Yellowhammer Brewing: Celebrating 15 Years of Craft and Community
Fifteen years ago, on October 16, 2010, the pop culture scene looked a little different. Bruno Mars topped the U.S. charts with “Just the Way You Are,” and TV fans were eagerly awaiting the premiere of The Walking Dead later that month. The Alabama Crimson Tide closed their 2010 season with a 10–3 record, keeping college football Saturdays as lively as ever.
But here in Huntsville, something new was brewing. That day, Yellowhammer Brewing sold its very first beer, marking the start of what would become one of Huntsville’s most beloved breweries.
Their first location, a converted warehouse at 2406 Clinton Avenue, had once housed cabinet makers and painters. A few years later, Yellowhammer expanded, adding a spacious taproom with 30 taps and partnering with a local food truck that would eventually evolve into a full brick-and-mortar kitchen.
Today, Yellowhammer is a staple stop at Campus 805. Just off Clinton Avenue, you can’t miss the glowing red logo on a summer evening, an iconic part of Huntsville’s craft beer scene.
We had the chance to sit down with Yellowhammer Brewing owner Ethan Couch to talk about the past 15 years, and what’s next for this local favorite.
What does this 15-year milestone mean to you and your team?
“I think we're defying a few odds, surviving this long. It’s a difficult business, and all retail is challenging for a lot of reasons. Just making it this far gives us a lot of hope that we can continue, and we really feel like a fixture in Huntsville!”
When you imagine the next 15 years, where do you see the brewery and the local Huntsville beer scene headed?
“With the city growing, I see us continuing to grow with it. Huntsville is making a lot of changes and bringing in new jobs. We’ve got places to live and tons of apartments. Things are growing up instead of growing out like they used to.”
Have any special brews become customer favorites or best sellers over the years?
“That’s been really neat to watch. In the beginning, our Belgian White was our number one seller, people loved it because it was lighter, approachable, and paired great with food. Then folks wanted a more traditional beer, so we created the Red Lager Rebellion. Later, we did a special collaboration with the Space and Rocket Center for their alumni party, the T-Minus beer, and it became so popular it’s been our number one for seven years!”
This year, Yellowhammer is celebrating not only its 15-year anniversary but also its partnership with the U.S. Space & Rocket Center and the Space Camp Scholarship Foundation. Thanks to proceeds from the T-Minus beer, Yellowhammer’s total donation will reach $125,000 in 2025.
How are you celebrating this 15-year anniversary at Yellowhammer?
“We always try to do a special anniversary offering. We actually planned five years ago to make bourbons for our 15th! We just harvested and bottled them, it’s a really neat concept. We took ingredients from different regions of the U.S., used the same recipe, but adjusted the ingredients regionally. So we made four different bourbons from four regions.”
These limited-edition bourbons will be released on October 16th, along with a new barrel-aged wine-inspired beer that Ethan describes as “a hearty beer.”
What advice would you give to local brewers, small business owners, and entrepreneurs?
“I’m happy to be of service to anybody starting a business or a brewery, there’s so much unknown, and every day brings a new challenge. Having a good team around you is such a big deal.”
What are your top three favorite brews of all time?
“I’ll go with ones we still make: the June Pilsner, it’s a French-style pilsner with French malts and hops and it’s delicious; the Midnight Special; and the Doppelbock.”
Do you have a favorite brew that isn’t currently available?
“We’ve had some fun anniversary beers, one of my favorites was a barrel-aged triple aged on cherries. I loved that beer! If I could make it every year, I would.”
Cheers to 15 Years of local business and community! Check out DHI’s Staff Picks
Anna: The Yellowhammer Gold
Karla: The Moon Shot
Katelyn: Granny’s Spiked Cider
Ron: The Yellowhammer Gold