Over the summer, Grencastle’s brewing and beer scene welcomed two new establishments with the opening of Wasser Brewing Company and Tap House 24.
A block off the square, on the corner of E. Franklin and Vine St., sits Wasser Brewing Company which has been selling growlers for two months, and just recently started serving food. Owned by teacher-turned-commercial-brewer, Chris Week, Wasser (pronounced VAH-sehr) Brewing is named after the German word for “water.”
Before switching careers, Weeks was a teacher at a Navajo Reservation, in Los Angeles, and at the Department of Corrections. In the fall of 2012, he interned at Schlafly, a brewery in St. Louis to decide if we wanted to make the step of up from hobbyist to commercial brewer. “During my time at Schlafly, I realized that I liked talking about esoteric Belgian yeast with people, and I should make brewing into a career,” said Weeks.
Although no longer a teacher, he still has found a way to give back to the education community. Through the “2% for Teachers” program, Wasser Brewing will give 2 percent of its profits to underfunded education programs. After each fiscal year, teachers can apply for a Wasser Brewing grant, and Weeks will decide which specific programs will receive grants.
“I still feel like I’m doing something to help people be happy. Instead of doing this directly through education, I can make someone happy when they end their day with a pint,” said Weeks.
The brewery currently has two lines of beer: beer brewed true to style, and artistic innovations of traditional beers. Their current offerings include the likes of Hefeweizen German Wheat and English Pale Ales and they also have three other beers in development. In addition to traditional offerings, Wasser offers its own specialty recipes such as “Super 8," whose name is a nod to the old Packard car dealership used to occupy Wasser Brewing’s current space.
To compliment their beer, Wasser will serve food to patrons. The menu is inspired by creative interpretations of food commonly served with beer, such as a hand-selected charcuterie board and fried falafel with roasted red pepper hummus.
Wasser Brewing is still in the soft open phase with a full opening expected in a month. Current hours are Friday from 4:00 p.m.-midnight, Saturday from 11:00 a.m to midnight, and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
At the opposite end of the square located at 24 S. Indiana St. near Starbucks sits Tap House 24, a restaurant-bar opening this Saturday. According to Banner Graphic, the restaurant-bar is owned by Dora Hotel Co., the same company working with the Inn at DePauw, and is the company’s first stand-alone restaurant.
As the name indicates, Tap House 24 will have 24 beers on tap, with an emphasis on local microbrews. The draft beers to be served currently include Three Floyd’s “Alpha King”, Bell’s “Amber Ale”, and Victory Brewing Company’s “Golden Monkey.”
Along with beers on tap, Tap House 24 also has bottled and canned craft beers like Sun King’s “Sunlight” and “Osiris,” and Taxman’s “Tax Mango” and “B-Keeper.” Although Taphouse 24 serves local beer, it does not brew it’s own beer.
The bar-restaurant also offers American-style eats with a nod to New Orleans cuisine. Items include “n’awlins” roast corn beignets with cilantro pesto and chicken & andouille jambalaya.
Beyond beer and burgers, Taphouse 24 will have live music on Friday and Saturday nights.
Taphouse 24 is open 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. on Sunday through Wednesday and 11:00 a.m. - 11:45 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.