A bourbon empire just docked in Hood River. Sazerac, the company behind Buffalo Trace and BuzzBallz, has bought Full Sail Brewing, and the Oregon brewery’s Hood River pub closed without warning on Monday, Nov. 2. Sazerac confirmed the deal to the Portland Business Journal on Nov. 3, as reported by KGW.
What Sazerac says about Full Sail Brewing
“Sazerac is pleased to confirm the acquisition of Full Sail Brewing,” the company said in an email to the Business Journal. “The Full Sail team has created a strong business plus production and manufacturing capabilities, and this acquisition enables us to add additional capacity and capabilities to our network.”
Sazerac hasn’t said what happens to the Full Sail or Session brands, and the terms weren’t disclosed. Brewbound also reported the acquisition.
The pub closed, and the staff were let go
The pub and restaurant at 506 Columbia St. closed on Nov. 2, and the restaurant staff were let go. The New School quoted an unnamed Full Sail brewer who wrote that “the Full Sail and Session brands officially died” and that the facility would now be “a 100% contract production facility.” That account isn’t confirmed by Sazerac, and The New School says it’s still seeking comment.
Four decades on the Columbia
Full Sail was founded in 1987, near the start of Oregon’s craft brewing boom. It produced 12,800 barrels in 2025, and the Business Journal ranked it Oregon’s 11th-largest craft brewer. Employee-owned for years, it was sold to Encore Consumer Capital in 2015. Its best-known beers are its amber and the Session lager line.
Legacy brands changing hands is a familiar story; see Anchor Brewing’s revival under a new owner.
What comes next for Hood River
For now, the facts are a sale, a shuttered pub and a quiet new owner. Whether Session lager stays on shelves is the big open question. We’ll update when Sazerac says what it plans to make in Hood River.
Transmission complete.
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