Society has been indulging in their love of beer for centuries. In fact, ale is one of history’s oldest beverages, dating all the way back to Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. Today beer is the most popular alcoholic drink in the world, and the third most popular beverage overall behind water and tea. More than 35 billion gallons of beer are sold per year, accounting for global revenues in excess of $300 billion. Much of this beer is sold by craft breweries.
Craft breweries are classified as small, independent brewers that produce fewer than 6 million barrels of beer annually. For the past decade, craft beer has averaged 10.9 percent growth per year, according to the Brewers Association. In 2013, the volume of craft beer produced grew by 18 percent, while total sales increased by 20 percent.
Moorhead has a new player in the craft beer industry. Established in 2013 by Aaron and Dan Juhnke, Junkyard Brewing Company has officially moved to its new location at 1416 1st Avenue North in Moorhead. The nanobrewery and taproom will celebrate its grand opening with a public ribbon-cutting and keg-tapping ceremony on November 21. The event will include public tours, live music, and a special cask-conditioned version of the brewery’s Hop Habit pale ale. “We are normally very busy on Fridays and Saturdays, so I expect it to be extra crazy for the event,” said Aaron.
Junkyard Brewing Company is the brain-child of the Juhnke brothers. The idea was born out of a shared interest in brewing unique craft beers and an entrepreneurial spirit that could not be restrained. “I didn’t know what I wanted to be when I grew up,” Aaron explained. “Which is probably why I had so many college majors.” Despite obtaining a degree in High School Social Studies education, Aaron couldn’t envision a definitive career path. Although brewing beers began as a college hobby, it quickly morphed into an occupational calling. “My theory on careers is that most people end up doing something different than they set out to do, so we should be open to trying something else that ‘works out’ for our individual circumstances and interests,” Aaron said. “In our case, the brewery became a reality before we got established in careers.”
One of the things that makes Junkyard unique is the hands-on nature of the business. The Juhnke brothers take great pride in the fact that everything from building brewing equipment and welding bar stools to licensing and graphic design was accomplished in-house. “The market we are brewing for is the small, local, unique craft beer market,” Aaron explained, “and those people care a lot about where their beers are coming from.” The company’s commitment to authenticity is as important as its actual product. “You can’t fake that stuff; people see right through facades,” Aaron said.
One of the first thing customers will notice upon entering the brewery is the unique product names. Beer drinkers can wet their whistle with anything from a Hatchet Jack Baltic Porter or a Black Flying Tiger I.P.A. to an Uncle Ted’s Buffalo Brown Ale or a Scrounger Cream Ale. “Most of our beer names are based on nicknames for friends and family,” Aaron explained. “That’s why most of them have a really interesting story to go along with the name.” Junkyard’s website includes write-ups for each beer so that people can understand and appreciate the story behind the product. Even the company’s name has a narrative. “Our brewery name comes from our family name, Juhnke, and all the nicknames that we have been given over the years based on that name,” Aaron said.
Anyone that believes a bar is a bar and beers are interchangeable has not been to Junkyard and met the Juhnke brothers. They take great pride in their unique approach to brewing beer and their unbridled passion for the industry. “We’re a handcrafted, underground, upstart, do-it-yourself brand,” Aaron explained. “Our focus right now is on giving beer drinkers an awesome, fresh, local option for beer, something they can brag about to out-of-town friends, and you can’t get that with bigger brewing companies that distribute over a large territory.” The size of the brewery affords Aaron and Dan the opportunity to experiment and think outside the box. “We’re a small enough brewery that we can afford to take risks in most things we do,” Aaron said. “I think that makes us more interesting.”
Another thing that makes Junkyard unique is the fact that it serves only one product – beer. That decision was made purposefully to ensure a high quality, specialized product. “We don’t serve other drinks or have a kitchen, so we don’t have those things to distract us from doing what we want to focus on,” Aaron explained.
The Junkyard Brewing Company is a fabulous addition to the city of Moorhead. Not only does it add a unique experience to the city’s social scene, it is company built upon a solid foundation of pride and passion. “People should stop by if they want to see the brewery and be able to choose between our many different brews on tap while they bask in a beer-centric environment,” Aaron encouraged.
