The north side of Sioux Falls could be the home of a new brewery.  Blake Thompson and Derek Fernholz, two local brewers, are partnering to open their brewery off North Cliff Avenue near the KOA.

This won't be the first time that Thompson and Fernholz have tried their luck at brewing.

Blake Thompson has family members that own two Napa Valley wineries.  An internship then inspired Thompson to enroll in a six-month Master Brewers Program at the University of California-Davis, then courses with the Siebel Institute of Chicago, all part of the World Brewing Academy.

It was eight years ago when Derek Fernholz started doing some home brewing with friends after college.  He quickly realized that he not only liked what he made, but was pretty good at it.  He then became a certified beer judge with the Minnesota Homebrewers Association, before moving back to Sioux Falls, South Dakota to continue his dream of starting his own brewery.

After realizing they both had the same dream, Thompson and Fernholz combined their talents.

Equipment from Minnesota's Minnetonka Brewing & Equipment Company should start arriving to the 12,000 square foot building that will eventually become home to a 30 barrel brewing system and canning equipment.

Thompson and Fernholz are currently working on different recipes that will be featured from their brewery.  Already planned is the Farmhouse Ale and a Double IPA.

A distribution deal is in progress, with plans to start with taps around Sioux Falls and six-pack cans in stores.

Plans are moving forward for Thompson and Fernholz.  What's next on the agenda?  After thinking of hundreds of possibilities, they have started working with a team to find the best name possible!

 

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