About Us

NW Sausage & Deli was established in 1983 by Dick Young. His vision was to create a place where everyone can enjoy Old World style smoked sausage. Today, using electric air smokehouses we produce the finest sausages and deli products around–each are prepared to Dick’s original, preserving Dick’s Dream.

A lifelong meat cutter, Dick started his career at Midway Meats in Chehalis while still in high school. After graduating high school, he started his own custom slaughtering and meat wrapping business, Dick’s Meat, across from Maple Lane School in Rochester. After 8 years in the business, Dick decided he wanted to focus his attention on the art of making and smoking sausages and various meats.

Dick opened the doors of NW Sausage & Deli on October 28, 1983, after building the business from the ground up. The business was a family project with Dick and Marilyn, their two children, Julie (7) and Jonathan (3), and Marilyn’s mom, Carol Ponder, working part time.

Shortly after the deli was up and running, Dick put in a few tables and chairs and started selling sandwiches on the premises. That is where it all began …

In 1984, Dick, a man who never could sit still, poured his passion and interest into home brewing. He built, from scratch, a 3 bbl. brew house — which we still use today as our pilot system — to start designing and creating recipes in the back of the deli. His beer was so popular that he quickly found himself exceeding the annual production limit for home brewers. In 1992, Dick decided it was time to make his hobby a business! Dick’s Brewing Company became a reality in 1994.

Dick quickly realized he would need more space for his growing side project and built a brewery/warehouse adjacent to his deli. Dick would brew once a week and initially focused on Dick Danger, Pale Ale and Lava Rock Porter. Dick Danger is still our best selling beer, to date! The brewery was located behind the deli from 1995 to 2008. Production and distribution grew from 200 bbls. in one state to over 3000 bbls. a year in 6 states. Dick’s creative passion for brewing also grew, starting with three recipes in 1994 to over twenty styles in 2009.

In 2008, Dick’s Brewing Company moved into its current location on Galvin Road and production continues full steam ahead! Dick opened a tasting room at the production facility in 2009 and invited the public in for a tour and a pint. Today, the Tasting Room is still a favorite local hangout and tourist destination. The tasting room has won “Best Place for a Pint” 4 years in a row. Northwest Sausage and Deli is the original home of Dick’s Brewing and is the retail location for all things Dick’s – Beer, Sausage and Deli Sandwiches!

Dick wore many hats and he was so many things to so many people. In 2009, we lost a brew master, a friend, a dad, a partner, a son, a teacher, a rebel, an electrician, a plumber, a carpenter, a craftsman, and a joker, a complete and unique leader. He will always be remembered in every bottle or keg that gets shipped from our warehouse to someone that is thirsty, his vision and dream will live on.

Today, the Dick’s Brew Crew is led by Dick’s daughter, Julie Pendleton. We have plenty of room for growth and feel the sky’s the limit when it comes to continuing Dick’s legacy with Dick’s Brewing Company and NW Sausage & Deli. Our entire team is proud to continue the dream that our founder started, and we are grateful to have you all along for the ride!

From all of us at the Dick’s Brewing Company, cheers and thank you!