Melvin Brewing
A Wyoming Beer
Written By: Sarah Reish
Melvin is a favorite beer in the Live WYld fridge. All of us like an IPA especially when we are out enjoying Wyoming. With our theme for the month being National Parks, we felt it was the perfect opportunity to see the Grand Tetons and meet the team that brings us Melvin Brewing. We were first met by Frank, the CEO who had been emailing me about our visit. He had to run to a meeting, so handed us off into the good care of Jeremy, the founder of the brewery.
The History of Melvin
Jeremy Tofte started brewing beer in 2009 in the back of the restaurant, Thai Me Up in Jackson. Starting with a 20 gallon system and then expanding to a three barrel system, they quickly grew and needed more space. After winning Small Brewpub of the year 2015, they opened a much larger brewing facility in Alpine. In 2016, Melvin had ten tanks each holding 100 kegs. Then within a few months, they doubled in size. Currently their big tanks hold 500 kegs each. Melvin made history as the third fastest growing brewery in two years.
The Brand
We love the branding style and packaging that makes Melvin stand out. Their uniqueness and quality product combine into a beautiful experience for those enjoying their beer. Between the brewers and the resident artists, the team behind the product is doing an amazing job staying true to the “Madness” that is their beer.
The Brewery And Alpine Taproom
Driving up to the brewery is lovely. They are set up on a peninsula of sorts and are surrounded on several sides by the Palisades Reservoir which is part of the Snake River. Surrounding their property is BLM land and according to Shannon who manages the front of house, they welcome campers! They also set up a dock during the summer for water activities. The building is massive and the brewery is impressive. Jeremy took us on a tour showing us around their space and introduced us to their team. We saw the lab and the lady who inspired Juice Theorem, the tanks and barrels, the canning line was even running while we were on our tour. Their system is able to can 44 cans of beer in one minute. They are also able to can 2,200 cases of beer in one day. We were handed a brand spanking new beer right off of the line to enjoy as we continued into the cooler and were shown the new packaging for their variety packs. In keeping with their recognizable brand styling, the cardboard pack is designed to look like a boombox, which we loved!
The Tasting Room
When you walk into the facility you enter the tasting room, the entire facility is open and a pony-wall separates the tasting room from the brewery. The space features picnic tables, bar height tables, and the taps, where you can order your beer. You can also order food. While we did not eat while were at the taproom, we did eat at Thai Me Up in Jackson and the food was delicious.
The Beer
We already knew we liked the beer, but there is something about a beer tasting at the brewery that makes the experience all the more special. I think it is the tasting mindset that opens you up to try new beers. We sat down with Ian, the Melvin brewer, and he shared more about the beer process, and we knew instantly he loved his job and the science behind brewing a great beer. During our tasting, I tried Juice Theorem for the first time and now it is one of my favorites. Another beer I tried was Velvet Rut, an imperial smoked porter. It is dark beer, which I typically don’t care for, but I enjoyed it. It was light and not heavy, and there was a hint of coffee flavor that was incredible. Ian told me I would like this porter, and he was correct. Here are several of the beers we tried:
Juice Theorem (Sarah’s Favorite)
2x4 DIPA (This is Steve’s Favorite)
Killer Bees an American Blonde Ale
Heyzeus a Mexican Style Lager
Sour Souls Series Vol. 2.
Velvet Rut Imprial Smoked Porter
Do You Camp?
Reminder: If you enjoy a cool camping location check out Harvest Host; Melvin has signed up as a camp host. As well, they are located adjacent to BLM land, so plan your upcoming camping trip in Alpine and stop by the taproom, try some great food, and hang out on their incredible patio and enjoy some live music!
Hit The Road
As always, be sure to share your adventures with us. Post your Melvin beers and experiences on social media and tag us @LiveWYldMag and use #LiveWYld
