E-Malt.com News article: US, IL: Naperville Liquor Commission discusses proposal for new brewery opening

Members of the Naperville Liquor Commission met July 14th to continue discussions about a proposal for a small local brewery looking to produce a limited number of barrels of beer in Naperville as well as offer tastings and package sales to be consumed off site, Naperville Sun reported on July, 17.

John Barley of Downers Grove, spoke on behalf of the Solemn Oath Brewery he is looking to launch, along with a few silent partners. It was the second time Barley appeared before the commission.

“We have already hired a brewer and are looking at three or four potential sites,” Barley said. “The business so far has been 100 percent cash financed and we’re hoping to be operational from an office basis by August, 1.”

Before the meeting began, Mayor A. George Pradel said the commission needed to learn more about Barley’s business plan as well as explore the possible licensing issues.

“At this time, this use doesn’t fit any of our existing liquor licenses, but I think the commission is open to exploring this concept and see if there is a way it can fit within the community,” Pradel said.

City prosecutor Jill Pelka-Wilger, who also serves as legal representation for the Liquor Commission, said that options for a liquor license would include raising the current cap on the number of licenses or creating a new one that would be specific for this particular use. Pradel noted that Fifth Avenue Station in Naperville was once home to Taylor Street Brewing, which produced locally made beer but also served food.

Barley said once established, the brewery could produce anywhere from 3,500 to 4,000 barrels of beer annually and that once it surpassed that amount, other facilities would have to be launched.

“The only product we would sell would be beer, either as a tasting or retail sales,” he said. “We don’t plan to offer any food as we feel that would impede the growth of our business. This would not be a place where people would come and get drunk.”

Barley said the brewery would likely produce four to six varieties of beer and would likely use the name of Naperville often in its branding.


20 July, 2011