Deschutes Brewery Partners with Fish & Family Seafoods

Alaskan seafood company owned by the niece of Deschutes Brewery founder Gary Fish makes serving sustainable seafood at the brewery’s two pubs a family affair

November 2, 2015 – Bend, Oregon/Portland, Oregon – Deschutes Brewery has partnered with Fish and Family Seafoods to source “fresher than fresh” wild Alaskan salmon for its Bend and Portland public houses. The Alaskan fishing company is owned by Adam Hackett and Lexi Fish Hackett, the niece of Deschutes Brewery founder, Gary Fish, and it offers line-caught, frozen-at-sea fish. The Fish and Family process prevents the fish from degrading and keeps high-quality protein intact, preserving the “day of catch” fresh taste.

Executive chef Jill Ramseier, who heads up the brewery’s Portland pub, said, “This partnership allows us to serve salmon that is peak quality and flavor because of the way it is caught and preserved. Our kitchen is thawing and utilizing entire fish daily, having fun experimenting and creating delicious dishes from every part of the salmon – including collars and fins – in order to minimize waste while offering variety to our customers.”

Fish and Family is part of a small fleet of salmon trollers producing a limited supply of high quality, frozen-at-sea salmon. Soon after a fish is caught and immediately cleaned, it is blast-frozen aboard the family’s boat – usually within an hour. The fish remain in the boat’s hold – which is actually a freezer – until arriving at port. The detailed cleaning and blast-freeze process prevents the fish from degrading and keeps high-quality protein intact, preserving the “day of catch” fresh taste. In addition, Fish and Family fishing grounds are located in cold Alaskan oceanwaters, which makes for great fat content and flavor.

Not only is the new partnership a family affair, but the fish are caught sustainably with hook and line – an important factor for Deschutes Brewery. Fish and Family values align with the brewery’s culture when it comes to sustainability and environmental stewardship.

The salmon can be found on the menu at both the original downtown Bend Deschutes Brewery location at 1044 NW Bond Street and at the Pearl District location in Portland at 210 NW 11^th Street.

About Fish & Family SeafoodsThis family-owned company provides artisan-quality, wild Alaskan salmon that is line caught and blast frozen at sea. This method is not only sustainable, but it preserves the quality, flavor and protein-quality of the fish. Owned by Adam Hackett and Lexi Fish Hackett, the company prides itself on stewardship of the ocean ecosystem and works to stay involved in the community, socially and environmentally. They are members of United Fishermen of Alaska, Alaska Trollers Association, Alaska Longline Fishermen's Association, Sitka Conservation Society. www.fishandfamily.com

About Deschutes BreweryNamed as OUTSIDE’s Best Places to Work in both 2013 and 2014, Deschutes Brewery was founded in 1988 as a brew pub in Bend, Oregon. Still family and employee owned 27 years later, the brewery is known for brewing a diverse line-up of award winning beers including the popular Black Butte Porter and Mirror Pond Pale Ale. From the beginning, the focus has been on crafting the best beer and food using only the finest ingredients.  In 2008, the brewery opened a second pub in Portland’s Pearl District. Deschutes Brewery now ships beer to 28 states, the District of Columbia, and around the world from its main brewing facility located on the banks of the Deschutes River.  To find out more, visit www.DeschutesBrewery.com.