Local brewer Steam Donkey poised to grow as newest Port of Grays Harbor tenant
Press Release:
August 19, 2025
Contact: Kayla Dunlap, Director of Government & Public Affairs
kdunlap@portgrays.org or 360-581-4776
Aberdeen, WA – At its August meeting, the Port of Grays Harbor Commission approved a new lease with local brewer, Steam Donkey, for nearly 2,900 square feet of warehouse and office space at the Port's R&D Facility on Port Industrial Road. Originally envisioned as an incubator space for craft breweries and distilleries, the site was the previous home of the Wishkah River Distillery.
Steam Donkey was founded in 2017 by Jonathan and Stefanie Bennett, becoming the first brewery to open in Aberdeen, Washington in 70 years. Their original location in downtown Aberdeen has become a community fixture, including a tasting room, food truck, and outdoor seating. They plan to continue operating from the original tasting room while adding new off-site brewing space at the Port. The brewery’s new location at the Port will double production capacity, streamline operations and create three additional jobs.
“After maximizing every inch of our current brewing space, and adding a food truck and off-site storage, we have just outgrown our original footprint,” explained Steam Donkey owner Stefanie Bennett. “We are thrilled about our new production space at the Port and are looking forward to serving our growing customer base and remaining a cornerstone of the community while expanding our business.”
“We are so excited to welcome Steam Donkey as a Port tenant,” stated Port of Grays Harbor Executive Director Leonard Barnes. “It is great to see this space utilized for craft brewing again and we couldn’t ask for a better community partner than Steam Donkey.”
Steam Donkey is proudly female and veteran founded, and remains majority female owned and operated today. Earning more than 15 medals in regional and national competitions, they proudly source ingredients from the Pacific Northwest whenever possible.
Founded in 1911, the Port of Grays Harbor is one of Washington State’s oldest port districts and Washington’s only deep-water port located directly on the Pacific Ocean. The Port of Grays Harbor operates 4 deep-water marine terminals, the Westport Marina, Bowerman Airport, Grays Harbor ship assist services, numerous public waterfront access facilities, in addition to industrial and business parks throughout the County. Strategically located midway between Seattle and Portland and only 1 ½ hours from open sea, the Port of Grays Harbor provides businesses a diverse portfolio of facilities. More information on the Port of Grays Harbor’s facilities and operations is available at portofgraysharbor.com.
Port of Grays Harbor Executive Director Leonard Barnes celebrates Steam Donkey’s new lease that will double production capacity with owners Jonathan and Stefanie Bennett.
