USA, MI: Tapistry Brewing Co. to open in Bridgman by late spring

A homebrewer and an accountant plan to take their passion for craft beer to Bridgman as they will open the Tapistry Brewing Co. in the coming months, mlive.com reported on February, 5.

Joe Rudnick and Greg Korson will bring craft beer to the Lake Michigan community as early as late spring.

Tapistry Brewing, about two years in the making, will occupy two buildings: a 5,000-square-foot space for the production side and a neighboring 2,200-square-foot place to serve as the taproom.

Tapistry owners plan to have eight beers on tap on the first day of business. Rudnick and Korson said they're "hopheads" and they plan to use experimental hops on some beers. Rudnick said he also hopes to collaborate with Michigan hop growers, including some near Bridgman who've approached them.

"I'm not a huge stout drinker personally, but apparently I can make them because I've won awards with them," Rudnick said. "I have a Chili Stout and a Chocolate Coffee Stout that have both won awards. Those types of beers will definitely be around."

Rudnick said he will do some brewing, but Tapistry has hired a head and assistant brewer to handle a bulk of the production. They will use a 15-barrel system and a one-barrel system.

Korson and Rudnick project making around 2,000 barrels in the first year.

They are in the midst of "fully renovating" the old building in Bridgman for the brewery. The winter weather has slowed some of the work, Korson said.

"It's an anxious time. We just want it to be moving forward, moving forward, moving forward. We are ready," said Korson.

As for the name, Rudnick said it's a play on the words "tap" and "chemistry," as well as a reference to their brewing techniques.

"Tapestry is kind of art work as well and that's what we're doing, creating art in beer form," Rudnick said.

08 February, 2013