This article is part of an ongoing series highlighting the people and places that make the beer scene in North Alabama so special.
“Promoting brotherhood, not the brands.”
“Competition makes everyone better”
“Be a leader in collaboration for our craft.”
These are all part of the mantra and mindset of Straight to Ale owner Dan Perry as he and others from Straight to Ale, Good People Brewing Company, Salty Nut Brewery, Druid City, and Avondale Brewing finalize work on the newest Huntsville beer destination, The Brewers Cooperative.
“We could go all in and build competing breweries to try to own the market, or we could go in together,” Perry said, explaining the thought process behind the newest beer concept set to open soon at Stovehouse in Huntsville and at City Harbor in Guntersville.
The goal is to create spaces that are unique and focus on the beer and the community behind the craft, rather than a specific owning brewery or lead. “The Co-Op is going to feature the people…the people crafting the beer,” Perry said.
With two locations planned now, and hopes to expand to more, each Co-Op location is going to be unique and design-appropriate to the locations, with touches of modern elements to give the spaces a fresh look. Each location will also feature a unique menu, crafted by chefs Simeon Hill (of Straight to Ale’s Ale’s Kitchen origin) driving the food for the Stovehouse location, and Rochelle Vargas (of Bama Bucks and Rock House Eatery) bringing flavor to the waterside location at Guntersville. The scratch kitchens are going to focus on providing good food to pair well with the beers, wines, and spirits being offered, while being mindful of the location. For example, the Guntersville location may provide more seafood given its location on Lake Guntersville, whereas the Stovehouse location will look to provide unique food not currently being offered by other food spots around the site.
“We really want it to complement the area,” Ryan Colvin, manager of both locations, stated, “and what was missing was a large, full table-service place for people to come.”
This is why the Stovehouse location was designed with such a large kitchen, to not only pump food out to the 10,000 square foot facility, but also to provide catering and lunch options for the businesses and meeting halls in the massive Stovehouse complex. The Stovehouse location also features the “unofficial longest bar in Alabama”.
The Guntersville location is half the size at 5,000 square feet, but also features a kitchen designed to deliver great made-from-scratch food. Both sites will feature heated patios providing great views and places to hangout.
While the food is sure to create a draw, the big star here will be the beer. Both sites will feature numerous taps with beers from not only the breweries behind the Cooperative, but other local/regional breweries. Tap takeovers featuring many different beers by guest breweries, rotational taps with unique and small batch beers, and a regular variety of craft beer is sure to provide something for everyone while also staying true to the Brewers Cooperative mindset that sharing the craft is important to its success.
“We aren’t looking for individual recognition for accomplishments,” says Perry, “we are building a unique sustainable partnership of like-minded craft artisans coming together for the promotion of craft beer, wine, spirits, and food.”
Each site will have the capacity to brew on site, which opens the doors to collaborations with other Alabama-based breweries, experimental beers designed for that location, as well as beer tasting events and creating opportunities to bring in the homebrewing community.
Perry simply stated,“We want people to feel a part of it.”
Everything from the placement of the brewing equipment directly into the common space, to the variety of beers to be featured, and down to the educational events planned all point back to the original concept behind The Brewers Cooperative, and that is to engage the local community. Their thought is that if people understand what goes into the process and the craftsmanship behind their favorite beverage, it will inspire more people to be involved and aware of the beer culture that is booming in Alabama and the US.
In addition to all of the great food and drinks to be had, the cooperative will also feature memberships at different tiers that will allow members to get exclusive discounts, attend special events, and even the opportunity to join in brewing with the Cooperative brewmasters.
Two years in the making, the first two locations have faced some delays due to COVID-19, construction material shortages, and sorting out food prices, but the time has allowed them to really focus on successful execution of the site.
“It is such a cool concept, we wanted to do it right,” Colvin said.
The team is already looking to the future though.
“We are already looking for the next landmark to bring the vision to,” Perry said.
The Brewers Cooperative is currently slated to open early 2022. Find out more at thebrewerscooperative.com
