Thumb Brewery

Brother and sister duo Lauren and Mark Formicola purchased Thumb Brewery in Caseville earlier this year with the dream of expanding its Michigan brewery charm with its craft beers produced on-site. (Courtesy Photo)

Thumb Brewery CASEVILLE, MI

THUMB BREWERY: TAKING HOPS TO A NEW LEVEL

Paige Withey | MiBrew Trail

When Lauren Formicola was looking for a business to purchase, she thought a new adventure would take her to Key West, but she found the perfect place in Key North — a Michigan brewery nestled in the resort town of Caseville. Partnering with her brother Mark Formicola, the pair formally took ownership of Thumb Brewery in July. “I was living in Seattle at the time, and my brother was participating in an Upper Thumb fall color tour in October 2019,” Formicola said. “He stopped at Thumb Brewery, saw the for-sale sign outside, and the rest is history.” After researching the town and tasting the beers created there, they knew Thumb Brewery was meant to be their next adventure. The pandemic didn’t slow the new owners down. After taking ownership of the brewery on July 1, they obtained their liquor license and were open to the public within 10 days. Thumb Brewery’s craft beers are brewed on-site in addition to 19 rotating guest taps. “It’s been a little hectic, as I’m sure the year has been for any business owner,” Formicola said. “We have been fortunate to have carried over some returning staff, including Thumb Brewery’s brew master Nick Bowlby.” “He is integral to our success at the brewery,” she said. “We are very fortunate he made the decision to stay with the business through the sale.” To offset the costs of the pandemic on the new business venture, Thumb Brewery was able to qualify for and obtain funds through a Michigan Restart Grant through the Flint and Genesee Small Business Grant Program. According to Formicola, funds from the grant were used to cover the brewery’s payroll, making it possible to pay the staff during the early stages of the pandemic. “Like so many other businesses, we have implemented a strong coronavirus policy including self-monitoring, cleaning, and providing hand sanitizer for all the tables,” Formicola said. “We are fortunate to have a large outdoor patio space that can accommodate socially distanced customers.” “All things considered, it was a good summer to acclimate to the community and business,” she added. Formicola hopes to expand the brewery in the future, with plans for a beer garden and possible distribution of the local brews. Since taking ownership of Thumb Brewery, Formicola has already expanded the menu to include staple brewery items like char-broiled burgers and wings. “With the addition of a full menu, we have 10 thumb beers on tap,” Formicola said. “Right now we have a pumpkin spice ale that is pretty popular.” When looking for a new business adventure, Formicola knew she wanted something iconic. She wanted to bring a business that was integral to a community back to life. “Thumb Brewery is one of those essential businesses in a resort town,” Formicola said. “There aren’t a lot of brewery’s locally, so to be able to continue its legacy meant a lot.” “It’s really gratifying to open a business and have people from the community show their appreciation for what you’re doing,” she added. “Everyone in the community has been so supportive, from the other businesses in Caseville to the Chamber of Commerce, they have just been wonderful.” Formicola looks forward to the future of Thumb Brewery, becoming more connected to the community and getting more involved. The brewery hosted a dog costume Halloween event and is set to host the first Fall Thumb Crawl, partnering with local distilleries, wineries, and coffee shops. Proceeds from both events benefit the Thumb Animal Shelter.

Thumb Brewery is open seasonally, with its last day this year scheduled for the night before Thanksgiving. The brewery will reopen in April of next year. “We want to keep things fresh, with a music schedule, food trucks, and activities like trivia for next summer,” Formicola said. “I’m also hoping to have more employee benefits next year.” “We are just so grateful for our employees, the community, and the City of Caseville,” she added. “We couldn’t ask for a better place to maintain legacy of Thumb Brewery.”