E-Malt.com News article: USA, PA: Desperate Times brewery could be open by summer in Carlisle

Desperate Times Brewery could be open by this summer in Carlisle, PA, according to a recent posting on its Facebook page.

The borough zoning hearing board in November granted a special exception application to the 7,800-square-foot microbrewery and tasting room planned for a building Carlisle Events has used in recent years for special displays during its car shows.

Documents on file with the borough detail a project that will include a 4,800-square-foot craft beer production and distribution operation in the back, while the front third of the building will be open to the public as a 3,000-square-foot tasting room with a limited food menu and seating for 30.

A microbrewery is not permitted by right use anywhere in the borough, so a special exception was needed to show that Desperate Times Brewery would be compatible with the intent of the C-3 General Commercial zoning district. A public hearing on the application was held on Oct. 1.

Tom Richey of Carlisle Events testified the tasting room is similar to such permitted C-3 uses as general retail, restaurants and beverage distributors. Matthew J. Dunn, who owns 80 percent of the brewery, also testified in support of the application.

A license to operate a microbrewery with a tasting room has been obtained from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, Dunn said. The hours of operation will be Wednesday and Thursday 4 to 9 p.m.; Friday, 4 to 10 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Sunday, noon to 7 p.m.

The entire operation of the brewery will be conducted within the walls of the building with only noise coming from the grain mill to be located in an internal room. Steam will exit the building through the roof but will not give off any odor.

Desperate Times Brewery is a party in a lease agreement with Carlisle Events, which has owned the building since 2003. The five-year lease was contingent on the approval of the application for a special exception.

“It’s a convenience to our customers as yet another dining and social option during show season and outside of the season too,” Michael Garland, Carlisle Events spokesman, said of the brewery.

While the close proximity of the brewery to the car shows may offer opportunities to cross promote, nothing has been finalized or discussed at this point, Garland said. He added it is ultimately up to the tenant to decide when to open the brewery.

At the time of the hearing Dunn said the goal is to open the brewery in May or June. A Feb. 21 posting on Facebook states that the brewery is “coming this summer 2016.” A photograph that same day shows the delivery of equipment used in the brewing process.

Dunn testified in October that he had obtained a license from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board to operate a microbrewery with a tasting room. LCB spokesman Shawn Kelly confirmed that Desperate Times has both a brewery license and a brewery pub license.

Prior approval was granted last July 28 for both licenses which are listed in “safekeeping” status pending the completion of the work to make the building ready for use as a brewery, Kelly said. He added once the state agency receives notification that the work is done, a final inspection will be conducted to determine if each license can be issued clearing the way for Desperate Times Brewery to manufacture and sell beer.

The prior approval process involved an LCB agent visiting the brewery to verify information on the license application, Kelly said. That visit included measuring out the distance between the brewery and such nearby properties as schools, churches and community service organizations to make sure the proper separation is met.

The report back from that initial inspection found that the Hamilton Elementary School was not within the 200-foot distance to restrict a brewery and its operations, Kelly said.

There was no opposition at the October hearing to the special exception application. The zoning board attached no conditions to its approval of the request.



26 February, 2016