USA, MN: Intuition Brewing opens in downtown Willmar

A lot of brewing comes from gut feelings. Knowing how long to brew, what ingredients to use and even when to open a new brewery, the West Central Tribune reported on November 4.

For Micah Larson and Liz Heimer, co-owners of Intuition Brewing, this gut feeling is what led them to open a new brewery in downtown Willmar — and even gave the business its name.

“We really trust the universe with opening these doors for us and letting us know what path to go down. It has been really great trusting our gut. And I think you utilize your gut for making the beers,” Heimer said.

Intuition Brewing will be moving into the space that the Foxhole Brewhouse is vacating on Fourth Street Southwest in Willmar. Intuition will set up shop beginning in December, and expects to offer its first few beers around the end of the year.

Foxhole will continue operating out of the location until its new building on Highway 71 is ready to be occupied.

“The nice part is it is already set up for a brewery, so that gives us a leg up that way. I have been to Foxhole since it opened. I think it is a nice asset for downtown. With the revitalization of downtown, I think it is a nice fun atmosphere there. I think a brewery there really helps too,” Larson said.

While Intuition Brewing is new, Larson is not new to brewing. After working in finance for seven years, Larson wanted a change of pace. He had a hobby for home brewing, making his own beers at home. So after deciding to make a change, he started work at Schell’s Brewery in New Ulm.

Working at Schell’s connected Larson with a larger brewing community, one that has provided Larson and Heimer with both guidance and support.

“Ryan (Fuchs) at Foxhole has been super helpful; the people I know at Schell’s have been helpful as well, (as has) Phil (Zachman) at Talking Waters (in Montevideo). It is nice having that community. And people that aren’t brewers like the people at the chamber have been really helpful,” Larson said.

Larson and Heimer have a deep history with beer. The couple’s first date was at a brewery, and they have been working hand in hand to start this business, the first one either of them has started.

“It feels scary when you are doing things for the first time. I try to remind myself and Micah that you have to be bad at something before you can be good at it. We are learning how to open a business. Sometimes we do a poor job with knowing what that next step is because we don’t know what we don’t know. That is that scary piece of it,” Heimer said.

The couple understands that they will be compared to Foxhole, which was for a long time the only brewery in Willmar, and setting up shop in Foxhole's former building is bound to bring comparison.

But Larson and Heimer have a unique vision.

“We are going to have a very different vibe. Our vibe is going to be more coffee shop-like. A little bit lighter, brighter, more greenery. What we specialize in is a little bit different. Every brewery has their own type of taste. We hope we can complement each other and direct people over to Foxhole from time to time,” Heimer said.

Intuition Brewing plans to host events beyond their opening, with off-flavor tastings to compare beers, educational tastings and a kickstarter holiday box coming out at the end of November.

05 November, 2023