The STORY

The Iron Horse Brewery that opened its doors in December of 2004 was a bit different than today. It had a very mom and pop feel, and featured a look that was as traditional as it gets. Those who knew of it visited regularly, but the regulars were few. For many, the brewery was a thing shrouded in mystery... college students-which comprise a fair percentage of Ellensburg's population for most of the year-would occasionally see a bottle on a store shelf and ask where it came from. The likely response: "Yeah, I think some dude makes that in his basement or something..." The word just wasn't getting out, and things didn't look good for the tiny brewery that made exceptionally tasty ales.

Well, a couple of hoodlums in their late-twenties jumped on the opportunity to own and operate their own brewery, and what resulted is the Iron Horse Brewery you know and love today. They tweaked some recipes, changed some names, threw some ridiculous theme parties to encourage locals to actually see the brewery with their own eyes, and good things started to happen. Locals started to dig what the guys were doing. A few bars took a chance and put Iron Horse back on tap, and the beer started flowing. The word started getting out. The young men felt driven by a sort of manifest destiny, and they took their beer on the road. Off to Spokane, where the people yearned for a bigger selection of ales from the Eastern side of the Mountains. Over the mountains to battle for the hotly-contested taps of the west side. North and South along 97, driving deep into the heart of Hop Country. Everywhere they went, gracious business owners and managers gave them and their Ales an opportunity... And good things continued to happen.

Whether it was the quality of the beer, the unique look of the packaging, or the bordering-on-annoying persistence of the sales force, things started to work. You can now find Iron Horse Brewery ales on tap or in the bottle in both fine and slightly dubious establishments throughout Washington and Northern Idaho. You can stop by our tasting room to learn about and taste the beer, buy a case or fill a growler, take a tour or down a few pints at the bar, or just give us a hi-five.

You MIGHT even find an Ellensburg local who knows us as something more than a rumored basement operation.