Packwood, Lewis County, has welcomed one of its newest businesses with open arms, as Longmire Springs Brewery, founded by husband and wife team Peter Charbonnier and Amy Besunder, officially opened its doors in June.
Charbonnier, co-founder of the brewery, expressed gratitude for the overwhelming response they’ve received from the local community, describing it as “great” and a testament to the support they’ve garnered.
The brewery features a lineup of four signature beers, including a West Coast IPA, pale ale, pilsner, and a hazy IPA, complemented by a rotating selection that includes their popular blueberry wheat beer. A distinct focus on collaboration with local farms and producers underscores their commitment to the community.
Operating on a 15-barrel brewing system, which churns out roughly 500 gallons of beer, Longmire Springs Brewery has yet to make its beer available in local restaurants, but Charbonnier hinted at potential expansion plans that may include such offerings in the future.
Notably, this venture isn’t Charbonnier and Besunder’s first foray into the world of brewing. They previously founded and operated Populuxe Brewing in Ballard back in 2012, an achievement that earned them the title of Small Brewery of the Year at the 2018 Washington Beer Awards.
The couple’s affinity for the brewing industry traces back to their participation in a home brewing club in Seattle during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Longtime part-time residents of the Packwood area, Charbonnier and Besunder always harbored a dream of making the move permanent. They finally realized this ambition during the pandemic and dedicated several years to developing Longmire Springs Brewery.
Besunder asserted their confidence in the establishment’s longevity, emphasizing their dedication to the building they now occupy.
Although Longmire Springs Brewery doesn’t operate a kitchen, it frequently collaborates with food trucks and vendors. Besunder explained that this practice strengthens the brewery’s ties with the local community, a core element of the business’s ethos.
One notable distinction for Longmire Springs Brewery is its use of water. Besunder enthused about the high-quality water sourced in Packwood, which offers consistency throughout the year, unlike the water in Seattle that experiences seasonal variations. Charbonnier described the water as “soft” and explained how the filtration process through bedrock reduces the presence of minerals such as calcium, ultimately contributing to the quality of their beer.
For those eager to visit, Longmire Springs Brewery is open on Thursdays and Fridays from 4 to 9 p.m., as well as on Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 9 p.m. As the seasons change from summer to fall, Charbonnier anticipates a shift from serving tourists to a more local audience, following a strong turnout during Labor Day and the Packwood Flea Market.
