In 1985, Matt Swanson’s parents bought him a home beer-brewing kit, kicking off a hobby that would later evolve into the next chapter of his career.

“It turned out to be great, and I was hooked,” he says. “I produced some awful batches of beer over the years, some astounding failures, but I’ve also won a couple of contests. People said, ‘You should really sell this stuff.’”

He’s finally taking that advice.

Matt and his wife, Monica, will open West Plains Brewing LLC this month in a 3,600-square-foot space at 12622 W. Sunset Highway, in Airway Heights.

“We wanted a place for people to gather and be able to have a relaxing time,” he says.

Airway Heights is an attractive place to open a brewery, he says. The proximity to Fairchild Air Force Base and an increase in multifamily housing in the area create promising potential for bringing in both young people and families, he says.

West Plains Brewing has 14 taps, 10 of which will be a rotating selection of beers brewed on site. The remaining four taps will be used for hop water, kombucha, cider, and possibly a guest beer.

“We want to open with at least four of our brews on tap,” Monica says. “The kitchen will not be open from the start. There will be food available, but not full entrees yet.”

Monica will run the brewery’s kitchen, which eventually will offer charcuterie boards, pretzels, hot dogs, mac and cheese, falafel waffles, and beer rocks, which she says are small pastries filled with grilled hamburger, onions, and cheese.

Patrons also are encouraged to bring food from other establishments, Matt says, especially since the brewery is located between Domino’s Pizza and Atilano’s Mexican Food outlets.

The Swansons, who live in the Cheney area, will be the brewery’s only employees for now, although they expect they’ll need to hire someone else within a few months.

Monica still works full time at Spokane Eye Clinic, and Matt is semiretired from the medical lab industry and a health care software firm.

Matt will work full time at West Plains Brewing.

The couple consider the brewery, which is the first business they’ve owned, to be somewhat of a retirement plan.

“I don’t want to retire and die two years later, which is what I’ve heard happens so many times to men,” Matt says. “I want to have a purpose.” 

West Plains Brewing is equipped with a 600-square-foot outdoor patio that can hold about 25 people. Dogs are allowed on the patio.

Most of the brewery’s furniture and decor has been repurposed, Monica says.

Matt built some of the chairs and tables himself. For seating at bigger tables, they bought pews from a church that closed in Cheney. They also had some old kegs transformed into chairs. Many of the lights are made with upside-down silverware sorters, and the bar top is made with repurposed wood and finished with epoxy.

Windows to the side of the tap wall expose the brew tanks behind the bar area.

Monica says they plan to buy a regulation-sized shuffleboard at some point and will add TVs so people can watch sporting events.

Starting out, West Plains Brewing will be open noon-9 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. 

Small Bites

*Sauced!, a Detroit-style pizza restaurant, opened last month inside YaYa Brewing Co.’s tasting room at 11712 E. Montgomery Drive, in Spokane Valley. The eatery was founded by the owners of Heritage Bar & Kitchen, in downtown Spokane. Sauced! offers a variety of pizzas, wings, salads, and other appetizers. The new restaurant is open Monday through Saturday at 3 p.m.

*Swing Lounge opened its second location last month, on the main floor of the Bank of America building, at 601 W. Riverside, in downtown Spokane. The virtual golf venue includes six golf simulators, a lobby bar, and a full-service restaurant. Swing Lounge was founded in 2022. Its other location is at the Spokane Business & Industrial Park, at 3808 N. Sullivan Road, in Spokane Valley.

*Spokane-based Arbor Crest Wine Cellars has been named a nominee for USA Today’s 10 Best winery restaurants as part of the publication’s 2024 Readers’ Choice awards. Voting closes July 22 and winners will be announced July 31.