CULLMAN – On Friday night, Cullman’s hometown craft beer company, Goat Island Brewing, held its grand opening and ribbon cutting.
With Cullman Mayor Max A. Townson , members of the Cullman City Council, Sen. Paul Bussman, R-Cullman, members of the Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce and many more in attendance, Goat Island announced its official opening with a celebration.
“It may seem odd that we would open a brewery with a prayer,” John Richter, pastor of St. John’s Church, said to the crowd gathered in Goat Island Brewing’s tasting room, “but I would remind you that Jesus’ first miracle was at a party, a celebration.”
Mike Mullaney, the brewery’s CEO, addressed the crowd as well.
“This is a special day for Goat Island, and we’re glad to see you here,” he said. “We had a dream to create a local brewery in Cullman, and to put Cullman on the craft bear map. Today we celebrate the birth of that dream.”
Jim ‘N Nick’s Barbeque was available at the event, as well as Earth and Stone Pizza, along with foods provided by Designs by Grace opposite the bar. Drinks were served on-the-house to give those 21-and-older the opportunity to try one of the craft beers.
Cullman’s own classic rock band, Round 2, was the live-music at the grand opening.
Townson spoke to the crowd about the uniqueness of the newest business that has sprouted up in Cullman in the past five years.
“We were accused in 2010 of dragging our feet with an ordinance,” Townson said about the work the city council did to make ‘going-wet’ a safe and profitable change for the community. “We’ve had towns call us and ask us for a copy of our ordinance. We’re very proud of (Goat Island Brewing), and I’m going to send you customers.”
“This is very unique,” Dale Greer, assistant director of the Cullman Economic Development Agency said. “We were only one of two or three counties that was able to brew craft beer because of the German heritage and it had been here before us. Normally when a city or county becomes wet, they have to have a separate election and ordinance. But we were just included along with the one ordinance. (Goat Island Brewing) is really special. I’m really excited about this.”
Mullaney said this is a culmination of about two years of hard work, and this grand opening should get the word out more about the brewery.
“I am surprised that there are still people I see that don’t know we’re here, even though we’ve been all over social media,” he said.
The tasting room – in which the grand opening on Friday night was held – will be open from 5-10 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, and 2-10 p.m. on Saturdays. The room was built in view of the brewing equipment and the bar in the room has five of the brewery’s beers on tap.
“We’re dog-friendly. We’re baby-friendly – all ages,” Mullaney said. “Of course, only 21-and-over can drink.”
Along with Mullaney, Goat Island’s three other partners are Gery Teichmiller, John Dean and Brad Glenn.
Find out more about Goat Island Brewing at http://www.goatislandbrewing.com/.
Visit them at 1646-A John H Cooper Dr. in Cullman.
