USA, OH: Aeonian Brewing Co. to open its doors in Alliancde on March 31

Something new is brewing in Alliance, the Canton Repository reported on March 26.

Aeonian Brewing Co., located at 120 W. Chestnut St., will open its doors Wednesday, March 31. The site previously housed Mount Union Mill, a pet and garden supply store.

The 15-barrel brewpub is owned by Brandon Benson and Dean Economous.

"I've been brewing for about nine years professionally," said Benson, who previously worked at Thirsty Dog Brewing Co. in Akron. "As a brewer, you always have that goal to have your own brewery."

He described Alliance as "the perfect location" for the brewery, because the city sits about halfway between Economous's home in Salem and Benson's home in North Canton.

"It kind of hit home for both of us where the location was, and what we thought Alliance would need and support," Benson said.

Aeonian offers a variety of craft beers, including several IPAs and a stout. Benson said they also plan to add a lager and a session IPA.

The new spot includes a food menu with items such as fish and chips, burgers, wraps and chicken tenders.

Benson described the brewery's atmosphere as "exciting." He said they kept most of the building's structure the same, and the interior has an industrial-style appearance that features brick and concrete.

Although Aeonian has not officially opened, the brewery has held a series of soft openings with a limited beer-and-food menu throughout March, including on St. Patrick's Day.

"We were pleasantly surprised on how many people we got, and we got a lot of good feedback about what we did to the old Mount Union Mill, the changes we made," Benson said. "The beers that we had and the food that we had all went over pretty well."

Aeonian will be the first brewery to open in Alliance. Stark County is now home to 11 breweries, including nearby operations UnHitched in Louisville and Sandy Springs in Minerva.

Alliance Director of Planning and Development Joe Mazzola expects the brewery to be a success for the city.

"Businesses of this type having been popping up all over Northeast Ohio," he said. "I knew it was only a matter of time before Alliance would have something like this. I'm pleased that someone from the area has chosen to invest significantly in this property and in this business."

Mazzola said the new brewery is a "marvelous, adaptive" use for the former Mount Union Mill building. He said the brewery's location near South Union Avenue and State Street is one of the city's key business corridors.

"The hospital is there, Mount Union is there, Huntington Bank has a presence, Walgreens. This adds to the mix of businesses and institutions in a core area," he said.

Additionally, Mazzola said Aeonian will attract people to Alliance because it is a one-of-a-kind establishment.

"Unique venues that offer unique fare, whether it's libations or food, they tend to draw," he said. "I think this is a significant addition to the opportunities for people to step out, have a beer, have a meal, meet with friends."

Aeonian's hours will be 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

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