Transforming a derelict into a vibrant business
April 21, 2011
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.
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.

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.

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.