Paw Paw’s new microbrew draws early crowd

Craft brew lovers have a new spot to try out. Paw Paw Brewing Co. celebrated its grand opening Jan. 22 and already its offering of beers has grown from four to five.

Gusmeister Amber Ale, named after co-owner Ryan Sylvester’s son Augustus, is the fifth beer offered on tap at the new microbrew. The beer that has the typical copper color of other amber ales, Sylvester says, is smooth with a lightly hoppy taste.

Paw Paw Brewing Co. opened offering St. James English Mild (5.1 ABV); Paw Paw Wheat (5.1 ABV); 2 Paws IPA (75 IBU, 5.5 ABV) and Black River Stout (5.8 ABV), an oatmeal stout.

The brewery, at 929 E. Michigan Ave. in Paw Paw, in what was once Red Arrow Coffee Co., has a four tables each with four seats, a stand up area, and a tasting area in its 1,550-square-foot space. It can accommodate 76 patrons.

It’s owned by brothers-in-law Ryan Sylvester and Ben Fleckenstein, and the building is owned by Sylvester.

The men have been experimenting with home brewing for nearly three years and decided, after encouragement from beer-drinking friends, to take it to the next level.

Fleckenstein says beer lovers from Allegan and Grand Rapids have been down to try their beer as word of their business has spread. They’re getting good reviews, too.

Early traffic has been good enough for them to hire a server to work weekends. Sylvester also has quit his job with Western Michigan University to focus on the microbrewery.

“We’re going to keep going,” Sylvester says. “About once a month we want to introduce a different beer.” They microbrew has eight taps to accommodate future beers. Three will probably change seasonally, Sylvester says.

The eight taps at the bar represent their goal. “We’re only five weeks old. We have to be a little bit patient,” Sylvester says.

Writer: Kathy Jennings
Source: Ryan Sylvester, Paw Paw Brewing Co.