Tiffin brewery nears opening

IMAGE SUBMITTED IMAGE SUBMITTED The floor plan for Laird Arcade Brewery. Owners of the first brewery to operate in Tiffin in 80-100 years are making final preparations to open its doors downtown. The Advertiser-Tribune Editor Rob Weaver and his partners Eric Kuebler and Andy Flechtner plan to open The Laird Arcade Brewery at 114 S. Washington St., suite D. Kuebler said it could be open before the end of the year or early next year. "(We should be open in) two months, tops," he said. The city of Tiffin approved the nanobrewery earlier this year, but Kuebler said the three still have state and federal regulations to meet before they can open. Weaver said the brewery will use a 3.5-barrel brewing system. When the brewery does open, Kuebler said six beers will be offered at all times while six other taps will be rotated between seasonal and experimental brews. Most of the business will be done in the brewery's taproom, but the beers likely will be distributed to other local businesses as well. Customers also can purchase growlers — jugs used to transport draft beer — or crowlers — a metal container used to transport smaller quantities of beer — for to-go convenience. Kuebler said he and Weaver, who have been homebrewers for 10 and 20 years, respectively, have been testing out recipes they've made at home to prepare. Kuebler some beers will have names that tie-in to local institutions. He said one of the most popular beers has been a red ale — the Screamin' Mimi — and there are plans for a Scoth ale — Scutch Ale — and a coffee porter with ingredients from Bailiwicks Coffee Co. Weaver said the brewers also are working on a chocolate stout, a caramel porter, a maple pecan porter and a beer called Tippin' Glass House Ale. Kuebler also said details on a membership program will soon be released on the group's Facebook page, The Laird Arcade Brewery. The establishment also offers T-shirts, hats and other memorabilia with the brewery's logo. Those interested in the merchandise can visit the brewery or email thelabbrewery @gmail.com. Weaver said the brewery is to have a laboratory theme, with science-lab style seating and tables. "We'll serve flights and half and full-pours in beakers," he said. Keubler said the brewery strives to offer a welcoming environment. "We want you to be comfortable in here, so you can pass your time," he said. Weaver agreed. "We want a non-hurry," he said. "A less hectic atmosphere than you run into in your daily life." Kuebler said one core value of the LAB is to collaborate with other local businesses. "When we started, we discussed the importance to be local and to promote other businesses," he said. Kuebler said brewery customers can order food from outside establishments and bring them into the brewery to eat. Weaver said some snacks would be available, but they hope to encourage customers to visit other downtown businesses. "Try local, drink local and think local," Weaver said, before adding that the brewery will use local materials and ingredients from "grain to glass." Kuebler said they hope to use local yeast, hops from Seneca and Hancock counties and other local ingredients in their beers. One collaboration for the LAB will be with The Renaissance of Tiffin, which opened downtown this month. Dave Spridgeon, an owner of the Renaissance, said he would give the LAB a bourbon barrel and they would then use it to brew a beer. Kuebler said the barrel-aged series beer would only be available at the two businesses. The brewery will be the first in Tiffin since the end of Prohibition. Kuebler believes this is a positive for the community. "I think it's an avenue for growth," he said. "It's giving something to the community, but it's also a draw for our community. We could have people come from outside of the county." Kuebler said out-of-town visitors could then purchase food and lodging, which would further the improvement of downtown. Flechtner, who is the engineer, said Kuebler has been talking about starting the project for years. "I just never thought it'd be possible," he said. "I'm definitely excited to do it, to be a part of it." Kuebler said he met Weaver at Phatcakes and learned he was looking for a partner to open a brewery. Over a couple of hours, and beers, the two came up with a business plan. "Our ideas matched up pretty cohesively," Kuebler said. Weaver said he wanted to do it because when he visits other towns, the first thing he wants to do, is visit the local taphouse and have a beer to get a taste of that community. "Party of the allure, by default, the brewery becomes part of the community's identity," Kuebler said. Weaver said craft beer brewers have a community among themselves with people willing to help each other. "That's the type of camaraderie we want among craft-beer lovers in our tavern," he said.