Bank Brewing Company
Minnesota
An under-the-radar craft brewer in the tiny town of Hendricks, Minnesota, Bank Brewing Company is crafting premium hop-forward beers that are sure to impress.
Located in the small town of Hendricks, Minnesota, on the South Dakota border, Bank Brewing Company is focused on bringing quality craft beer to Southwest Minnesota and fostering a new community of beer drinkers who are thirsty to learn more. The craft brewery was established by avid homebrewer Jason Markkula in 2014, but he actually got his start in 2009 when he established a 'Beer for Wildlife' Series of craft beers. The Series donates a portion of proceeds to Pheasants Forever's "Build a Wildlife Area" campaign and Jason continues to produce a range of quality brews for the program (including this month’s featured Walleye Chop Lager).
Jason Markkula's passion for hunting and craft beer is what initially led him to develop the 'Beer for Wildlife' program, which got its start in a historic building that Jason had recently renovated (in 2008) into a hunting lodge. The building was the original Bank of Hendricks, which now lends its name to his brewery, Bank Brewing Company.
In 2014, Jason decided to take his passion for brewing to the next level and built a production brewery down the street from the old bank in a historic creamery building. The old bank/hunting lodge was then turned into a taproom and Bank Brewing Company was born.
2014 also marked the year that Head Brewer, Richard Drawdy, joined the Bank Brewing team. Richard brought with him a new spectrum of beer styles to add to the line-up, including a hop-forward IPA and Black IPA, as well as more approachable styles like Berliner Weisse and Pale Wheat. The Bank Brewing Company’s collection of craft beers include mostly ales and hoppier styles that appeal to beer lovers seeking out big, flavorful brews. In fact, Jason and Richard are making the styles of beer one wouldn’t expect to find in a town with a population of 700. It is their hope to foster a new culture of beer in Hendricks, Minnesota, exposing locals to the craft beer movement that they may not be familiar with and building strong relationships within the community.
The Bank Brewing Company currently houses a 15 bbl brewhouse and four 15 bbl fermenters with room for expansion down the road, while the lively taproom offers a charming historic atmosphere with an outdoor beer garden and a handful of games. It’s no wonder that Bank Brewing Company has been so warmly embraced by the Hendricks community, and we are happy to share two of their bottlings with our Craft Beer Club members. Enjoy!
