Tucson's fledgling Sentinel Peak Brewing Co. snagged a gold medal for its Monsoon Ale at Nashville's Music City Brew Off early this month.
But it could be months before brewer Jeremy Hildebrand can give his hometown of Tucson a taste of the winning recipe.
Hildebrand and his Sentinel Peak partner, Matt Gordon, have withdrawn their liquor license application for a nanobrewry at the former Farmer John's meatpacking plant. It could be weeks or months before they refile for a license at a new location.
The bump in the road came after months of working with city of Tucson officials over the pair's plan to brew beer in one of the buildings at the former Farmer John's site at 1102 W. Grant Road, near Interstate 10. The plant is now home to the seasonal Slaughter House Halloween-themed haunted attraction that operates during October. The facility also has been used for concerts throughout the year.
City officials wanted Hildebrand and Gordon, who are full-time firefighters with Golder Ranch, to make $60,000 worth of improvements to bring the facility up to code.
"The city really wanted a lot of work done … so that we could start brewing there. We just don't have that," Hildebrand said.
Hildebrand said the two have withdrawn their liquor license request and will refile once they have settled on a new facility. They are leaning toward opening in a retail/restaurant space on East Grant Road at Swan Road that once housed a Philly's Finest sandwich shop.
Hildebrand said the new spot would allow the pair to brew beer and sell it in growlers to go and by the glass in a taproom.
"It kind of puts us where we imagined ourselves in five years and puts us there now," said Hildebrand, who already has invested nearly a year into opening the brewery. "It will probably work out for us for the better in the long run."
Meanwhile, although they can't sell their creations, Sentinel Peak has been brewing Hildebrand's recipes, including recent batches of a pumpkin ale and Sonoran Amber. They plan to brew up a Belgian Witbier and a classic Hefeweizen, which Hildebrand describes on Facebook as having "no fruity adjuncts."
Hildebrand hopes to be in Sentinel Peak's new home and open for business by the middle of next year.
Cathalena E. Burch
