Assembly Brewing is a Black-owned brewery and restaurant in southeast Portland's Mt. Scott-Arleta neighborhood, near Foster-Powell. The menu includes Detroit-style pizza, sandwiches, salads, cocktails,[1] and seven beers on tap. Pizza varieties include Hawaiian, "meat-lovers" (with pork roll),[2] and "veggie gourmet".[1] In 2019, Andi Prewitt of Willamette Week said the business is "now one of the few minority-owned breweries in the country".[3] Assembly is the first Black-owned brewery in Oregon, according to Portland Monthly's Katherine Chew Hamilton.[4]
The restaurant operates in a renovated 7,500 square-foot space owned by Adam Dixon, which was previously housed a Korean grocery store.[1]The Oregonian's Andre Meunier said, "The exterior sports clean, mid-century lines with a gray and earthy-orange theme. Inside, high ceilings with revealed wooden beams and earth tones create a rustic Portland pub feel, and artisans have crafted metal and wood pieces for the bars and tables."[5] There are four interior murals, one of which was completed by Theo Holdt and inspired by Diego Rivera's Detroit Industry Murals,[6] depicting brewers instead of automotive industry workers.[1][5] Andy Giegerich of the Portland Business Journal described the artworks as "stunningly detailed".[7] Assembly also has pinball, a covered patio, and a parking lot. Guests must be 21 years of age or older.[8]
Interior, 2022
Interior murals, 2022
History
Co-founder and brewer George Johnson, originally from Detroit, established the business with Adam Dixon on March 23, 2019.[1][3]
During Pizza Week in 2021, the restaurant served a pizza called "The D" with pepperoni, Canadian bacon, mushrooms, onions, and green pepper.[9]
Reception
Willamette Week's Andi Prewitt said Assembly serves "what might be the most authentic Detroit-style pizza in town".[3] Rachel Pinsky included the restaurant in Eater Portland's 2021 overview of "Where to Find Thick, Cheesy Square Pizzas in Portland".[6]
