Meet Max + Ashley: The Story Behind TNT Taproom

Max grew up visiting Sun Valley with his family and quickly fell in love with the mountains. He learned to ski—and later snowboard—on Baldy alongside his parents, spending summers on Lefty's deck and winters sipping schooners at Grumpy's in ski gear. Those are some of his favorite memories.

Fast forward to the winter of 2017, when Max invited Ashley to spend the holidays in Sun Valley. After a few nights out at beloved local spots like The Cellar and The Casino, Ashley couldn't help but feel like something was missing. As much as she loves a good dive bar, she found herself wishing for a cozy neighborhood spot where you could enjoy a thoughtfully selected glass of wine or a great craft beer—without the setting of a restaurant or hotel bar.

Over the next few days, that idea kept growing. What if there were a place that felt like the perfect middle ground? Warm, welcoming, relaxed, and built for gathering. That simple thought became the very first spark of what is now TNT Taproom.

Back in Seattle, Max had been working toward opening his own brewery, but with the market already so saturated, the timing never quite came together. Then, in February 2019, everything changed. We purchased the historic Dynamite Shed (more on that story another time!), packed up our car, our pets, and made the drive to Sun Valley to turn an idea into reality.

From the beginning, we knew we wanted to focus on exceptional craft beer and thoughtfully curated natural and sustainably made wines. Then came the challenge every new business faces: choosing a name. We tossed around countless ideas, but nothing felt more fitting than TNT Taproom—a nod to the building's history as a storage shed for dynamite during Sun Valley's early days.

After ten months of renovations, countless late nights, incredible support from family, friends, and our community, and more patience than we ever imagined we'd need, we proudly opened our doors in December 2019.

A few months later, the world changed. Like so many small businesses, we navigated the uncertainty of Covid and everything that came with it. Through it all, one thing never changed: our love for this community and our gratitude for every person who walked through our doors. Many of our guests quickly became friends, and that's exactly the kind of place we always hoped TNT would be.

Whether you're stopping by for a pint, a glass of wine, or simply good conversation, we're so glad you're here.

We can't wait to welcome you!

Cheers,
Max + Ashley