Ronan Cooperative Brewery: Proposal to Pint

Ronan Cooperative Brewery: Proposal to Pint

Karen Kallestad

January 28, 2021

25 Years of Success, Cooperative Development

Wouldn’t it be great to own a brewery? That’s what a lot of people in the Ronan area thought, too. In 2016 a group of community members interested in revitalizing downtown Ronan began working with Mission West to form the Ronan Cooperative Brewery. We worked with them to form a steering committee, conduct feasibility assessments, select a site, write bylaws, and eventually incorporate as a cooperative business. Mission West provided a space for the group to meet on a regular basis and assisted them with finding grant funding and loans that could help capitalize the brewery. 

As the brewery began operations, we helped the cooperative work with a brewery consultant to develop efficient brewing procedures and brew delicious beer. Their first batch started brewing in July of 2020 and they opened their doors and started serving up tasty glasses and growlers of craft beer in September. Ronan Cooperative brewery is now a popular spot on Main Street in Ronan and has over 350 proud owners. This business is a great example of everything that cooperatives are about–using local products, hiring local people, and local ownership to keep the economic benefits here in the community.