Planned Rockford Brewing craft beer pub hopes for first pour soon

With half of its brew house already in place and the fermenters arriving on August 7, Rockford Brewing Company hopes to produce its first beers for customers by late summer, says co-owner Seth Rivard.

Rivard, with partners Brien Dews and Head Brewer Jeff Sheehan, formerly of New Holland Brewing, says the two-story pub at 12 E. Bridge St., Rockford, will brew a number of Belgian-, English- and German-style ales, plus lagers and IPAs. The pub will also offer house-brewed sodas, sweet and dry ciders, red and white wines, plus deli food selections from Poindexter's Specialty Marketplace, which shares the building.

Rockford Brewing has a premium location along the White Pine Trail next to Reds on the River, across from the scenic Rockford Dam, the Rogue River and the popular Squires Street Square shopping district. Rivard says the main entrance opens to the White Pine Trail, and he expects the brewery to attract a lot of traffic from local craft beer aficionados and tourists, alike.

"The Rogue River and boutique shops are unique and draw people, and we think a craft brewery will be a draw for the town," Rivard says. "While we plan to sell most of the beer on-premises, we have a license for distributing beer and the primary first place is in Rockford. We want to be the flavor of Rockford."

Rivard says the seven-barrel brew system will produce 1,000 barrels (31-gals. per barrel) a year. The pub will have upper and lower levels, as well as outdoor seating along the trail, and will accommodate 150-200 people.

"The lower level will have an English pub, up north cabin feel, with a lot of white pine," Rivard says. "The upstairs is like a Bavarian beer hall. We'll have 12 taps on the main floor and six taps on the upper floor. We have a large window between the pub and the brew house so customers can see into the brew house, and passersby will be able to look into the brew house from outside."

To follow the brewery's progress on Facebook, click here.

Source: Seth Rivard, Rockford Brewing Company
Writer: Deborah Johnson Wood, Development News Editor