Cleaning out at the Bank Brewery in Hendricks, MN

This past week I didn't have the kiddo, so when Richard asked me if I'd be interested in going out to the Bank Brewery in Hendricks (where he is the head brewer) I said absolutely! I was going out there to get a more in-depth look at the brewery (since the first time that I was there was during the open house where I was chasing my son around) meet the founder/owner - Jason, and to help with some cleaning.

Richard and Jason working
on the maze of pipes

So we showed up and after some introductions, put some gloves on and went to work. After being overwhelmed by the piping of all the equipoment with all the different valves and control boxes, Richard gave me a slightly less technical task. I was to wash out all the soda kegs that have been used at the brewery and his house for test batches. We brought some with but had to run down the block to the old Bank/New Tap Room to get some other kegs (and of course made another trip later to get some different beers to have). Simply rinse each keg out - fill it full with cleaner (PBW) and let it soak for 30 minutes - rinse and then let them dry. I came up with my own little assembly line to keep it all organized.

Assembly Line

While doing this, it was pretty cool to see the new kegs on pallets right next to me with the Bank Brewing labels on them - really makes it feel like a brewery seeing kegs on pallets that are waiting to be filled.

 

We also had to add 10 oz of Simcoe hops to the test batch of Hop Bandit.

10 oz of Simcoe Hops

Rich adding them into the test batch.

While I was letting the cleaner sit in the kegs for 30 minutes I would go over and watch Richard and Jason work on heating up water and cleaning all of the different tanks. It was really nice talking to Jason and hearing him tell me about all the rework that creamery has been through in order to get it where it is today. How the roof was caving in, and all the tear down work that was needed before they could even start to build it back up. It really makes you appreciate what's been done to keep such an old building like this standing instead of letting it whither away.

There was an occasional hose pulling loose from a clamp and shooting hot water out - with one instance managing to hit Richard pretty good. This led to him having to take a break from cleaning to run upstairs to the loft and clean himself off with a shower to make sure he got all the chemicals off.

I had not been up to the loft during the previously mentioned open house, and all I can say is wow is that place amazing - Jason had just simply said "Welcome to our Office!". Just having space like that above the brewery for everything from a place to chill out on couches, sleep in the bed rooms, or make some food in the kitchen up there (which we ended up making a pizza at the end of the night there). It was a little too cold and windy out (mid 30's in April which is ridiculous) to take the next set of stairs and see the deck/patio up on the roof.

It ended up being a long night and a lot of work, but in the end I'm very glad that I went with. It was really cool to see it the progress being made, talk with Jason, and then seeing that loft upstairs. This definitely makes me want to take the 30-35min drive out there more often - especially when the tap room opens up later this year. Good ways to stay in touch are to follow Bank Brewing via Facebook (www.facebook.com/bankbrewing) and Twitter (@BankBrewing).

Cheers,
Matt