USA, PA: John Russell Brewing Co. opens its doors to guests in Erie

The long-awaited transformation of the UPick6 Beer Store at 7520 Peach St. in Erie to John Russell Brewing Co., is finally complete and the doors opened to guests Wednesday, January 27, GoErie.com reported.

"We didn't market the date," said co-owner John Melody Thursday. "We let the news get out into the community itself and by 7 p.m. (Wednesday)," they had a respectable number of customers, he said.

Melody and his partner, Russell Stachewicz, had no idea when they started this project that it would take more than a year to realize, but COVID-19 and subsequent restaurant restrictions made it a frustrating stop-and-go process. Finding staff was a challenge, too.

"It was a long road," Melody said.

But the brewery, which has been making beer for months to be sold in the partners' other bars in the UPick6 family � Harbor House, Public House and Tap House � is officially open now, at 50% capacity like other dine-in restaurants.

Melody said they'd expand their patio and outdoor seating in the spring, as he expects COVID-19 will still be an issue.

"I don't know, but I would say (restrictions will still be in place) until well into the spring and early summer," he said.

For now, he's enjoying the eight beers brewed on site.

His personal favorite?

While you'd assume the Irishman would stick with a stout, Melody actually prefers the IPA and the Irish red ale, both launched Wednesday.

"I'm just happy people finally get to enjoy what we set out to do," Melody said.