By Kate Bartlett
Local brewery owner and real estate appraiser, Tom Kirchmeyer, has been visiting Ellicottville since his college days to go skiing and hang out with friends. He gained a deeper appreciation of the quaintness and beauty of the land, and began to fall in love with the area. Fast Forward to 2022, when Tom and his business partners opened the second location of 12 Gates Brewery in the village of Ellicottville. Tom and his wife Christine also own land in the nearby Town of Mansfield, their soon-to-be year-round residence.
Tom grew up in Orchard Park, raised a family in Hamburg, and is now living in Williamsville, just about 20 minutes from downtown Buffalo and a mile from the brewery. He owns a Real Estate Appraisal Business, TK Valuations, which covers all of Western New York. Back in the 1990’s, Tom frequently traveled to Cattaraugus County for his work, and became familiar with the area and started building connections and relationships with businesses and residents alike.
Although running TK Valuations is his full-time job, beer has always been his passion. While working for a large Appraisal Management Company and traveling the country for work, he’d frequent local breweries around the country, deepening his appreciation for craft beer. “I enjoy connecting with the owners and getting to know different people. This is where my love for craft beer began. After many discussions over great beer with fellow appraiser Todd Wilhelm, we began to think about opening a brewery back home.”
After much planning, Tom and Todd and a few other investors opened 12 Gates Brewing in Williamsville on 12/12/2015. The name was inspired by chemist George Ripley and his ‘12 Gates of Alchemy,’ also known as The Compound of Alchemy. “Just like alchemy, the chemical process of brewing takes practice, diligence, determination, and morale. We aim to create the perfect beer from the fermentation of the finest, hand-picked ingredients. And if you ask us, grains can be turned into liquid gold.”
12 Gates is an independent, craft production brewery that produces high quality, handcrafted beers in a 30-barrel brewhouse. The brewery in Williamsville also features a taproom with 18 rotating taps, food menu, outdoor seating and live music. The atmosphere is casual, somewhat dark and edgy, and they’re well-known for their IPAs, with sours, lagers, porters and wheat beers also available. In 2022, 12 Gates won a bronze medal in the New York State Craft Beer Competition for their Hazy IPA Moonlight Fog.
Inspired by a love for Jeeps and off-roading, Tom and his son Brett started the 12 Gates Jeep Club in 2016. Now boasting over 200 members, the club offers trail rides near Ellicottville in the Spring and Fall, and monthly meet-and-greet events. Members receive a 12 Gates Jeep tire cover along with other perks. Tom hosts the club’s trail rides on their 120 acre-property in Mansfield, just 5 minutes outside Ellicottville “It’s such a great way to connect with other Jeep enthusiasts who are also crazy about craft beer. Our trail ride is much smaller than others in the country. We limit to about 30 people, offering a more casual, laid-back experience, with all the same Jeep off-roading adventures in the great outdoors.”
Tom and his business partners decided Ellicottville was the perfect location for the second location of 12 Gates. Located in the heart of the village at 14 Washington St next door to the familiar Ellicottville Coffee Company, 12 Gates of EVL offers the same causal edgy vibe of their flagship location in a more intimate setting. With old cemetery gates flanking the walls, the location suits its nickname: 12 Gates of EVL. “We’ve been so welcomed into the Ellicottville community, and we’re thrilled to offer our craft beers to the area.” Offering a unique menu, beer on tap, wine, full-bar and live music on most weekends, 12 Gates of EVL has something to please every palate. “Stop in and say hi to Audrey Snow, our manager and long-time resident of the area.”
Tom loves the business of beer and feels fortunate to have found a niche in the craft beer subculture. “It’s a very unique culture and is gaining popularity for good reason. It is far reaching and connects people from all over the country. Beer is made to be drank fresh. There’s nothing quite like a fresh beer drank straight from the source. We invite everyone to come taste the difference and drink a fresh quality craft beer at our Ellicottville location.”
With plans to have a full-time residence in Mansfield are near completion, he’s eager to become more involved in the Ellicottville community. Already members of the Chamber of Commerce, Tom looks forward to giving back to the community that has been so welcoming. “My wife Christine and I love visiting all the local establishments and getting to know everyone. The community has welcomed us with open arms and everyone is always willing to help out.”
For more information on both locations, and the Jeep Club, visit https://12gatesbrewing.com and follow them on social media.