USA, AL: The Fairhope Brewing Co. opens in Alabama

The Fairhope Brewing Co. opened its doors to the public as Alabama’s newest independent brewery, al.com reported on January, 7.

Partners in the business signed a lease in June and began equipping their facility in early October. That’s an ongoing process: Brian Kane explained that they’re about to install two new fermentation tanks, for a total of five. Each can hold a 310-gallon batch.

In addition to Brian Kane and brewmaster Dan Murphy, the Fairhope Brewing team includes Michele Kane, Jim Foley and Gabe Harris. Their venture is one of a dozen microbreweries now operating in Alabama, and the only one south of Montgomery. That would suggest there’s a powerful thirst to be quenched on the coast, but Brian Kane said the company’s strategy is to take it smooth and steady.

“Anybody in Fairhope that wants us can have us,” Murphy said, when asked where his company’s products will be available. As the brewery ramps up production, it’ll expand its distribution to include other Baldwin County cities and eventually Mobile.

Brewmaster Murphy said his first two offerings: Everyday Ale and Section Street Wheat are more about enticing patrons to “just expand their palates a little bit” than hitting them with radical tastes. An American pale ale and a black IPA soon will round out the line-up, with a “Jubilee Series” of specialty brews to follow.

09 January, 2013