Today we’d like to introduce you to Sonia Marie Leikam.
Hi Sonia Marie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
What happens when a CPA-turned-brewer and a community organizer decide to start a brewery?
You get Leikam Brewing.
Founded in 2014, Leikam is a certified kosher, family-owned and operated 5BBL brewery in Southeast Portland. We started brewing in our backyard, grew into our first retail location on 58th and Burnside in 2019, and then—like so many small businesses—had our plans dramatically rearranged by the pandemic just six months later. In 2021, we moved production into our Burnside taproom and community space, where the brewery continues to evolve.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road has been one with many challenges, but a lot of love. As the parents of 3 young sons, we started the brewery when our youngest son was just a baby. Juggling our marriage in a healthy way, prioritizing our family and sticking to our core values has not always been the best business decision, but it has been the best decision for our family. When Covid hit, we had not even had our new taproom open for 6 months. We had to pivot hard, moving to doing home delivery in our minivan with the kids in the back to keep the brewery afloat. Fast forward to today and we are seeing a decline in sales. Consumption of beer has declined and folks are not going out as much. We are especially seeing this impact on our distribution sales.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
From the beginning, we wanted to build a business rooted in our values: hospitality, community, generosity, Jewish culture, and tikkun olam—the idea that we all have a responsibility to help repair the world. A portion of our profits supports nonprofit organizations we care about, and our space regularly welcomes musicians, chess players, book clubs, artists, community groups, and anyone looking for a place to gather.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.leikambrewing.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leikambrewing/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeikamBrewing
