USA, MI: River Rouge Brewing Company gets grant to open second facility

Oak Park, which once sat dry for decades, is one step closer to joining in on the craft beer fun.

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) has awarded Edward Stencel, founder of Royal Oak-based River Rouge Brewing Company, a $100,000 grant to help cover the costs of opening a second brewery and tasting room at 14401 W. 11 Mile Road, the Detroit Free Press reported on August 8.

That puts Stencel on track to open Oak Park's first craft brewery, called Unexpected Craft Brewing Company, in spring 2020.

"This project ushers in a new era for our city, and that era is an era of a more diverse group of businesses locating here with attractions that will improve the quality of life overall for residents here," Oak Park City Manager Erik Tungate said in a news release.

Oak Park, an Oakland County suburb of about 30,000 people, was known as a dry suburb of metro Detroit until residents voted to overturn a ban on sales of alcohol by the glass in 2015. Now, city leadership is hoping to open not just one brewery, but several, as part of an effort to attract new, perhaps younger, residents and families.

Tungate said in an email to the Free Press that the city's still in discussions with several interested parties regarding opening new establishments, with roughly 20 liquor licenses still available.

"Our residents are smart and know that we had to move away from our status as a dry city to become an attractive place to live," he said.

Stencel opened River Rouge Brewing Company at 406 E. 4th St. in Royal Oak in 2014. The brewery is best known for its Peanut Butter Chocolate Stencel Stout (7.3% ABV), a dark, creamy blend of peanut butter and chocolate with a smooth, slightly bitter finish — like drinking a Reese's peanut butter cup.

"Ultimately, this grant allows us to expand into Oak Park," Stencel said in a news release. "Without it, it would be very difficult to make this jump because of the overall costs and expenses of the project. It's going to help with the infrastructure, the plumbing, and adding additional cold rooms, as well as allowing us to use more Michigan agricultural products and increase our overall production."

As reported in May, the brewery will offer cider, wine, hard seltzer and at least 30 taps, which is 10 more than Royal Oak.

In all, MDARD awarded $1.8 million in grants to 20 projects as part of its Value Added and Regional Food System Grant Program, which aims to incentivize and spur private investment around Michigan.

Traverse City Whiskey Company, which just opened a tasting room next to Como's in Ferndale, was awarded $125,000 for equipment purchases through the program. Two wineries — Gallagher’s Vineyard & Winery in Traverse City and Lazy Ballerina Winery in St. Joseph — also earned funding for production expansion.

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