USA, IA: Allerton Brewing Company set to launch in Independence this fall

A meeting at an Independence home brew club is now set to snap a century-long dry spell, KGAN TV reported on April 9.

Lucas Gray and Brandon Mikel met at a club gathering in Independence - and now the two home brewers are putting their passion for pilsners into plans for Allerton Brewing Company. It's set to open this fall at 110 First Street East just next to the Wapsipinicon River - and will be the first brewery to open in Buchanan County since Prohibition.

"We knew the history a little bit - looking at the history of the town," Gray says. It's awesome being able to bring one back after all this time. We're excited."

The COVID-19 pandemic isn't throwing much of a wrench into things, either.

"We haven't run into any major roadblocks yet," Mikel says. "Some of our equipment we were supposed to pick up this week is getting postponed - but we're still in the middle of construction, so we don't really need it right now."

The partners are even settling into the space they were hoping for from the start - with a deck in the back that overlooks the river, the dam, and the old mill on the other side of the water.

"We wanted to be downtown when we started the project," Mikel says. "We wanted a nice place to hang out for the community - something new, another option - especially for people that like craft beer."