2020 Top Stories Collection

Brewery Opens

A historic moment in Polk County sold for $1,000 Friday, Oct. 30 at Ouachita Brewery, the newest addition to the growing brand of The Ouachitas, which has a product line including coffees, pastries, pizzas, and now beer and wine.

Ouachitas owner Derek Campbell said the first beer legally brewed and sold in the county was a momentous occasion, one for which the community showed a vast amount of support.

“A huge first step was to approach the city council for approval,” Campbell said.

At that meeting, a tied vote among council members was broken by Mena Mayor Seth Smith, which resulted in the approval Campbell needed to pursue state licensing.

“The room at that meeting burst out in applause at the tie break, and that was such a great expression of a desire from the community for what we are doing.”