E-Malt.com News article: USA, MI: Territorial Brewing Company to open in Battle Creek

Tim Davis and longtime friend, Charles Grantier, started homebrewing for fun about 10 years ago. It was the encouragement of friends that pushed them to make a business plan. The idea has been fermenting for four years, but it was in January when they drove to Colorado to meet with brewery start-up guru Tom Hennessy of Colorado Boy for a week-long workshop, battlecreekenquirer.com reported on November, 2.

That's when things really started coming together for the German-inspired Territorial Brewing Company.

"Here in Battle Creek, we wanted to offer a full beer and restaurant experience," Davis said. "Add another dining destination in town, not just a brewery."

Most of the equipment in the back of Territorial has been re-purposed, such as the dairy tank that is now a mash tun. The brew room and storage area look shiny and metallic, like inside a brand-new spaceship.

The rest of the restaurant is a work in progress right now. Among the boxes and mess are bright spots of order, such as glasses lined neatly on shelving.

Next week it should look more like a restaurant, the owners said. They're on track for opening their doors on Nov. 18, with food and up to eight beers on tap.

"There's a lot things we have a desire to do here, we are using every bit of available space," Davis said.

One of those desires is to expand into another building for bottling and distribution. Kegs will also be eventually available. Until then, though, the only place to drink a Territorial German-style beer will be at the brew-pub.

Davis said the brewery will fill a niche, offering flavors from the other side of the world.

"A lot of our favorite beer styles are light, European beer styles that don't travel very well," Davis said.

Beers include the North German pils called Engelharn, a Berliner weisse called Cereal City Champagne and a doppelbock called Penetrator.

"It's called liquid bread," Davis said about the doppelbock. "It's a thick, heavy, high-in-alcohol beer that was used to sustain monks through winter, outside of Munich."

But mostly the menu includes lighter style beers that the brewers described as having subtle, complex flavors.

"We'd like there to be more breweries in Battle Creek," Grantier said. "We hope we're not the last one. Because there are lots of good beer fans in Battle Creek and Calhoun County, and I think Battle Creek can support at least a couple more."


05 November, 2014