SunRift Beer Company opening in April
Megan and Craig Koontz at SunRift Beer Company in Kalispell on Wednesday. (Casey Kreider photos/Daily Inter Lake)
Beer brewing equipment at SunRift Beer Company in Kalispell.
Merchandise for sale at SunRift Beer Company in Kalispell on Wednesday, March 28. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
The newest craft brewery in the Flathead is nearly ready to open its doors.
Craig and Megan Koontz, co-owners of SunRift Beer Company in Kalispell, are putting the finishing touches on the interior of their building and getting batches of beer ready to serve in preparation for a grand opening later this month.
The new brewery — named after Sunrift Gorge in Glacier National Park — is at 55 First Ave. WN, next to the railroad tracks through downtown that will eventually be torn out to make way for a pedestrian trail
The location was a big contributing factor to why they decided to open in Kalispell, said Megan, a former FBI agent. She is an avid runner and biker, and they are excited to be near the epicenter of a rejuvenated downtown area in a city committed to helping businesses develop along that corridor. Eventually, the couple envisions the brewery having a large patio abutting the trail, Craig said.
Craig is the brewmaster, and will use skills he’s honed over a long career in the commercial brewing industry. He’s worked at Tamarack Brewing Company in Lakeside, helped start West Seattle Brew Co. in Seattle, and has also worked at other breweries around the West. He also does consulting work for commercial breweries.
Craig said he has developed a special skill set in Belgian-style beers, but is looking to create a space where everyone feels welcome. While there will be Belgians on the menu, the brewery plans to offer a diverse slate of beers for differing palettes.
About three to five beers will be on tap for the opening, though that will soon grow to between six and eight mainstays and additional rotators. Craig said they would also likely carry a house root beer on tap.
The new building is full of local craftsmanship and American-made equipment, something the couple and their investors placed a lot of emphasis on throughout the planning process.
Their entire seven-barrel brewing system is made of steel from Tennessee and manufactured by Pioneer Tank and Vessel in Portland, Oregon.
Craig said sustainability and reducing the brewery’s carbon footprint have been a priority throughout the planning process. The brewery will have a system in place to filter and reuse water, which will also be used to heat the building.
The couple said the permitting process has proven to be one of the top challenges of opening the brewery. Obtaining all the proper approvals from the state and federal government was time-consuming,
Still, the couple is eager to open the brewery and start serving beer to locals over a beautiful wood bar made by James Dion, a Flathead craftsman and one of their previous neighbors.
More information, including a firm opening date, can be found on the SunRift Beer Company Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sunriftbeercompany.
Reporter Peregrine Frissell can be reached at (406) 758-4438 or pfrissell@dailyinterlake.com.