MOORHEAD - Another brewery is in the fermentation stages in downtown Moorhead.
Sean Syverson and John Kapla plan to open Swing Barrel Brewing Co. in the Wright Building now being renovated at 814 Center Ave.
You might have seen T-shirts advertising the nascent brewhouse worn by runners during the Fargo Marathon weekend, but Syverson said it will be a few months before the first hops-graced goodness comes pouring forth, if only because the building still needs considerable work before its fully usable.
“You know it’s going to be a little while yet. They’re still working on the inside,” Syverson said Friday, May 24. “We just got our tanks delivered. They’re having to sit inside an airplane hanger. We’re trying for August, September. That’s kind of the plan at this point.”
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Syverson said he began brewing beer while he was working as a teacher in Seoul, South Korea.
“The local beer in Korea wasn’t my favorite,” Syverson said.
His college buddy, Kapla, was also brewing his own.
“We both started throwing the idea around. It’s been growing ever since. Now it’s coming to fruition,” Syverson said. “We’re getting close to the finish line. We’re not quite there yet.”
Syverson said he’s not worried about the local beer market getting too saturated.
“I don’t think there’s enough, to be honest for you. I think everyone brings something different to the table, which is something nice,” he said.
He says other brewers have been “super helpful.”
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“Open arms, for the most part. For the most part, everyone wants to make great beer and enjoy the atmosphere,” Syverson said.
Swing Barrel will get about 4,800 square feet in its building. The upstairs will be the taproom and the basement will hold the brewhouse and storage, he said.
Syverson said he and Kapla enjoy different styles of beer, but won’t be constantly experimenting with their recipes.
“Mostly, for us, we’re not trying to reinvent the wheel,” Syverson said. “If you’re looking for a good solid beer, you’ll enjoy what we make.”
