USA, WI: Perspective Brewing Company looking to open in West Allis

Two teachers and two nurses walk into a bar.

And they own it.

As a joke, it doesn’t work very well. But as a dream of two brothers pursuing their passion, it's getting closer to reality.

Perspective Brewing Company is looking to open a new microbrewery at 7506-7508 W. Greenfield Ave. in West Allis, across the street from City Hall, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

Dan Naus, a science teacher at New Berlin West High School, will be chief manager and director of brewery operations, Naus said in an email.

Ben Naus, Dan’s brother and a science teacher at Horlick High School in Racine, will be Perspective’s head brewer.

The two are University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee graduates who completed the brewery immersion course at Colorado Boy Pub & Brewery in Ridgway, Colorado. Dan also attended Regis University in Denver for its craft brewing certification program.

The nurses are their spouses, Dan's wife Taryn and Ben’s wife Ashley, both craft beer lovers who fully support their husbands’ dreams of opening a microbrewery, Dan said.

Those dreams started eight years ago, Dan said, as the two science teachers realized they could combine their love of beer with their enjoyment of the chemistry and science behind making the perfect brew.

Today, both couples have careers in which they get to interact with people and impact those people's lives.

"As teachers and nurses, that's the part we love; interacting with people and making an impact," Dan said. "We wanted to combine that with our passion, craft beer."

He said they've spent the last eight years learning and mastering home brewing to turn their dream of owning their own craft brewery into a reality.

But city approvals and some construction is needed first.

The city's plan commission on Wednesday will consider a special use permit as well as site, landscaping and architectural plans.

As far as work to the building, the two existing tenant spaces would be combined into a single open area by removing an interior wall, according to city documents, and a bar would be installed along the west wall.

There would be seating inside for 39 people.

Outside, a beer garden with seating for an additional 28 people is proposed for the rear (north side) of the building. There would be space for a food truck to park and serve food on the weekends.

Dan said they're aiming for a comfortable, inviting and family-friendly feel with a modern and uplifting atmosphere.

"As our mission statement says, we aim to spark ideas, promote optimism, and facilitate meaningful conversation amongst family and friends in the community," he said.

If all goes according to plan, the business is hoping to open by the summer of 2021.

Perspective will offer a variety of inspirational craft beers as well as non-alcoholic beverages, Dan said.

Several staple beers will remain on tap year-round, including IPAs, American pale ale, wheat beers and kettle sours, and the business will regularly introduce new beers to keep things interesting.

"We hope to be able to offer a craft beer for everyone to enjoy, with a wide variety of styles available throughout the year," he said.

Non-alcoholic beverages will include made-in-house hopped teas, craft sodas and sparkling water.

Being teachers and nurses, the four are acutely aware of the challenges the pandemic presents.

As small business owners, Dan said the biggest one is the uncertainty of the future.

"While we do hope the pandemic will start to ease by the time we open, as our name implies, we believe perspective is everything and the glass is always half full," he said. "With that mindset, we plan to embrace the uncertain times and challenges that lie ahead with optimism and positive attitudes as well as a well-thought-out business plan."

03 December, 2020