What happens when 2 soccer-loving Brits move to Portland? They open a brewery, obviously.
Pete Hoppins and Niki Diamond moved to Portland from England in 2009 for Pete's job in apparel design at Nike, where he led the design team for Nike Soccer. Soon after they moved, Niki joined design agency Ziba, where she worked in their internal marketing team and managed Ziba's brand and communication projects. In 2014 their daughter was born and Niki decided to leave agency life to pursue a long-brewing (ha!) dream, and–after more than a year of planning–The Toffee Club, Niki & Pete’s homage to the pubs of their homeland, opened in the spring of 2016.
Niki and Pete eventually relented, realizing the opportunity for two Brits in Portland to own their own brewery was too good to pass up.
The Toffee Club quickly established itself as one of Portland’s most lively “sports bars” by playing every international soccer match possible on the bar’s giant drop-down screen, becoming a crucial piece of Portland’s ever-growing footie fanbase. In 2018, the small brewery next door closed, and after initially declining to take over the space (I mean, c’mon: 2 small kids, Pete still full time at Nike, a busy pub to manage… they were busy!) Niki and Pete eventually relented, realizing the opportunity for two Brits in Portland to own their own brewery was too good to pass up. Away Days Brewing officially, setting itself apart with a cheeky design scheme and bright color palette that tapped into their own nostalgia for travel and discovery.
During the pandemic, they decided to permanently close the Toffee Club (RIP the best Full English Breakfast in Portland) and lean full time into building their new brand. With a focus on European styles and classic English ales inspired by Niki and Pete's global adventures (and the beers they've enjoyed along the way), Away Days has become one of our favorite local breweries. Along with brewer Marshall Kunz, taproom manager Jamie Leresche and bartender Jay Orona, they’ve created the kind of sui generis experience Portland is so well known for, and we jumped at the chance to collaborate with them on Picnic Pilsner.
Photos via @awaydaysbrewingco
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