Our Story

It started as a pipe dream,

Our brewery story starts like so many others have started. Years ago, 5 gallons at a time, in a garage.

Enthralled with the alchemy unfolding before my eyes, I fixated on beer brewing for the art, science, and wizardry that it is. I had just begun down the road of more than just a hobby—but a complete infatuation with craft brewing. Those first beers I made in the early days of this newfound obsession with brewing? …Horrible.

Over the years I spent many waking hours learning to understand the nuances of brewing, asking questions, and training with skilled brewers across the country to develop recipes and concepts that would help translate my ideas into a language that consumers would appreciate. I began to realize that my long held dream of opening a brewery was achievable if I worked hard enough and continued to chip away at improving the monolith of skills it takes to brew great beer.

Together, my business partners and I began developing an extensive business plan for what exactly we wanted to achieve through this venture. Through all of our talks, we continuously returned to the concept of community. We wanted our values, ethics, and commitment to our beautiful town to shine through in the most communicable way we knew how to—brewing great beer and seeing it being enjoyed by our patrons. The concept of Humble Roots Beer Project was born. In 2017, we assumed ownership of an existing bar in downtown Fairbanks and put together a small nanobrewery called Midnite Mine Brewing Company, that would serve as a home to many small batch experimental beers, while continuing to write our plan for expanding into a large facility. By establishing this small brewery before opening our full scale facility, we were able to bring our beers to market and tweak recipes with the best test group we could ever ask for—The people of Fairbanks!

In 2019, we purchased a 7,000 square foot building immediately next door to Midnite Mine Brewing Company, that would eventually become the permanent home for our full scale brewery, kitchen and taproom.

Our ambitions are deeply tied to our sense of place. The small town vibes of Fairbanks are engrained in everything we do, and our ambitions are intertwined with a strong sense of community. It only seemed fitting that our name should reflect that sentiment. We know that our beers aren’t going to change the world, but we hope that the environment we have created to enjoy our beers in may possibly be the catalyst for adding positivity to Fairbanks. We believe strongly in inclusivity, and creating a place where everyone feels comfortable. Our staff works hard to know the names of those that visit our taproom. You are family at Humble Roots Beer Project. We don’t seek to dominate the market or produce thousands of barrels a year. We value quality over quantity and fully invest ourselves in making the best product possible, no matter the extra cost or time it may take to achieve that. From the HRBP family to yours, thank you, and I can’t wait to share a beer with you in the taproom. Cheers

-Talon Mensik, Co-Owner / Head Brewer