Munkle Brewing Company

Munkle Brewing Co. was inspired by my uncle and best friend, Robertson Carr Donehue. The youngest son of my grandfather, the late J. Douglas Donehue, “Uncle Rob” and I were born only three months apart. We grew up together, and I have always felt very fortunate to call him my friend, brother and Munkle.

Rob started brewing beer during his time at St. Gregory’s Abbey, a Benedictine monastery in Three Rivers Michigan. While exploring his various roles in the community, one of which was as the cook, early in 2005 he discovered a good amount of old brewing equipment in the basement of the kitchen building.

After joining some of the local home brew clubs in Three Rivers, and with the blessing of the abbot and the other monks, Rob set out to master the time honored monastic tradition of brewing beer. A year or so later while on vacation here in Charleston, Rob started to teach me what he had been learning. I, too, felt the call, to say the least. Whenever and however I could, I would brew with him, on my own, and with whoever wanted to brew with me.