What we are…
Moonshot Brewing is a family friendly brewery that opened in Kennewick, WA in 2019. We are a community-oriented brewery focusing on a variety of beer styles, a friendly taproom and a gathering place for local soccer fans to watch the Sounders and U.S. national teams.
Our beers are brewed on a 3.5 barrel Stout system designed to allow us to experiment with small batch brews. We offer an ever changing and wide selection of beers ranging from crisp lagers to hoppy IPAs as well as sour and barrel aged beers inspired by Ryan’s time in the wine industry.
Moonshot Brewing is our chance to dream big and change our lives doing what we love with people we care about.
Who we are…
Hilary Bird and Ryan Wattenbarger met in Boise, Idaho at the wedding of their two dear friends. They came together from across the country. She came from Cincinnati with it’s traditional German beers and a burgeoning craft beer scene. He came from Sunnyside, WA, surrounded by hop fields and immersed in the Pacific Northwest culture of craft beer. The two had no idea how the craft beer industry would change their lives.
Ryan, our head brewer and co-owner attended WSU, CWU, and YVCC in search of his career. After teaching, he found his creative passion while studying Winery Operations at YVCC and working in several wineries over seven years. He was a home brewer who had fallen in love with craft beer, along with Hilary, on their many adventures exploring the Pacific Northwest. The two had always wanted to start their own business and create a community in the Tri Cities, which they now called home. He took a job at Snipes Mountain Microbrewery where he crafted award winning beverages for over three years.
Hilary, our GM and co-owner took a slightly more circuitous route to end up here. Born and raised in Cincinnati, her passions laid in the arts and the community she found their among friends and family. She knew she always wanted to be a part of something where people felt welcomed, but didn’t know where to start looking. She made a home with her husband, Ryan, their cat (Scotty), dog (Whistler), and the newest member of their tribe, daughter Norah. Now it is time to extend that family to the community around them.
Where we want to go…
Craft beer is a way to get to know one another, to sit around watching a soccer game, to talk about what’s going on in your lives, to meet new people who might just have some of the same interests, or at the very least, can all appreciate a good beer. It’s a chance to take a break from the hustle, the bustle, the stress, the mess and experience good quality with good company. We want to create a place that gives back to the community where we’re growing our family, as well as our business. We work with local charities and collaborate with local breweries in support of our friends, neighbors, and values. So we hope you will join us for a beer, or two. You can bring a friend, or your family (kids and dogs also welcome) and to all we toast, cheers and shoot for the moon!