Benson Brewery is getting closer to opening

Today the guys at Benson Brewery posted some photos of their progress on their building and they sent us an email too.  I took the opportunity to ask Ryan some questions about the brewery now that they are closer to opening.  I didn't get in depth too much but basically just asked him about what he sees his beer line up looking like and what are they going to be known for or reason to visit with regards to beer.

We aren't hard hitting journalists and I thought I could ask some follow up questions but that adds to the mystery and I will ask them later.  ;-)

They aren't going to obviously open with a full portfolio, as that will take some time, but eventually they look to have about 12-15 beers on tap with one being a rotating homebrew tap and 4-7 guests taps and could expand depending on their space.  This is great news and love the idea of the rotating homebrewer tap and shows their tie to the homebrewing community.

They plan on have a stable of 8 base beers that probably won't change and the remaining taps with be a little more progressive, experimental or even seasonal but definitely ones that will be on the edge.  He talked about a mild ale that they have made and served recently called Karha-T.  It is a Mild blended with ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, star anise, fennel, peppercorn, cloves, almonds, cumin, coriander and rose petals.  That looks like a good indication of what they want to do on the rotating taps.

Ryan also said that they want the beers to also reflect their home, Nebraska, and their experiences growing up here.  I think this is very cool and I bet they will have some great tie ins with the gastropub side of things with food and beer.  An example of a beer along these lines is a Quad they are brewing this weekend called Marie after his Great Grandmother.  It will be fermented with the same berries they picked on her farm in northeastern Nebraska.  Here is a quote from Ryan on the beer.

As kids we would pick the berries and my mom, great grandmother, aunts and cousins would make jam with the fruit –  it’s a good memory for me as a kid and I hope I can express those positive experiences through this beer. I feel pretty good about how this beer will turnout. 

I think this sounds like another great Nebraska brewery in the making and we can't wait for them to open.  Thanks again Ryan.