Breakside.
From the beginning, the company approached growth deliberately. Even in 2010, Portland was already a competitive beer market, leading the team to focus on neighborhoods that didn’t yet have a brewery.
That neighborhood-first approach also shapes how Breakside operates day-to-day. Edmunds said the company views itself as a retail hospitality business, with each location serving as a “third space” for the surrounding community. That thinking has guided site selection and the overall guest experience, with a focus on building consistency over time.
“As we have gotten larger, we have tried not to lose sight of the fact that we are fundamentally a neighborhood spot for so many of our customers,” Edmunds said. “We are a retail hospitality company first and foremost.”
Today, Breakside operates eight locations and exports small amounts of beer internationally. “Proud to say that it’s been 16 years and we are still alive and kicking (and thriving),” Edmunds said.
That growth didn’t happen all at once. “The company expanded over time, moving from a single location into a broader operation that now includes production and distribution,” Edmunds said. “With that shift came new demands, particularly around building systems that could support a larger business while maintaining consistency across locations.”
Rather than scaling quickly, the team grew at a pace that made sense operationally, allowing the business to adjust as it expanded.
The early years came with challenges, with Edmunds describing that period as chaotic. “You have to build systems, you have to get buy-in from employees, you have to scrap for cash,” he said. “The first six years of any small and growing business are going to require a huge output of emotional labor.”
Still, what has kept the business moving forward is straightforward. “It’s the people,” Edmunds said. “Serving the customers, mentoring the staff, nerding out on the craft.”
Looking ahead, the company plans to continue growing, but in a way that stays true to its core values. “We’re always looking for ways to expand our footprint that align with our core values,” Edmunds said.
“Portland is the greatest beer city in the world,” he added. “We are proud to be a fixture in its scene.”
