Randy and Diane Bolkstrum opened Front Pourch Brewing in September 2019. This endeavor traces its roots to a friend’s basement in Oregon and from their to their front porch in Cave Creek.
Randy and his son Trevor brewed on a home-built 10 gallon system. After much encouragement from friends the idea of opening their own brewery was born. In preparation, Randy and Diana traveled the US checking out tasting rooms and talking with brewers. Front Pourch was entirely funded by friends and family.
Emily McMenemy, Randy and Diana’s daughter, helps with operations and bar tending along with her husband, and her brother Trevor Bolstrom takes care of brewing.
The wood behind the bar came from the Bolkstrum’s home state of Oregon along with hops from a family friend’s farm. The Bolkstrum’s are retired general contractors, Emily McMenemy’s husband is a cabinet contractor and the family has many friends in the construction industry, so the Bolstrom family not only worked together to open the brewery but to build it as well.
Experience
We first visited Front Pourch Brewing in January 2020. We loved the rustic feel of the tasting room, the homey theme and very friendly people. The beer we found adequate but we didn’t find any we wanted to leave with. Well, enter the pandemic and we didn’t return until July 2021. Same friendly beer tenders but the we noted a larger variety of beer styles and better beer! They have upped their game and this time we left with a four pack of NELLSONNN! a great hazy IPA with Nelson Hops.
Front Pourch is very accessible, they offer cans to go but currently does not offer any food. There is a wonderful game room in the back, either good for families or grown-ups who want some more fun while quaffing an ale. The place is a neighborhood gem, but the worth the drive too!
The Drury Inn and Suites is on Pinnacle Peak not far away. When in the area check out Simple Machine, Throne Brewing , Richter Aleworks and Peoria Artisan Brewery.
