New draft house opens in Washougal

Shoug's Draft House is the brick-and-mortar realization of a long-held dream for Rod Edwards, who started Shoug Brewing Company as a post-retirement project in 2016. After a previous attempt to open a taproom in Vancouver fell through in 2019, Edwards partnered with food service veterans Jon Borth and Jess Cantrell in 2024 to bring the vision to life in Washougal. The new draft house is located in a renovated 85-year-old historic building on E Street that formerly housed Neder's Cafe and Auto Service. The building, which had been vacant for years, underwent an extensive remodel, including the addition of a reinforcing inner wall, to prepare for its new role as a community gathering spot. The focus of the menu will be wood-fired pizzas, complemented by a variety of appetizers, salads, and sandwiches made with from-scratch ingredients. The pizza oven is considered the "workhorse" of the kitchen. The tap list will feature a wide range of Shoug Brewing Company's beers, including a Czech pilsner, a blackberry hefeweizen, and both hazy and West Coast IPAs. The opening of Shoug's Draft House is part of a broader trend of revitalization in downtown Washougal. The city has been focused on creating a "Vibrant Town Center" to attract new businesses and residents, with projects like new housing developments and a new park underway near City Hall.