USA, VA: The Oozlefinch Craft Brewery set to open September 3

The wait is soon over. The Oozlefinch Craft Brewery at Fort Monroe is brewing beer and plans to open Sept. 3, the Daily Press reported.

"We're excited," said owner-operator Russel Tinsley. "It's kind of surreal right now."

The craft brewery plans to have a half-dozen beers on tap in its tasting room for its grand opening, he said. Oozlefinch began brewing at the end of July using a 15-barrel system at 81 Patch Road.

Oozlefinch is leasing 4,700 square feet now, and Tinsley would like to eventually expand into the additional 12,000 square feet of space in Building 12, Tinsley said.

Oozlefinch will sell 32-ounce sealed cans with its crowler machine in addition to growlers, or resealable beer jugs. The brewery plans to distribute kegs through Hampton-based M. Price Distributing to restaurants and growler stations, starting with two beers at first — a hefeweizen called Lady in White and a pineapple grapefruit IPA called Sergeant Patches.

The names of Oozlefinch's brews allude to Fort Monroe stories. In fact, the brewery's name hails from the mascot of the original Fort Monroe officers' club and of the Coastal Artillery Corps.

The story goes that a captain in the early 1900s, after imbibing, supposedly saw a large-eyed, featherless backward-flying bird outside the club, said John Hutcheson, Fort Monroe Authority deputy director. After hearing the tale, the colonel's wife bought a small statue matching the description. The statue of the bird, dubbed the Oozlefinch, was kept by the bar for a while at the Casemate Club.

A look-alike Oozlefinch statue will perch behind the bar at the Fort Monroe brewery, and Tinsley also hopes to adorn the building's exterior with a mural of the creature along with its story.

"We certainly hope that he'll be widely successful and bring lots of people to Fort Monroe," Hutcheson said. "In addition to operating a brewery, he'll be helping us tell the story of Fort Monroe."

Tinsley, along with wife Rebekah, had been looking to open a brewery at Fort Monroe since December 2012, but the concept gained more momentum when they joined up with investors Tony and Allison Carter in early 2015. Owner Steve Walters of Smoke BBQ in Newport News introduced them to each other, they said.

Tony Carter, a Newport News orthopedic surgeon, said he knew within 10 minutes of talking to Russ Tinsley that he had the passion and commitment to get a brewery on Fort Monroe.

"We want to make great beer that people really like," Tony Carter said. "It's such an awesome concept."

He and Allison are self-described foodies who plan to be actively involved partners, working in the tasting room and pouring beers. They've learned a lot about Fort Monroe in the startup process.

"What better way to learn history than over some beer?" Allison Carter said.

Another invaluable piece was finding brewmaster Austin Shawinsky of Newport News, Tony Carter said. Shawinsky had brewed at St. George Brewing in Hampton and studied brewing science and engineering at the American Brewers Guild's school in Vermont.

He's spent the past year or so perfecting the recipes, Tinsley said.

Shawinsky said he's been influenced a lot by the hoppier West Coast-style beers and that while he likes strong flavor and aromas, he wants beers that are still balanced and smooth.

"I'd say our beers are very approachable, very flavorful and unique," Shawinsky said.

Folks can view the bright tanks and fermenters from the tasting room, which boasts a waterfront view of Mill Creek. Fort Monroe Authority is working to find businesses who could use the unique spaces at the former Army base, Hutcheson said, adding Fort Monroe's commercial space is about 20 percent leased.

"I love Fort Monroe," Tinsley said. "We all believe in the potential this place has."

Sean Pepe, partner in The Deadrise restaurant at Fort Monroe's Old Point Comfort Marina, is looking forward to having Oozlefinch beer on tap. He said the brewery could help more folks find the restaurant and vice versa.

Pepe said he likes the direction Fort Monroe is going, and he and his partners are exploring the idea of opening another restaurant there.

The Hampton-based Stuft food truck plans to be at the grand opening, which is planned for 1 p.m. Casey Haas, who owns Stuft with brother Alex, said he anticipates local restaurants in Phoebus would get a boost from brewery visitors, too.

"We live in Buckroe — it's pretty cool to see something like that in our backyard," Haas said.

15 August, 2016