Minot’s only brewery has new brew master

You've probably seen the building tucked away downtown, but maybe you didn't know everything that was going on inside.

Souris River Brewery is the only place in Minot that is making their own beer and serving it in the restaurant.

Recently the Brewery has undergone some changes, and that includes a new brew master, who's taking his day job and translating that into a unique brew.

Dr. Bryan Schmidt spends Tuesdays and Thursdays at Souris River Brewery mixing and making the only beer brewed right here in the Magic City.

When he's not brewing, he's teaching chemistry and biochemistry at Minot State, two jobs he says are similar.

"It's largely the same thing with a different purpose in mind. In science I'm growing my own yeast trying to figure out exactly how they're resistant to drugs, and I'm looking for different chemicals they're putting out. In the brewing world we're still growing yeast, still trying to keep them happy, but instead of looking for what chemicals are coming out we're trying to get particular ones for particular flavors," said Schmidt.

There are 11 breweries in the state of North Dakota, and the demand for interesting beer and the ability to try new things is growing.

"Craft brew world has been exploding all over the country and we've been rather deficient around here so it's nice to see the response from people and how much potential there is here," said Schmidt.

Schmidt uses locally sourced materials to brew including fresh hops from the White Earth Hops Farm.

He also uses the opportunity to teach brewing to restaurant staff.

"I strongly believe in sharing knowledge, that's part of what else I do in my life, I teach. I want to see people learn something, especially when they're interested in," Schmidt said.

"It's a lot of fun. I've worked in restaurants for a long time and I still enjoy restaurants but brewing has been a passion of mine for many years," Cook and Brewer Michael Novy said.

And now his passion is in line to hit the Souris River Taps in a few weeks.

"Right now in the fermenter we have a recipe I started when I was living in Virginia called the Full Monti IPA named after my blind and deaf pug I had. I'm real excited for that one to come on tap," said Novy.

Souris River Brewery is open every day except Tuesday, when they are brewing.

Plans to distribute kegs and cans of their beer are in the works.

They are planning to launch a new menu in a week or so.