USA, MI: HOMES Brewery hoping for a spring opening

Ann Arbor resident Tommy Kennedy knew he wanted to do something different with his life when he reached his 34th birthday.

His new venture has come in the form of HOMES Brewery, 2321 Jackson Ave. on Ann Arbor's west side. Kennedy says he's close to opening the brewery in what was previously a Culligan water company location, MLive.com reported on January 17.

He's had help from former Right Brain Brewery head brewer Nick Panchame and Noe Hang, the head chef of the No Thai! restaurants in Ann Arbor and East Lansing, who Kennedy said have been putting in long hours alongside him.

From the garage door where ingredients are received, to the shiny metal barrels and colorful art installation painted on the walls by Detroit street artist Paolo Pedini, Kennedy is looking to make the nearly 5,000-square-foot space a comfortable and relaxing environment for patrons.

"The space, it feels like a brewery," Kennedy said, pointing out a basement area where Culligan stored salt and where he now plans to install racks and store containers of barrel-aged sour beers. "It's a perfect environment."

The brewery's moniker is an anagram for the Great Lakes - Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie and Superior - as well as an homage to the connection of the building to water and Michigan, Kennedy said.

Walking around the building, he points out areas where he plans to have lounge or bench seating and areas where patrons can order food during busier times at the bar. Three large garage doors can be propped open during good weather, and a 28-foot bar offers space for patrons to sit down and enjoy a pint.

"It's a hidden gem; there's a lot of things about the building I thought was cool," Kennedy said.

The business is nearly complete: the brewing equipment arrived in August but some work still remains on the inside of the building. Kennedy said he plans to establish outdoor dining spaces with fire pits and tables once the weather becomes more favorable. One section will be enclosed against the elements.

"We hope to be able to use it the vast majority of the year," Kennedy said.

During the beginning stages, Hang suggested adding a kitchen and offering food at the brewery and is currently developing a menu of street-style Asian dishes for HOMES Brewery. Around 100 people can be seated in the main dining areas, Kennedy said, and another 60 to 80 in the outside areas.

While the barrel-aged sour selections Panchame is working on need to age anywhere from eight months to two years, he will have a variety of hoppy beers and kettle sours for customers to discover once HOMES Brewery opens.

"It's all pretty exciting," Panchame said, discussing the types of hops he and Kennedy are trying ("really fruity and citrusy") and the pilot batches that have led to successful recipes.

Both Panchame and Kennedy want a variety of beers for customers of all preferences, and plan to start with some kettle sours and IPAs, a beer made with coffee beans, a stout along with some session beers.

During his four years as head brewer at Right Brain in Traverse City, Panchame said he learned how to run a production line and manage his time while also being schooled through word of mouth.

"We're not trying to repeat the same beers," Panchame said of Right Brain's styles. "We really put in the time and effort to resource ingredients, and are refining every single step."

"We're brewing beers we love," Kennedy added. "These are all beers I'd want to order from somewhere."

The brewery is currently set up to offer 20 beers to flow through a tap system out to the bar, where Kennedy hopes to welcome customers for a spring opening, possibly by the end of March.

18 January, 2017