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Transforming a derelict into a vibrant
business
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April 21, 2011 |
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What was once
an eyesore on Riverside Street in
downtown Bonners Ferry has rapidly
become one of Bonners Ferry's most
vibrant new businesses, the Kootenai
River Brewing Company. |
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As the owners stated on their website in 2010,
“Watch us grow as we transform an historic
building…actually a conspicuous pink and purple
cinder block building…in downtown Bonners Ferry
into a working brewery.
Learn about our stellar beer as we assemble the
equipment and start making beer.”
The brewery now provides Pilzner, Pale Ale, IPA,
Huckleberry Wheat, and Seasonal Craft beers on
tap with an amazing lunch and dinner menu. Put
these two components together and you have the
start of a very successful business.
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Kootenai
River Brewing Company owner Mike Naumann
and Rotary Club President Wilma DeVore. |
In March, owner Mike Naumann told the Bonners
Ferry Rotary Club a little bit about his
background and about transforming an old eyesore
in downtown Bonners Ferry into a vibrant gem.
In 1976, Naumann emigrated to Bonners Ferry from
central Washington, eventually settling in
Paradise Valley. Up until his retirement as a
Boundary County Sheriff detective in September
2009, Mike had worked for the U.S. Forest
Service, Moyie mill, and the Bonners Ferry
Police Department as their D.A.R.E. officer and
marine detective. He spent some time as a
missionary in South Africa, later joining the BC
Sheriff’s office in 2001.
The Kootenai River Brewing Company is housed in
a building that was built in the 1940s, destined
to become a creamery but used as for automotive
repair and storage.
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Before its
restoration, what is now the Kootenai
River Brewing Company was an abandoned
derelict none too pleasant on the eyes. |
The roof on an adjoining building collapsed
under the heavy snow of 1996-97 and the pink and
purple building was abandoned.
Mike and his brother bought the building in 2006
obtaining a business loan from a secured by the
Department of Agriculture. The first bank he
approached denied his loan because of his
background and lack of experience.
Kitchen equipment was purchased from the China
Kitchen.
The Kootenai River Brewing Company now houses a
10-barrel stainless-steel brewery system with
equipment purchased from Budapest, Hungary, and
transported via cargo ship, train and truck to
Bonners Ferry.
The equipment consists of eight storage tanks on
the basement level and two steam-jacketed tanks
on the first floor, where the brewery process
begins.
From the first level, the beer flows into the
eight tanks in the basement to ferment.
The brew master is from Sandpoint.
In addition to the tap, beer is also available
for purchase in 5 and 15 gallon kegs, as well as
a growler in rustic brown bottles with the
company’s logo.
The Kootenai River Brewing Company opened for
business August 5, 2011, to fulfill a need in
the community, initially employing 43 part-time
and full-time employees.
Currently, he has approximately 16 full-timers
on staff in the winter and will be back up to
about 30 in the summer.
The brewery business has been excellent, Naumann
said, while the food side of the business is
beginning to accelerate.
You can learn more about the Kootenai River
Brewing Company's website at
http://kootenairiverbrewingcompany.com, or
stop in for a visit at Riverside and First in
downtown Bonners Ferry. The Kootenai River
Brewing Company is open daily from 11 a.m. to 10
p.m., for reservations, call (208) 267-HOPS. |
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