New brewery in the works for Kalispell

There’s a new brewery coming to downtown Kalispell, but craft beer connoisseurs will have to wait the better part of a year to take the first sip.

Adam and Amanda Robertson of Whitefish have purchased the American Carpet Center building on First Avenue East in Kalispell and are in the throes of remodeling the 117-year-old building located next to the KCFW-TV station. Copperwood Brewing is on track to open early next year.

Adam, a self-employed information technology consultant, is an avid homebrewer whose brews have gathered a loyal following. They have nicknamed their home brewery BrewHaus 651, reflecting their home address on Copperwood Court in Whitefish.

“It’s been a very enthusiastic hobby for Adam,” said Amanda, a web developer for Zane Ray Group in Whitefish. “He has a reasonably large following.”

The Robertsons have talked to the owners of the popular Kalispell Brewing Co.— just a block away from Copperwood Brewing’s home-to-be — who have welcomed them to the downtown neighborhood.

“Their mentality is that a rising tide lifts all ships,” Amanda said about Kalispell Brewing owners Maggie Doherty and Cole Schneider. “It becomes a destination … I was at KBC a week ago and you can see our building from their upstairs.”

While Kalispell Brewing Co. takes a more traditional approach to its beer methodology, “Adam goes the other way,” she said. “It’s experimental, he’s trying interesting, different flavors.”

One of BrewHaus 651’s most popular beers has been a tea pale ale.

The Robertsons are in the process of getting their brewer’s license, but it’s a lengthy process that involves both federal and state approval.

In the meantime they’re charging ahead with the building renovations. Infrastructure changes are needed for the brew space.

“For the area of the tap room we’re stripping walls back” to reveal barnwood-style slats, Amanda said. The original part of the building dates to 1900, according to tax records. A covered garage in back was added in the 1940s. The business was an auto parts store at one time before become a carpet retail center.

“It’s like peeling an onion,” she said about the process of stripping down the interior.

To get updates on the brewery progress, go to www.copperwoodbrewing.com or follow Copperwood Brewing on Facebook.

Flathead Journal editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by email at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.