TIFFIN, Ohio — A brewery years in the making is finally ready to open and serve up some pours in Tiffin.
Three hobby brewers, Zack Allen and Rick and Bryan Sutter started brewing together years ago. Their combined efforts started to get some big compliments from friends and peers.
"Friends would come over and they'd say, 'You have great beer,'" Allen said. "Brewers from around the area would come over and have some beers with us and they said 'You've got great beer, you should open up a place.'"
So, they planned on opening a taproom in mid-2021. They moved into a vacant building in downtown Tiffin and used the previous occupant as inspiration for the name: Hoptometry Brewing Co.
"It said Optometry on the door and we bought a sticker and put an 'H' in front of it," Allen said. "Then we spent the next two and a half weeks with about 300 different names and decided on the very first one we chose."
But after financing fell through at that location, the three owners eventually purchased the former McGowan's Tavern at 255 N. Washington St. on auction.
Now after some renovations, they are ready to officially open their doors to customers.
The brewery is currently running small batches in a half-barrel system with six fermenters, offering its own brews and other local breweries on tap along with local wine, canned beers and a full kitchen.
"We will have a different beer every week. Our batches are small and they're going to go quick," said Rick Sutter. "We like to try everything, every style of beer."
All three of them bring their unique knowledge as brewers to the table.
"We are all three brewers, so all three of us have our own way of brewing and beers that we like from sours to ales to lagers, even some specialty beers with cereal and a lot of fruit," Allen said.
Hoptometry has been in a bit of a soft opening since December but is now ready to go full pour. It will be open Mondays through Saturdays at varying evening hours.