Christina Thomas, plan to create a fun and casual environment at
their brewpub.
“We want a place where people feel welcome and appreciated,
and where you can always have a lively conversation about beer,”
Phil said. “The décor will be based on a concept we call ‘farm punk’.
It’s a cross between rustic farmhouse and steam punk. We plan to
evolve that concept over time and to involve local artists we know to
assist in creating some crazy stuff.”
The main focus, beer-wise, will be farmhouse ales, lagers and
barrel-aged beers, which will be brewed with their system bought
from Thunderhead Brewing in Kearney, Nebraska. They take
pride in keeping the brewhouse in the Nebraska craft brewing
community. Phil explains his new system as “a precision stainless
12-barrel direct fire brewhouse that, with existing capacity, has the
ability to produce more than 1,300 barrels of beer each year.”
The four owners came from diverse backgrounds. Phil and Bernie
were engineers working for the Department of Defense. Bernie was
a software engineer and program manager and Phil was a physicist
and mathematician. They began home brewing in the late 80’s
and over the years, toured breweries all over the world with good
friend Bill Baburek, the owner of the Crescent Moon and Infusion
Brewery. With Brett beers and Saisons being Phil’s specialty, he has
a lot of appreciation for all the help and knowledge he has received
from breweries such as Crooked Stave, Funkwerks and Nebraska
Brewing Company.
Over the course of about 15 years, homebrewing became a
passion for Phil’s new partner, Tony, and he decided to turn
professional. Tony got his start at a brewery in Sacramento in 2005
and then migrated to work at breweries in Denver before moving
back to Omaha to work at Upstream in 2009. Christina makes
her career as a CPA and has traveled along with Tony to hundreds
of breweries throughout the U.S. and Europe, learning about and
sampling the many styles of beers over the years.
Their brewery will consist of a two-vessel, 14-barrel direct fire
brewhouse with the boiling kettle being used as their hot liquor
tank. The initial plan is to offer four to six beers in their first year,
which will likely include German, English – and John’s favorite –
Belgian style ales.
“We will distribute draft kegs to a few select bars and restaurants
the first year while building our brand and we also plan to do some
limited hand bottling of the occasional specialty beer,” John said.
John has been a making beer since 1986 and is one of the most
accomplished homebrewers in the area. In 1996 he became the
first and only Nebraskan to win the AHA (American Homebrewers
Association) Homebrewer of the Year award. He holds the rank of
‘National’ as a BJCP (Beer Judge Certification Program) judge.
“I attribute a lot of my brewing success to knowing, and brewing
to style. Once you can master this, you can create anything,” John
said. “Over the years I’ve had the chance to brew with some great
people, including Dean Dobmeier at The Jones Street Brewery,
Trevor Schaben at the original Thunderhead in Kearney, the
Modern Monks at both the Grand Island and Misty’s location, as
well as with Mike Cunningham at Lucky Bucket.”
“Creating more than
just beer, the tasting
room area will offer
a wide selection
of beers and spirits
they produce.”
Borgata Brewery and Distillery - Omaha
With plans to be open late in 2013, Borgata, which is an old
Italian word for family, will be located in the trendy Old Market
area in the building previously known as Second Chance Antiques.
Owners Zac Triemert and Holly Mulkins are planning on
creating more than just beer. They will also be producing distilled
spirits, with the main focus being whiskey. The 9,000 square foot
production brewery will show off its original brick interior and
include a packaging and canning line, custom-made copper stills
and room for whiskey barrel storage. The tasting room area will
hold up to around 100 guests where they will offer a wide selection
of beers and spirits that they produce. They also plan to offer a few
quick bites supplied by selected local restaurants in the area.
“Located in two adjacent Blackstone
The couple has purchased a new two-vessel, 15-barrel brewhouse
Place buildings, the brewery and
with 45-barrel hot and cold liquor tanks.
“What I’m most excited about is that the mash tun has been
taproom interior will feature 100+
rigged up with rakes,” Zac explained. “This will increase quality,
year-old exposed brick walls.”
consistency and be easier on the backs of Holly and I in the
brewhouse.” As for the shiny copper stills, they will be placed in the
tasting area for all to admire.
Scriptown Brewing Company - Omaha
Zac’s undergraduate degree was in microbiology and chemistry
Located in two adjacent Blackstone Place buildings on the corner
and he went on to earn his master’s degree in Brewing and Distilling
of 40th & Farnam, Scriptown’s owners John Fahrer and Scott
Stephens plan to open their doors around the first quarter of 2014. from Heroit-Watt University in Scotland.
On his brewing background Zac says, “I have been brewing
The brewery gets its name from the first housing development
commercially in Omaha for the last 12 years. Borgata Brewery and
in Omaha dating back to the 1850’s. The brewery and taproom
Distillery is the third brewery and second distillery that I have built
interior will feature 100+ year old exposed brick walls which they
from the ground up, but this time I’m lucky enough to do it with
plan to keep as the theme.
family.”
“Scott and I want to keep as much of the existing building in
With the ever-growing craft beer sector, there is also a renaissance
play as possible… an urban, cool look is what we’re after,” John
taking place with craft spirits, and what perfect timing for Omaha
explained. “Scott lived in Portland, Oregon for seven years and has
to be a part of it all.
a remarkable eye for the type of aesthetic we’re looking for.”
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