Birdsview Brewing Company

Meet the Voigts.

Any time you stop at the the Brewpub, you're guaranteed to meet the Voigt family members. This is truly a family-owned and operated venture. Bill Voigt is the Brewmaster and you will most likely see him, along with his brother Ned, heading in and out of the Brew Room as they tend to the latest batches. Kris Voigt and daughters, Jessie and Julie, make sure everyone who enters feels at home as they serve up burgers, sandwiches and soups. Oldest daughter Sara (not pictured) helps out in the deli whenever mom Kris needs a break. Daughter Nicki (not pictured) is busy working and living in Seattle but comes up to help out whenever she can. Son Jason handles the bar, filling glasses and growlers with the newest brews on tap. You might even spot grandsons Julian and Jaydon lending a hand as well~catch them helping with the building construction in the image gallery!
Image gallery

Birdsview Brewing Company - proof that everything is possible. The impossible just takes more time.

None of the Voigt's could ever forget July 17, 2006. Everyone sat anxiously awaiting the first customer of the day. We sat, and sat, hoping someone would come in. No one could have ever imagined in their wildest dreams (except the brewmaster) that a brewery in Birdsview would have gained popularity. Almost 3 years later, however, it is not uncommon to find every seat taken.

Bill Voight and his wife Kris have always been very independent people and did not like to work for anyone but themselves. For the last 25 years they have each been self-employed and running their own businesses. Every couple of years, however, they would come up with some wild new business venture. Anything from windsock making to creating headboards - they have always been known by their children for their crazy new ideas. Yet, none of their ideas seemed to pan out. Call it bad luck - or fate - but either way Bill and Kris could not seem to get a new idea off the ground.

A few years ago, Bill won a shotgun in a local fire hall raffle. Kris said he was not going to get a gun so Bill took the money for the gun instead, which he used to buy his first home brewing kit. After that he was hooked. He turned part of his upholstery shop into his brewing area, putting three taps onto an old refrigerator. He experimented with numerous types of beers, some keepers, some his test subjects would not even drink. And you know it is seriously bad beer when the dogs (or test subjects) would not drink it. But for the most part, everyone loved his beer. Friends would congregate more and more often to the shop to drink the latest brews. It took numerous people telling Bill that he should start making beer for a career, his own courage, and wife's support before he finally took the idea to a whole new level.

As usual, the rest of the family thought this was another one of his crazy ideas. "Go for it dad," the kids all said; yet, secretly each one was thinking this was another idea that would not work out, but knew their dad had to satisfy his dreams. Trying to stop Bill once he has his mind made up is comparable to trying to stop a wild bull: you can sure try, but there is really no point. Neither one will listen. So Bill ran with his idea, getting the help from his newly retired brother who decided to move up here from California. With the support of the rest of the family, Bill Voigt embarked upon one of the wildest journeys in his life. Not knowing how deep they would go, Bill and Kris dove in head first, with no reservations.

Today the brewery is like one of Bill and Kris' children; they cannot leave it unattended, and they are always worrying what is going on while they are gone. No one could have imagined the success the Voigt's are so grateful to have had in their first few years. They are so thankful to all of the local customers who continue to show their support by patronizing the business, and all of the out-of-towners who happen to stop by.

Every so often, the Voigt children will be talking amongst themselves, and one always ends up saying, "I never thought the brewery would actually be getting business, I can't believe mom and dad have a brewery, who would have ever thought..." Although it has been a family wide sacrifice and effort, Bill and Kris' children could not be more proud of their parents. This story was written to them from their children on their one year anniversary.

If you are reading this, then you have seen firsthand the blood, sweat and tears that have gone into this operation. You have seen the hard work and determination of a courageous couple - a couple who has set an amazing example for their five children, two grandchildren, and the rest of the world - that anything is possible; the impossible just takes more time.