Diamond Knot Brewing Company

Lore & Background

Diamond Knot Craft Brewing was established in October 1994 by two Boeing employees, Bob Maphet and Brian Sollenberger, who met at a Boeing employee beer club in Everett, Washington. For the first four years, they handled all production and distribution in the evenings out of subleased space in an alehouse, keeping their day jobs. Annual production was originally limited to about 600 barrels. In March 1999, the alehouse was acquired and improved to increase capacity to about 1,200 barrels a year, but the brewery was not able to meet demand. Capacity was quadrupled in 2005 with the opening of a 4,300 sqft facility. The India Pale Ale is the brewery's flagship beer, and a stronger "Industrial XIPA" has also been produced. The Brown Ale is another popular selection. The original alehouse features stone grill cooking. In addition to the Brewery & Alehouse on the Mukilteo waterfront, the company operates the Brewpub @ MLT in Mountlake Terrace, WA, and the Production Brewery & Taproom at the company's headquarters.

Reader's Guide

Diamond Knot Brewing Company holds a significant place in the Pacific Northwest craft beer landscape as the first microbrewery in Mukilteo and the oldest in Snohomish County. Founded by two Boeing employees who turned a hobby into a business, the brewery grew from a small evening operation to a multi-location enterprise. Its flagship India Pale Ale and the stronger Industrial XIPA, along with a popular Brown Ale, have contributed to its reputation for innovative beers. The brewery's history includes the tragic loss of co-founder Brian Sollenberger in November 2009 due to an accident, and the death of co-founder Bob Maphet in November 2021 after a prolonged illness. The brewery also influenced the Australian craft beer scene, as aerospace engineer Andrew Ong gained hands-on experience at Diamond Knot before co-founding 2Brothers Brewery near Melbourne. Diamond Knot's expansion from a 600-barrel annual production to a facility that quadrupled capacity in 2005 reflects its enduring demand and regional importance.

Did You Know?

• Diamond Knot was founded by two Boeing employees who met at a Boeing employee beer club.
• The brewery's original annual production was limited to about 600 barrels.
• Co-founder Brian Sollenberger was a Boeing Engineering Manager for the 787 Dreamliner.
• Andrew Ong, who gained experience at Diamond Knot, co-founded 2Brothers Brewery near Melbourne, Australia.