Microbrewery opens in June

Microbrew fans listen up. 

There is a microbrewing company opening soon in Bonners Ferry. It is the venture of retired Boundary County Sheriff detective Mike Naumann.

Naumann announced his retirement in September of 2009. He said he would be researching a business opportunity after retirement.

It is revealed, the business opportunity is  the Kootenai River Brewing Co.  The business is located on the corner of Riverside Drive and First Street in the conspicuous pink and purple brick building.

Naumann will brew four types of beer at the microbrewery. 

Of the four kinds of brews there will be an American pilsner, pale ale, hefeweizen and an Indian pale ale.  Naumann said as often as he can he will use local wheat and malt barely in the ingredients.

The Kootenai River Brewing Co., is also a restaurant that will serve lunch and dinner.

“Families are welcome to sit and enjoy a meal in the dining room,” Naumann said. “Soft drinks will also be available and the dining room is separate from the bar.”

In the past few months the building has livened up with activity. It is  being remodeled inside and Naumann hopes it will be done in the next few weeks.

Naumann’s son Jasper is the contractor on the renovation project.

“Bonners Ferry needed a nice place like this and since we didn’t have one we  built one,” he said.

There is a bar that overlooks the Kootenai River where people can try the microbrews and wine.

The wine is from Naumann’s brother’s  vineyards and winery in Santa Cruz Valley, Calif.

Over the picture windows will be two big flat screen televisions.

Naumann purchased a hearty 10 barrel stainless steel brewery system made in Budapest, Hungary.

Aesthetically pleasing, the huge stainless steel tanks are behind brick archways and are what people will notice immediately. These tanks are where the brewery process begins. From there the product flows into the tanks in the basement to ferment. After fermentation it is time to keg it up and tap it fresh.

Naumann plans on starting the first batch of brew this week.  It will be ready for tasting in three to four weeks and he plans on opening at the same time.

“So far we haven’t given any strange names to our beers like some of the ones you hear out there,” Naumann said.  “I don’t think we will do that, but we will use Kootenai River Brewing Co.”

Naumann said the brewery will be open some time June. There will be a grand opening celebration planned for the Fourth of July weekend.

He has already hired six people including a chef and a brewer. He said he plans on hiring six more people including servers, dishwashers and a tap room server.

In addition to buying fresh micro brews on tap people will be able to buy their favorites by the 15 gallon and 5 gallon keg. People will also be able to buy a growler in a rustic brown bottle with the company’s logo.

“Fresh beer that people can take home with them,” Naumann said.