USA, IA: Peace Tree Brewing to open its East Village brewery on January 1

Peace Tree Brewing will open its East Village tap room and brewery on Jan. 1 in a remodeled Quonset hut, DesMoinesRegister.com reported on December 19.

The Knoxville-based company will be serving its popular brews in addition to some new varieties at the East Village location, 317 E. Court Ave., said owner Megan McKay. The taproom will have 25 taps that will include five barrel aged beers that the company has been stocking away for the opening, she said. It will also offer root beer and a guest cider brew, she said.

The full brewing system will get underway soon with the East Village brewery making sour beer, a tart brew that is gaining in popularity. Brewing sour beers requires a specific type of bacteria. To safeguard against infecting other batches with the bacteria, it is best to make sour beers in a separate facility, McKay has said.

The 1,500-square foot taproom will seat about 100 inside and 30 more on the patio when Iowa weather permits, she said. There’s also a semi-private space for holding events.

There won’t be food available, save for some light snacks. But McKay said there will be food trucks nearby as well as take-out food from nearby eateries that patrons are welcome to bring in, she said.

Local real estate developer Jake Christensen bought the building with partners Jim Cownie and BDC, a construction company, late last year and began renovating it into commercial space, which McKay is leasing. “I really feel proud to refurbishing a run-down building,” she said.

Christensen said the Quonset hut design with its high ceilings and open space is an interesting building for the brewery. Peace Tree is a good fit for that portion of the East Village, which is becoming more an entertainment district with nearby Iowa Taproom and other businesses coming to the area.

McKay plans to keep open the Knoxville brewery and taproom open. The six-year-old brewery has won several accolades, including a World Beer Cup gold medal for Blonde Fatal, its Belgian style strong ale.

Opening in the East Village on Jan. 1 was perfect timing, she said. "It's a great way to start out the new year and build the business," she said.

Peace Tree Brewing will be open 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday.

19 December, 2016