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All Roads Lead to Alpena
New home of Dog & Pony Brewing
Barley
8 | www.MiBrewTrail.com Brothers putting on a show
OAK PARK TO WELCOME DOG & PONY BREWING IN 2021
Kevin McKinney MiBrew Trail
What goes into opening a brewery? Outside of money, other big factors are time, patience and planning. In the case of the Gierada brothers Kyle, Aaron, and Josh, it has been 10 years in the making. From the inception of their idea to deciding on the location then building out the brewery. It has covered the better part of a decade. Entrepreneurship has been a common thread in the Gierada family for many years. Following in their grandfathers and great grandfathers’ footsteps. Owning their own business is in the genes. In 2018, the plans were put into motion and the ball started rolling. Kyle had recently left a career at Quicken Loans. Now having more flexibility on a day-to-day basis to put forth more effort on the brewery. The first question, where? Detroit, that was an option. Having worked downtown Kyle had been witness to the city’s rebound and wanted to be part of it. Plymouth, they took a peek there too. Being from that area originally, it felt like a good option. After going through the list of possible locations, they ended up choosing an older industrial building on Eleven Mile Road in Oak Park. Not quite the east or west side of town. They felt it’s centrally located near both Woodward and 696. With surrounding cities like Berkley, Royal Oak, and Ferndale that would supply plenty of traffic. Plus, Oak Park doesn’t have a brewery yet. Why not be the first! Kyle explained that since deciding on this building, “the city officials have been awesome to work with every step of the way.” From the beginning, they were promoting this particular location as one they’d love to see a brewery in. Oak Park Michigan, once described as “worthless, not fit for habitation.” For over 60 years, Oak Park was the largest dry community in Michigan. Today that couldn’t be further from the truth. In 2013, they voted to allow beer and wine to start pouring. And in 2015, the city once again voted allowing spirits and cocktail sales in the city. Since then, businesses have been popping up all around town. Fast forward to 2021, Oak Park is preparing to welcome its first craft brewery. Dog and Pony Show Brewing will be opening in the repurposed Randolph Tool Building, at 14661 West 11 Mile Road. Once the old lettering from the tool and die comes off the front of the building, they plan on displaying them somewhere inside the brewery. Paying homage to the past. Like many breweries in the state, taking something old and making it new again. The three brothers teamed up to turn this 7,000-square-foot building into the city’s first craft beer producers. It didn’t take long for them to realize that this is a unique location. While they’re adding some needed new elements to the building, the goal
was to keep as much of the industrial feel as possible. Eleven Mile and the surrounding area is quickly becoming a hop spot for startups. Restaurants, coffee shops, and now a brewery. What’s in a name? I asked where the name for the brewery came from. As they chuckled, Kyle said “we were looking for something nostalgic, thinking of their dad specifically.” The brothers explained it’s something their father would occasionally utter while growing up. With three wild and rambunctious boys running around the house, it tended to be a Dog and Pony Show. Josh will be the mastermind behind the scene. Concocting all the goodies that brings us through the doors. His background in brewing comes from time spent at Schramm’s Mead and Northville Winery & Brewery. He has plans for beer styles that will cover a broad spectrum. From sessionable lower ABV beer like Kolsches, Lagers, and Pilsners. Expanding into more hoppy beers like Pale Ales, and IPAs. With a ton of barrel aging in the future. There will also be other beverage options on the menu including ciders and potentially meads, with 12 taps to keep the beer flowing. Over the years the brothers' taste and passion for local craft beer comes from breweries like Kuhnhenn, HOMES, Founders, Short’s and Dark Horse. Dog and Pony Show won’t have a kitchen, but the brewery is very food friendly. The guys will be MI Brew Trail | Spring 2021
tremendous advocates for local eateries like Ernie’s Market, Republica, and just a few doors down, their new neighbors Oak Park Social. Eventually having the occasional food truck out back. You can pick up your favorite pizza on the way in or grab your homemade casserole from the night before. At full capacity including the front patio, Dog and Pony Show will be able to seat over 200 patrons. Feel free to bring your pup for a seat outside. They’re also planning on designating a couple days each week for Fido to join you indoors. There are still on-going conversations as to when Ponies will be allowed in. Detroit’s Pewabic Pottery made 100 commemorative tiles for the brewery. They were thinking of ways that you could be part of the brewery without copying the mug club concept. The tiles are for sale, each will be personalized with your name. You’ll see them hanging on the brewery wall as part of the décor and your membership to Dog and Pony Show Brewing. There’s definitely a “support local business” theme going on. Before the brewery Aaron ran a Westland skateboard shop. Familiar with his work, he recruited a local artist from Clarkston “2nd Chance Skateboard Art” to create very unique, one of a kind table tops and tap handles. Dog and Pony Show Brewing is in the process of putting the finishing touches on the brewery. Getting closer and closer to the point of liquid going into tanks. Inspections are scheduled to happen shortly with their eye on a Spring or early Summer Grand Opening! They’ll be another great addition to the already incredible Michigan and Oakland County craft beer scene.
CASEVILLE, MI 989.550.7083
