USA, OH: Sandy Springs Brewing Company launched by husband-and-wife team in Minerva

An interest in home brewing beer led a Minerva couple to build their own brewery, The Free Press Standard reported on January 4.

Andy and Amanda Conrad opened Sandy Springs Brewing Company, located at 232 N. Market St., Minerva, Nov. 4. Beginning the end of December, they expanded their hours on Fridays to open for lunch. The menu includes a selection of appetizers, flatbreads and sandwiches. Non-alcoholic beverages, such as coffee, flavored sodas and craft root beer is available along with Strongbow Gold Apple Cider, for those with a gluten allergy.

The couple, graduates of Minerva High School, watched a pharmacology professor brew beer and, liking different kinds of beer, began home brewing and creating recipes during college.

Andy and Amanda received college degrees in Physical Therapy and headed west to work. As traveling therapists, they saw a lot of small craft breweries. They spent three years out west tasting a variety of beers, learning different brewing techniques and experiencing the atmosphere of each brewery.

“We saw what these craft breweries did for the small communities and thought of Minerva,” Andy said. “Our planning began out west and we started on licensing in 2013-2014.”

They decided to name the brewery “Sandy Springs” from Andy’s family’s 18th century farm on Sandy Springs Rd. in Minerva.

“There was a naturally fed spring that fed water into my great grandmother’s house,” Andy explained. “I remember dipping the cup in the water barrel.”

The couple fixed up the old farmhouse and planned to build the brewery in the barn. They had it inspected and the foundation was good, but before they could begin work, the barn was struck by lightning and burnt down. They were able to salvage wood beams (complete with burn marks) and have installed them in the brewery.

After the barn fire, the couple decided to renovate the old gas station located at the corner of US 30 and SR 183 in downtown Minerva. The rustic-themed brewery has a large bar, tables and booths where patrons can watch TV or look out the front windows. The walls are covered with barn siding and areas of exposed old bricks. The wooden floors gleam and the original tin ceilings have been uncovered. A parking lot is located behind the building that retains its “old filling station” look outside. A fire pit and patio will also be utilized, weather permitting.

“We had a great team working with us. We were very lucky,” the couple noted. “Our contractor became like a member of the family.”

Currently they have 10 beers on tap. Sandy Springs Lost Gold is a pre-prohibition style cream ale; crisp with a light color and body. According to Andy, this brew has a flavor similar to Bud Light. Other craft beers are brewed with caramelized pumpkin and spiced chai tea, cold brewed coffee, and hints of chocolate and caramel. They range in color from pale to deep brown, dark amber and black. They also use an infuser tower to add flavor. The Sandy Springs Infusion Tower is porter brew run through the tower filled with Madagascar vanilla beans and organic coconut before serving.

Select brews can be taken home in a 32-ounce growler can.

Hours are Sunday, 12-5 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday, 4-9 p.m.; Friday 12-10 p.m.; and Saturday 12-10 p.m. The brewery is closed Monday and Tuesday.

06 January, 2018