USA, TX: Casa Blanca Brewing Co. eyeing opening in Corpus Christi this fall

After brewing beer at home for six years, Baltazar Ramirez Jr. plans to use his skills to make a profit off his hobby, the Caller Times reported.

The 27-year-old Corpus Christi resident plans to open Casa Blanca Brewing Co., a micro brewery, at 615 Hancock Avenue this fall. The 1,500-square-foot space will be able to seat up to 25 people. The structure, which is near Vernon's bar, used to be a dry cleaners but has sat vacant in recent years.

"It's kind of like when people barbecue -- they like the whole process, and they like to just get the fire going, season the meant, and present their product at the end of it. Same thing here -- I'd like to just do a whole brewing process and then present a beer at the end of it all when fermentation is done," he said.

The microbrewery will be named in honor of an old bar in San Diego, Texas, Ramirez's hometown. Casa Blanca Bar opened in the late 1800s or early 1900s and closed in the early 2000s, he said.

"It's about as old as our church in San Diego," Ramirez said.

Spanish and French influences will be the inspiration of the aesthetic of the microbrewery and overall style. The venue will have an open-concept atmosphere with the brewing equipment on display for patrons. And if someone wants to learn how to brew beer, Ramirez will teach them.

All of the beer served will be brewed at the location. Ramirez plans to start out with light beers -- American and Mexican lagers as well as German pilsners. Later, he plans to add other selections such as India Pale Ales.

Ramirez is spending $30,000 to $35,000 to renovate the space. The downtown tax increment reinvestment zone also is providing $7,700 for the project as a New Commercial Tenant Finish Out Grant.