Expectant Brewers Whet Our Appetite
Posted by GCD on Nov 15, 2016
Buffalo Creek Brewing locates in former Studio of Long Grove.
We get the lowdown from the Owner/ Brewmaster.
Mike Marr, who lives in Vernon Hills, is about to realize his dream of establishing a craft brewery, and it's right in our back yard. Mike spoke to us at our weekly Tuesday meeting on November 15.
Mike Marr, Bill Ferreira, and Josh Czarnik at Joanie's Pizza on Tuesday.
Having built and sold two successful IT companies, Mike and several friend/investors have purchased the former Studio of Long Grove at the back of the parking lot behind the Seasons of Long Grove, former Hobson House and just near the Chatter Box and other familiar downtown sites on Robert Parker Coffin Road. That facility is familiar to many of us long term Rotarians here as we often met there for installations or as guests for art openings. It's easy for us to lick our chops in anticipation of good beer to savor what we remember as an elegant facility for displaying and selling artwork.
There are now plans to repurpose that building as a brewery and tasting area. The facility is intended to offer open tours and eventually an area behind the building for a beer garden. Mike already has lots of experience in brewing German and Belgian style beers, having developed about 40 of his own recipes.
Mike was accompanied by the manager-in-waiting, his friend, of some years, Josh Czarnik from Buffalo Grove, who gave an impressive outline of the business plan and aspirations of Buffalo Creek Brewing.
Due to the need for licenses, cleanup and remodeling of the facility after an 11 year vacancy and a delay in acquiring the necessary equipment, it will likely be mid-2017 before the suds flow. We can't wait.