Golden Handle Brewing: Rich in History, Hops & Heart

BY MORGAN MARIE

At the turn of the twentieth century, The Luminaria Building was built in downtown Spokane to service the bustling railroad industry. Over one hundred years later it has a new function as Spokane’s first social purpose brewery. The area that once stored rail track components is now so perfectly packed with kegs that one would think this evolution has been brewing for quite some time. In some ways, it has.

In recent years, the building has housed an incubator that has afforded a number of aspiring brewers the opportunity to use communal equipment in order to share their beers on a larger scale.

“We’ve been brewing out of the old Incubator since our inception in 2019. When the possibility of taking over the entire space came up, it just made sense to consolidate our operation and take things to the next level,” Facility Coordinator Nik Styles shares.

Now, the eclipse emblazoned on the front door signifies an evolution of time, welcoming new light and life to the property.

“The views of downtown and being right by the train tracks really encapsulate what makes Spokane special,” says Alexa Ymer, Taproom Coordinator. “Something I take a lot of pride in is the amount of people who are excited to come in, check out the location and immediately comment on how the space has a welcoming, good, positive vibe and energy.”

Golden Handle started as a biomedical and neurodegenerative disease research project; now, as a social purpose brewery, Golden Handle is focused on giving back to the community with a wider scope. As a worker-owned cooperative, the brewery prioritizes providing a living wage and fostering an environment where everyone can have a stake and say in the direction of the business.

Collectively, the staff at Golden Handle brew for the curious and the generous, the open minded and the open hearted, the philosophical and the philanthropic.

Brewing Coordinator Rachel Nalley comes to Golden Handle with a degree in craft brewing and a gold medal from the Great American Beer Festival. Also a co-owner of Community Pint, a beer bar on the other side of downtown Spokane, Nalley says the intentionality that she is afforded by brewing at Golden Handle is one of the things that excites her the most.

“The brewing industry is not just about beer anymore. We have a lot of these really great social causes that are important to us and that we’re bringing to the forefront,” she states.

Just as their beers are brewed with highest quality locally-sourced fermentables, the menu is full of a variety of unique handhelds featuring delicious meat and breads from sister co-ops Great Harvest and the Grain Shed.

Nalley adds, “we’re brewing for ourselves and for the culture and the community around us. Part of Golden Handle is rooted in social activism and that community engagement gives us a really unique vantage point.”

GOLDEN HANDLE BREWING CO

154 S Madison St
Spokane WA 99201
@goldenhandlebrewco

Most Popular Brew

Artemis’ Arrow: A bright and citrusy hazy IPA double dry hopped on Citra, Sabro, Mosaic, and Pacific Gem hops. Paul Wildermuth, a regular at the brewery and craft beer fan, states that this well-balanced hazy IPA and is their favorite beer that we currently have on tap. Mike L., another regular in the craft beer scene in Spokane, agrees, saying that this beer is a mellow, smooth, slightly bitter IPA that is a perfect for someone not familiar with the style.

Featured Menu Item

The Robert Paulson: A legend of a sandwich, this beast of a club is made with maple-cured ham, hickory smoked turkey, house-cured bacon, pickles, tomato, field greens, swiss cheese, cheddar cheese, dijonnaise and Great Harvest Farmhouse Loaf.