South Bend Brew Werks Prepping to Open

As some of you may have heard, a little brewpub called South Bend Brew Werks is prepping to open in the State Theater building in about 5 weeks or so. A long time coming with permits and renovations and such hurdles to jump through, this has always been a part of the vision for the State.  The Brew Werks will bring Brew & View, specifically tailored beers brewed for special events, better food in close proximity and more energy to our end of S. Michigan while also contributing to building a stronger community.   Under Drew’s leadership and the hard work of his fearsome team the vision will soon be a reality and I (Mara) can’t help but share my enthusiasm for it with all of you. As we enter the last 5 days of their crowdfunding campaign, I highly encourage you to head over to indiegogo to check out their amazing video, contribute if you feel so moved and just try to resist the enthusiasm for it that will surely strike you as well.

The Brew Werks will be operating as a triple bottom line business focused not just on profit, but people and the planet as well. This means they’ll be getting as many locally sourced ingredients as possible for their menu of gourmet flatbread pizzas, grilled cheese and mac & cheese. It also means that everything will be done sustainably; from re-using spent grains to energy efficiency to incorporating elements from the old Beacon Bowl & Ward baking facility to many other initiatives too numerous to mention in this brief blog post. It doesn’t get much cooler than that and will make for a really neat vibe in the pub.

Note also the name- SOUTH BEND Brew Werks.  The name wasn’t chosen just because they happen to be located in the city of South Bend, but because of a fierce civic pride and genuine desire to live up to their motto. In addition to contributing to local nonprofits, they’ll be contributing to the revitalization of DTSB and the growing vibrancy of our city. Stealing from their recent press release;

“… the South Bend Brew Werks is more than just a brewpub, it is a community focused enterprise dedicated to doing its part to continue the renaissance happening in Downtown South Bend. Their motto is “Building a stronger community, one brew at a time.” By contributing $.50 of every pint sold to community building partners, including La Casa de Amistad, The Music Village and Neighborhood Resources Corporation, the Brew Werks is putting its money to good use in the communities where we work and play.”

I can’t express enough how proud I am of Drew (the Maestro), Joel (Master of the Brew), Greg (the Culinary Ninja) and all of those who have made this venture possible. Not only will this be awesome for South Bend, but it will be fun and delicious (especially if you try the Go Orange! sandwich I’m creating…) for you too when you visit, especially this summer when relaxing outside with a refreshing seasonal pint made on site. I’m soooo psyched for the Grand Opening and encourage you to like them on facebook for news and updates. I look forward to toasting a frothy mug of community-building brew with you soon!