Publisher’s Perspective

By Tim Douglass, Publisher of the Pope County Tribune

We had a story last week about the Old Fire Hall Brewing Co. that will open in Starbuck at the end of this month.

Just after the story broke on Monday, the local Rotary Club visited the businesses for a noon meeting on Tuesday and it was an enlightening visit.  It became apparent quickly that the four owners who are starting this business are using their expertice and experience to make it a successful venture.  Brew Master Jan Payne, also one of the owners, is incredibly knowledgeable about beer, brewing beer and the history of beer.   He was a pleasure to listen to as he walked us through the brewing process and the equipment he uses at the Old Fire Hall Brewing Co.

The location of the business is in the old Starbuck Fire Hall along Highway 29.  The theme of the firehall is carried out throughout the building. The bathrooms have (fire) axes on the doors designed by Mitch Gosseling from Northern Print Company. The tap beer lines appear to be coming out of the back of a firetruck. The numbering of the lines is in the appropriate firefighter font. And when ordering a beer flight, a person will find the flight trays shaped like a firetruck. The fire hall theme is in every detail.

Besides beer, the brewing company will also feature home brewed root beer and will be adding a seltzer in the future.  Visitors can also purchase “swag,” including hats, sweatshirts and T-shirts with the Old Firehall Brewing Co. logo. And supporters can purchase a brick with your name engraved on it.  Those bricks will fill the wall in the tap room. There are already quite a few on that wall.

For the sake of accuracy and transparency, the newspaper did incorrectly identify one of the owners in the caption under the photo that accompanied the news story last week about Old Firehall Brewing Co.  Below is the  photo of the owners and their correct names.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Starbuck’s Old Firehall Brewing Company owners are (from left) Byron Payne, Jan Payne, Dean Jelen and Jerry Kerkvliet. A grand opening for the business is beling planned for Memorial Day weekend, but the owners hope to open for business by the end of this month.