Knuckle Brewing Company, 918 Harley Davidson Way, Sturgis, SD 57785, #605-561-9846
website: TheKnuckle.com
Hours: Monday - Sunday: 11am - close | Kitchen closes at 8pm

Experience before you go . . .

The 6100 mile road trip continues! We left Billings with a full tank of petro and merged onto Hwy 90 like a pro but to go from one cup of coffee with mild caffeinated affects to 90 mph requires heightened senses and two hands on the wheel which was challenging since one hand had an Egg McMuffin in it! But being the seasoned professional that I am, I managed quite well and rose to the occasion. Next stop, not too sure?

Have you seen the movie, "Close Encounters of the Third Kind", directed by Steven Spielberg, starring Richard Dreyfus. Well the Devil's Tower located in Crook County, Wyoming was a big part of that movie and it's all about extra terrestrials and UFOs. The rock formation is quite amazing so obviously we had to stop and see it for ourselves. It's been a sacred spot for Native Americans for centuries. Bucket list item.....check!

Down the road we went, as conversation turned to some Tucson neighbors of ours that are originally from Rapid City, South Dakota and they mentioned they were going to be in the area right about now! So Kat called Leroy and yes indeedy Kathy & Leroy were in Rapid City and since we decided to stay the nite in Sturgis, South Dakota we decided to meet at The Knuckle Brewing Company in Sturgis.....and yes, sooner or later I always get to the cold beer part!!

Sturgis, SD is a very iconic place for all motorcycle riders across the country. The rally started back in 1938 by a group of Indian Motorcycle riders and at that time it was mostly stunts and races but has grown into all things motorcycle with over 500,000 enthusiasts in attendance and it takes place in the first week or two in August. So we rolled into Sturgis and being 1 1/2 months before the rally, besides a few tourists milling around like ourselves, the place was kinda a ghost town. The Hotel Sturgis which is booked many months before the rally and for an outrageous amount was actually available and for $125 per nite.....done!! We checked and since it was happy hour we took our bags to the room and started our 2 block walk to The Knuckle Brewing Company. Now the brewery was named after the Harley Davidson Knucklehead V-type engine that was manufactured from 1936 until 1947 and is the holy grail in the Harley world. If you watch the American Pickers every now and then Mike uncovers a rusty old knucklehead block or piston or head gasket and everyone goes crazy!! So being a motorcycle town anything Knuckle is the place to be. So we went into the Knuckle Saloon thinking it was the brewery but were quickly corrected and sent out the back door through the arena where there's a stage and bands perform during the rally and then around another corner, this KnuckleHead bidness goes on and on, and finally we stumble onto the brewery entrance and in we went.

The space was big with a high ceiling and seating at the tables and booths for at least 50+ with the bar running along the back right wall with 10-12 stools. It was relatively busy but the bar had 4 empty stools for us and our friends that were on their way. Collin the young, tall college basketball player bartender greeted us with a smile and we ordered beers. I got the Runkle Road IPA (70%, 34 IBU) citrusy, hoppy with the bitter taste IPA enthusiasts love and Kat ordered the Black Hills Blonde (5.3%, 18 IBU) easy peasy, smooth and refreshing! We were both hoppy, I mean happy with a cold beer, pizza in the queue waiting for our friends.

To my left sat John, a lifelong resident of the area and a pretty darn nice guy! We talked about the area, he mentioned that the brewery was actually for sale for a cool 6 mil. I told him I'd have to talk to my banker!! He showed me pictures of his place outside of town that were absolutely beautiful. But the craziest thing was I told John we were meeting some Tucson neighbors of ours that are from this area and I mentioned their first names, Leroy and Kathy, and John said “What’s their last name”? I told him and he said, "I know Leroy & Kathy", I said "No way", he said, "Yes way"! Crazy small world we live in! Just when I think the world is vast, huge and overwhelming we come to a situation like this.....it's a beautiful thing! Well Kathy and Leroy finally show up and it was like a high school reunion. After we did the "Great to see you and what a Beautiful area you're from", John then talked about families, brothers and sisters. Then Kathy saw another guy that she used to work with in the Homestake Gold Mine.....the deepest and longest working gold mine in the United States, more than a mile underground!

The Knuckle's got that small town feel with the big town taste. I like to call it the "Cheers effect", where everybody knows your name. The beers were refined and refreshing and pizza was warm and yummy. You owe it to yourself to stop by Sturgis, South Dakota and head over to the Knuckle for a cold craft beer, you'll be happy you did. And if you want to get into the Brewery business make sure you bring a truck full of money and before you know it you'll be in Brewery bidness!!

Until next time and remember.....

Go get'cha one!!!