Our Story

The Lumberbeard Brewing story isn’t a complicated one. It is much like the way we like our beers: simple, straightforward, yet full of creative adventure.

Bret, our president and head brewer, fell in love with beer and the craft of brewing at the appropriate age of 21. After graduating from the University of Colorado with a degree in economics, he pursued a sensible job in the finance world. It didn’t take long for him to realize that being at a desk was not for him and he wanted to become a professional brewer. That passion led him and his family to California where he went back to school to earn a Professional Brewing Certificate at the University of San Diego. He swore he would never go back to school, but beer will make you do some crazy things. From there, Bret worked as a professional brewer for several years in California before taking the leap to open his own brewery in Spokane.

Lumberbeard Brewing is a true family business. Bret’s wife, Hannah, transitioned from her career as an elementary school teacher to join the team as our head of social media and graphic design. One of our key managers and resident handyman is Bret’s dad, Norman. You will often see the whole family at the brewery enjoying a pint or two.

Lumberbeard Brewing was founded in 2018 and we are so excited to have you along for this crazy journey. We are committed to making excellent beers and desire to create a community where everyone feels welcome, cared for, and can find a beer they love!