Gruner Brothers Brewing
Casper, Wyoming
Written By: Sarah Reish
We met up with Ben, one of the Gruner brothers, and with a beer in hand, we got to know the beer, facility, brand, and more about their family and quest for making beer the right way.
A little background
The Gruner’s are multi-generation Wyoming-ites, proudly from the Casper area. The logo for the brewery is unique. It is a vintage truck with a dog sitting on the roof. The truck is real and a part of the family history as it was purchased brand new by Ben’s wife’s grandfather in 1919 and used on their ranch for decades. Ben himself restored the truck to perfect condition. Going as far as having pieces custom made to be identical to the original parts, rather than using modern pieces. The dog, sparky, was also an active part of the family ranch and made it onto the logo. You can see the original photo that was used in the logo design as you enter the old Petroleum Club which, today houses the brewery.
The beer
Before beginning the tour we were able to chat with Ben and enjoy a beer of our own. I tried the Hell’s Hef Acre, which is a delicious Hefeweizen and Steve had the North Platte Pale Ale, he says that “if you like a pale ale the Gruner Brothers do it right, they make an exceptional pale ale”.
The brothers enjoyed brewing their own beer and decided they wanted to make it a business. They went from a three-pot brewing hobby directly to the set-up they currently have. Well, not directly as they had to find the perfect building and build what now exists and it took some time. Those same three pots are still being used today, it is where they currently create small batches of new beer and experiment with recipes. A new beer is currently awaiting being canned and tapped, keep an eye out for that release, coming soon!
Choosing to forego phasing from one size to the next. The brothers are able to brew thousands of gallons of beer at a time. Their menu includes pilsners to Belgian style and stouts to IPA’S and even my favorite - a Hefeweizen. Their ability to diversify their offerings is in part due to the water treatment plant they built directly into the brewery, it is housed partially under their office. Ben explained certain beers require specific water and Wyoming water is too hard to successfully execute without treating it to compliment the recipe.
Each beer features unique brand styling designed by their friend, Dustin Neil.
The facility
The facility is immaculate. I don’t think there was a speck of dust, even in the milling room where they mill prior to beginning the brewing process. As we toured the brewery we were taken through each section and told about their process of beer making from concept to distribution. A great experience we feel is best left for you to have on your own, rather than us to share each and every detail. Stop by and ask for a tour! You will love it!
The tasting room is also a restaurant, so you can enjoy your beer with great pizza and other amazing eats! The bar and dining space are decorated in warm wood tones and with craftsman style wood detailing, fireplaces, it even features unique elements like an over-sized balcony where you can enjoy a birds-eye view of Casper, belt driven fans, and more!
With a private room and private balcony, the space is also set up for events. Be sure to consider Gruner Brothers Brewing when deciding on a venue for your upcoming event.
Hit the road
Whether you reside in Casper or are looking for a WYld getaway. We recommend checking out Gruner Brothers Brewing and enjoying some of their amazing beer, great staff, and yummy eats available at the brewery!
