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Islandview’s forthcoming beermaker Brewery Faisan has started construction on its brewhouse and taproom. Co-owner Rachel Szlaga tells Eater that the project that she and Paul Szlaga have been developing for the past several years is finally underway and on track to open by late spring or early summer 2019.
The Belgian-influenced brewery will be located in a 9,000-square-foot combined warehouse and annex at 1087 Beaufait St. The brewery is expected to occupy the front portion of the building at first with 4,000-square-feet of production space and a 2,000-square-foot taproom seating around 100 people. The Szlagas plan to eventually grow production into the annex. The beer recipes are still under discussion, but Rachel says Brewery Faisan will start by serving a mixture of 8 to 10 Belgian-style beers including some lighter beers with the possibility of growing to 16 beers.
Brewery Faisan began its permitting process last year and finally received its permits in October after several meetings with the city. “We basically were able to start as soon as we got our weather card from the city and the first thing up was the roof,” she says. The brewery’s state licensing — often one of the biggest holdups for this type of project — is currently in escrow. Currently roofers are putting the finishing touches on the building, while the Szlagas work on acquiring equipment. The pair plan to acquire a 15-barrel brewing system from Liberty Street Brewing, which is in the process of scaling down its Livonia-based production facility to focus on its taphouse.
The brewery is primarily being funded by a bank loan, but a low appraisal on the property came close to delaying the project, Rachel says. Fortunately, the pair were able to secure an additional $60,000 in funding through Motor City Match in April — a number that was exactly the amount they needed to make the brewery work. “It’s crazy how exact everything worked out,” she says. “We’ve been lucky a few times.”
If all goes according to plan, Brewery Faisan may begin brewing its first batches of beer in March. Stay tuned for more updates as the project moves along.
• A Belgian-Style Brewery Is Coming to Islandview [ED]
• Brewery Faisan and More Restaurants and Bars Score Motor City Match Grants [ED]
• All Beer Coverage [ED]
• All Eater Tracking Coverage [ED]
