Pyramid Breweries
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Brewing |
| Founded | 1984 |
| Founder | Beth Hartwell, Tom Baune |
| Headquarters | Seattle , United States |
Area served | Washington, Oregon, California |
| Products | Beer (ales, lagers, weizens, ciders, porters, IPAs) |
| Parent | Florida Ice & Farm Co. |
Pyramid Breweries, Inc. was a beer producer operating under the Pyramid label with brewing facilities and brewpubs located in Washington, Oregon, and California. Established in 1984 by Beth Hartwell and Tom Baune as Hart Brewing, the company emerged as an early innovator in the Pacific Northwest craft beer scene. Its initial flagship offering, Pyramid Pale Ale, was soon complemented by Pyramid Wheaten Ale and the highly popular Apricot Ale introduced in 1994. Following a period of growth, the company rebranded to Pyramid Breweries in 1996 and gained industry acclaim through multiple award-winning beer varieties. Eventually, it secured a position among the top five craft brewers in the United States.
While Pyramid relocated its brewing activities away from Kalama, it maintained its corporate headquarters in Seattle. In 2004, it expanded by acquiring Portland Brewing Company, recognized for its MacTarnahan's brand. The brewery was then purchased in 2008 by Independent Brewers United, the parent company of Magic Hat Brewing Company, which preserved operations and offices in Seattle. Two years later, North American Breweries based in Rochester, New York took ownership of the merged companies. By December 2012, North American Breweries became part of Cerveceria Costa Rica, itself a subsidiary of Florida Ice & Farm Co., which currently holds ownership of the Pyramid brand.
This sequence of corporate developments demonstrates Pyramid’s strategic expansion through acquisitions and its incorporation into international business structures under Florida Ice & Farm Co., highlighting its adaptive approach within the competitive landscape of craft brewing.
Beers
The Pyramid portfolio encompassed a variety of beer styles including ales, lagers, weizens, ciders, porters, and IPAs. Their staple selection consisted of six year-round brews such as Hefeweizen, Apricot Ale, Thunderhead IPA, and Outburst Imperial IPA. Additionally, they offered seasonal brews like Curve Ball Blonde Ale, Oktoberfest, and Snow Cap Winter Warmer alongside seasonal variety packs and limited-edition releases.
Facilities, alehouses, and closures
Pyramid operated three brewpub venues known as "Alehouses": one near their brewery location, another in Seattle, and a smaller outlet situated at Oakland International Airport. The Sacramento Alehouse shut down in March 2013; Berkeley followed with closure in 2015; Walnut Creek ceased operations in early 2016. In 2019, the Seattle Alehouse resolved a $450,000 class action lawsuit concerning unpaid wages. Under a year later, on May 1, 2020, Pyramid permanently closed the Seattle Alehouse due to diminished customer traffic caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and the absence of sports and entertainment events that had previously driven business. On January 8, 2021, Portland Brewing Company announced it would discontinue all activities.