E-Malt.com News article: USA, MI: Arcadia Brewing Co.’s Kalamazoo brewery to open on May 8

Arcadia Brewing Co. will officially open in Kalamazoo on May 8, MLive.com reported on April 24.

Owner Tim Suprise's 30,000-square-foot building at 701 E. Michigan Ave., along the Kalamazoo River, includes a brewpub, brewing and packaging space and offices.

Though patrons for several days now have been able to grab a beer at the Kalamazoo bar and order dinner at Twisted Tail, Arcadia's food truck stationed in the parking lot, Suprise said he plans to hold a grand opening for the Kalamazoo site May 8.

It comes about 18 years after Arcadia's original brewpub and brewing facility, which Suprise wanted to open in Kalamazoo, opened in Battle Creek. That operation will continue.

"It feels like it's been a long distance to this waypoint in the journey to get open to the public," Suprise said of opening the Kalamazoo site, which has been in the works for more than two years. "I'm relieved and excited at the same time to hit this stage."

The building sits on the east bank of the Kalamazoo River on the fringe of downtown Kalamazoo, in an area city officials are calling River's Edge. For decades, it was the site of a coal-burning Consumers Energy power plant.

Suprise bought the property, valued at $88,000, for $5,000 from the Kalamazoo Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, and has worked with the authority to remove contaminated soil and underground infrastructure from the power plant so that building construction could start. That site work caused some delays, though Suprise said the project's higher price tag, a total of $7 million as opposed to $6.2 million, and longer timeline, was because he and others underestimated building time and equipment installation time.

"That really was the biggest challenge," Suprise said of removing the contamination and infrastructure, though he added he's "grateful" to have had the opportunity to transform the space.

Suprise on a recent afternoon took visitors on a tour of the new building, while asking staff questions about everything from logo barware to the flavor of rub that would go on a leg of lamb destined for the smokehouse right outside the Kalamazoo brewpub.

"We're very much a work in progress here," Suprise said, noting the Kalamazoo brewpub patrons see soon may change some as the company focuses on developing a beer garden with an amphitheater stage and, eventually, a kayak and canoe launch along the Kalamazoo River.

The brewpub itself, a 4,500-square-foot space, features the long bar spanning the front of the house with drink rails, communal seating and garage doors that open up to the patio in nice weather. The bright, airy space has an industrial feel, with steel and wooden features. Floor joists from Corporation Hall, which served as Kalamazoo's first city hall and recently was renovated, can be seen in the brewery's floors, along the bar trim and on the drink rails. Suprise estimates the wood is at least 250 years old.

"We wanted to make something that was distinctly Kalamazoo part of our design," Suprise said of using the wood.

A centerpiece in the brewpub is the zinc hammered bar, made by Specialty Prototypes LLC of Bellevue.

Nick Chapman, bar manager, said he is excited to ramp up Arcadia's soft drink options. Chapman said he plans to include house-made soft drinks to serve alongside wine and beer from the bar's 24 taps.

More than 90 percent of Arcadia's brewing will be moved to Kalamazoo, leaving the Battle Creek location free to experiment with small batches.

"They'll have the leeway to do fun, different beers," Chapman said.

Brewing already has started on the 50-barrel Sprinkman Corp. brewhouse in Kalamazoo. Suprise said the brewery is using three 100-barrel fermenters and plans to bring over four 50-barrel fermenters from Battle Creek.

Suprise said initial capacity in Kalamazoo will be about 21,000 barrels, along with 5,000 barrels in Battle Creek. Arcadia produced 12,900 barrels in 2013. One barrel equals 31 gallons.

Even with all of the tanks installed, the Kalamazoo site will have room for expansion for the future - Suprise said the new facility gives Arcadia space to produce 60,000 barrels annually. The 24,000-square-foot production side includes a keg cleaner and filler, a bottler and canning line, automated packaging and a drive-in cold storage facility.

Chapman said the brewery's location and view are the best perks.

"As excited for how busy I know we'll be, I'm looking forward to keeping it relaxing - to enjoy the view and enjoy your beer."


25 April, 2014