E-Malt.com News article: USA, MI: Kingsley Local Brewing Company one step closer to opening

Kingsley Local Brewing Company has been in the works for a few years. On Monday, July 11, community members showed up to help get a signature feature at the brewery in place, the 9&10 News reported.

“It’s been a long haul, but the end is in sight,” said Pete Kirkwood, Founder of Workshop Brewing Company and Kingsley Local Brewing Company.

It’s been a long road for Kingsley Local Brewing Company to get to this point. They’re close to finally opening their doors after facing a fair share of obstacles over the last year.

“Our tanks, our brewing equipment, our refrigeration, all this stuff is on-site, either installed or ready to install,” said Kirkwood. “Right now, it’s the framing trim and painting and just finishing it up. That’s been the challenge.”

About 30 volunteers showed up on July 11 to help install this more than 700-pound, 30-foot slab of walnut for the brewery’s bar top. It’s from a tree that fell in Traverse City four years ago.

“People step up and do what needs to be done to make things happen in their small town,” said Dan Hawkins, Village Manager of the Village of Kingsley.

Volunteers even dressed up as lumberjacks paying tribute to the proud lumber industry in the Kingsley area.

“I think it shows we’re a close-knit community,” said Brian Sousa, Volunteer.

The owners hope the brewery becomes more than just a place to grab a drink.

“I think live entertainment and just culture happening in real-time, whether that’s a book club, a church group, a knitting circle, or trivia,” said Kirkwood. “Whatever it is, if the community wants it, we’ll try to provide.”

Kingsley Local Brewing Company will serve a nonalcoholic beer as well.

They hope to be open sometime this fall.


12 July, 2022