The following article, written by Dan Mika, appeared March 16, 2018 in The Ames Tribune.
Read excerpt below and the full article on the Tribune’s website.
A pair of homebrewing Ankeny residents are in the early stages of opening a brewpub on Huxley’s Main Avenue sometime in 2019.
Fenceline Beer Lab, located at 107 S. Main Ave., will occupy the space formerly filled by Blumster’s, a combination florist, cafe and furniture store in the city’s downtown. Co-owner Susan Frantz said she expects to keep elements of the brick walls inside the building left over from the original structure.
The building itself was first built in 1913, and underwent several additions, according to local property records.
The interior is being revamped to have new waiting spaces, a game room, space for 50-seat dining areas and a 10-seat bar, along with a standing bar in the lobby.
True to its name, Frantz said the beer will have experimental twists on popular craft beer formulas using different ingredients and techniques, including using various locally-sourced vegetables in the brew process.
The food will be “elevated” versions of traditional pub food like soups and sandwiches in a small-plate form, Frantz said. She also expects to have a large slate of vegetarian options on the menu as well.
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“It’s a place to be,” she said. “It’s a place for the community to get together. The beer culture these days, especially in Iowa, is just fantastic, and people get together over a beer. It builds relationships.”
Fenceline Beer Lab’s expected opening date, as of publication, is to be somewhere between May and November of 2019, depending on when they are approved for a federal alcohol production license.