USA, IN: Black Dog Brewing Co. eyeing July opening in Mooresville

Black Dog Brewing Co., a new craft brewery planned for Mooresville, is expected to open in July at 11230 State Road 67. The brewery is taking over a 10,000-square-foot space formerly occupied by H&R General Contractors Inc., the Indianapolis Business Journal reported on April 18.

Black Dog will start off with a 3,500-square-foot brewing operation and a temporary taproom offering a limited food menu. Once that opens, the business plans to work on its permanent taproom, which will occupy 7,000 square feet and should be up and running by early next year.

General partners in the business are the husband-and-wife team of Jeremy and Tiffany Kuntz of Mooresville.

Jeremy Kuntz has 20 years of experience in the beer business. He started as a sales rep for Indianapolis-based Monarch Beverage and has also worked for both the Guinness and Corona brands, with experience in sales, supply-chain operations and brand-building.

Now, the Kuntzes are working to build a business of their own.

“We’re taking that understanding of branding in the beer business and applying that to craft beer,” Jeremy Kuntz said.

That branding, he said, will include touches such as branded beer glasses and custom tap handles, as well as an emphasis on beer education. The establishment also plans to offer beer dinners that pair different brews with food, as well as classes where customers can learn about beer.

The brewery plans to produce three flagship beers--an IPA, a blonde lager and an amber ale—along with a small handful of seasonal and limited-release brews.

Aside from the fact the Kuntzes live in Mooresville, Jeremy Kuntz said the location also makes sense from a business perspective.

The Morgan County town doesn’t have any local breweries, and the closest such operations are Taxman Brewing Co. in the Johnson County town of Bargersville; and two Plainfield establishments: Black Swan Brewpub and Brew Link Brewing.

“Really, from Avon all the way to Center Grove there’s not a lot of brewery options,” Jeremy Kuntz said. “When we did our demographic studies, Mooresville just jumped out as a huge opportunity.”

The head brewer will be Shawn Byrnes, who has previously worked for a number of area brewing operations, including Ram Restaurant and Brewery, Fountain Square Brewery and Upland Brewing Co.

And in case you’re wondering: The brewery takes its name from the Kuntzes’ dog Shelby, a black lab.

“I wanted a name that resonated with people,” Jeremy Kuntz said. “Everyone can relate to a dog.”

19 April, 2019