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Since its founding in 2015, Stumptown Ales in Davis has been committed to brewing hop-centric beers with passion and precision. The result: a highly regarded portfolio of beers and recognition as West Virginia Brewery of the Year in 2017.

With early and fast success, the brewery’s limited capacity became problematic. Initially a self-funded operation, Stumptown Ales needed to scale up its operations to meet demand and grow its regional footprint.

Grant County Bank was the partner to make it happen. 

We caught up with Stumptown Ales owner and founding brewer Jonathan Robeson to learn more about his journey and how Grant County Bank has helped him brew a winning formula for business success.

Q: When did Stumptown Ales begin its partnership with Grant County Bank?

Jonathan: Grant County Bank got involved early in our history. When we started, we had just our own small brewing system and brewing vessels, and we quickly learned we needed more. Grant County Bank came in with a $75,000 business loan so we could acquire equipment to expand our capacity.  

Q: How did that initial loan help your business?

Jonathan: The loan allowed us to scale up from a two-barrel system to a 10-barrel system. Plus, we were able to buy fermenters, kegs, and other equipment to handle the larger brewing capacity.

Q: Why was it so important to scale up your brewing capacity?

Jonathan: It was critical. Before we had the right equipment, we had to spend all weekend brewing triple batches, which meant putting in 12- to 14-hour days on top of working a regular full-time job. So, it was tough, personally. Then, even brewing that amount, we still didn’t have enough beer to sell growlers or cans or offer a full tap list of our own beers. We had to have guest taps to fill in the gaps for quite a while.

The loan that helped us buy the 10-barrel system allowed us to brew enough to do cans and growlers and have all our own taps. It also made it possible for us to distribute some of our beers to restaurants and pubs around the state.

Now, while we continue to produce all our beer in Davis, we’ve also opened a second taproom in Fairmont, where we’re able to sell the same beers we have available here in Davis. We may look to open more locations as we go forward.

Q: Could you have gotten where you are now without Grant County Bank?

Jonathan: No. I don’t know how I would’ve been able to come up with the funds to make the jump to the 10-barrel system.

Then, there was the purchase of our building in Davis in 2019. At first, we were just leasing the building. Grant County Bank was able to help us get a loan for the property, even though the sale price was above the appraised value. It would have been difficult to pull off with any conventional bank, but they helped us partner with another housing development fund to finance the amount above the appraisal.

Q: What sets Grant County Bank apart from other banks?

Jonathan: They’re easy to work with. You can sit down and tell them what you’re looking to do, and they come up with answers. They make it simple to figure out what you can do and how they can help you, and you can go from there. They were able to help us with everything we were hoping to do.

Q: What would you tell a business that’s considering partnering with Grant County Bank?

Jonathan: I would tell them to just go talk to them. Tell them what your needs are, and what your hopes are. They’re there to listen, and they’ll help in any way they can.

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One takeaway is clear: Grant County Bank's commitment to excellent service has been the cornerstone of Stumptown Ales’ success story. From customized solutions to exceptional service, Grant County Bank goes beyond numbers and transactions, setting them apart from other financial institutions.

Want to learn how Grant County Bank can tailor solutions to suit your business needs? Contact Us today.