Since moving back to Boise I’ve been setting up interviews with breweries in the area and revamping my brewery of the week series. Last week I got to sit down with Ed Danti and Greta Mohr the owners of new brewery Twisted District Brewing Company and got to ask them a few questions about their brewery. Twisted District is located in Garden City, ID a town just outside of Boise. Without further ado, let’s dive into the conversation.
What was the inspiration behind Twisted District Brewing? General History?
Twisted District started in 2020 right in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ed had retired and wanted something to do and he always thought about starting his own bar. However, Greta’s son was a homebrewer so he suggested a brewery so they got together figured out a brew system and a business plan and then Twisted District was born.
What Makes Twisted District unique from other Breweries?
Twisted District utilizes a system called the Smart Brew system which is essentially an automated brewing system. In the traditional brewing process the brewer selects the grain, then goes through the processes of milling, mashing, boiling, cooling, yeast pitch, fermenting, dry hopping, flavoring if needed, and then the beer is finally served. With the Smart Brew system the automated system basically does the first half for the brewer.
What made you want to get into the Craft Beer Industry?
So Bud, the head brewer, was the one that really wanted to start being a craft brewer but for Ed, he really just saw the potential in the craft beer industry and how that craft beer industry isn’t going away. Plus the community is unlike any other community.
How Many Barrels have you guys Brewed since being open?
Twisted District is what you would call a boutique style brewery so it is a relatively small system. Since they’ve opened their doors last year they have brewed 181 kegs.
Do you guys Distribute?
Since Twisted District is a boutique brewery they do not distribute but that gives you every more reason to go visit their taproom.
Any new Brews coming out?
They just got two new nitro taps so their are definitley some new nitro beers coming out. However, Bud is keeping those new brews a surprise so I guess we’ll just have to wait until they’re out. They did just come out with their strawberry blonde which I got to try on my visit there and let me tell you it did not disappoint.You really got strawberry notes throughout the entire beer aroma, taste, and finish highly recommend it.
Many Breweries had to readjust and even struggled during the Pandemic. How did you guys deal with that?
Twisted District opened up towards the tail end of the pandemic so fortunately for them they only had to deal with the restrictions for a few months. Essentially when they open they basically socially distanced their chairs and had strict sanitation measures in place.
What is your Favorite Beer Currently?
Ed’s favorite beer currently is Stonefruit Hefeweizen. This brew is a traditional German hefe with peach, apricot, and a touch of black cherry and rings in at a very drinkable 5.5% ABV.
What are the Pros and Cons of where you guys are Located?
Of course like any business there’s always pros and cons to where anything is located. For Twisted District the pros are that they are within close proximity to the Boise River Greenbelt and they’re located in Garden City which is very business friendly especially for breweries. The only con is that they’re tucked in a little bit so getting people to see where they are is difficult. However, their are so many breweries and wineries in Garden City that its really easy for people to hear about different businesses just through word of mouth.
Any Cool or Weird Traditions While Brewing?