The owners of Fishweir Brewing Co. want to be part of the Murray Hill revitalization – and bring a distinctive taste to the area’s craft beer scene.
Broc Flores and his wife, Stacey, intend to renovate the former Fat Kat nightclub at 1183 Edgewood Ave. S. into the area’s first predominantly sour brewery.
The 5,975-square-foot building was built in 1942. It’s next to B Street Eats and Maple Street Biscuit Co.
Before the couple can proceed, they need the property rezoned from Commercial Community General-1 to Planned Unit Development.
The building owner has begun some removal of interior debris. There is no timetable for construction.
Broc Flores said he has been an avid home brewer for more than 10 years and his wife managed a distillery and tasting room in South Carolina for three years.
Sour beers traditionally have come from Belgium. They have a tart, acidic, sour taste made by adding wild yeast or specific bacteria into the mixture.
Flores said while most ales take three to four weeks to brew, sour beer takes months. He plans to age his products in oak barrels for six to eight months — and sometimes up to a year.
“No other brewery in Jacksonville comes even close” to offering that much sour beer, Flores said by email.
Flores said the sour beer sector is the fastest growing segment of the craft beer market.
Fishweir also plans to brew traditional “clean” beer. Their goal is to have the sour beer ready for the brewery’s first anniversary.
The couple chose Murray Hill because they consider it an “up-and-coming area” they want to help develop.
Flores said Murray Hill will “benefit from the brewery and the brewery would benefit from the community.”
Flores said he discussed the plans with some members of the Murray Hill Preservation Association and local business owners and has been encouraged in the efforts.
Association president Jason Tetlak said in an email that ”MHPA is excited to see new business filling vacant spaces in Murray Hill and we think this new brewery will help solidify the first block.”
That block is near the railroad tracks from Moon River Pizza to Magnolia’s Pub.
The application for rezoning has been submitted and has been deemed sufficient.
The next step involves the Office of General Counsel writing legislation and assigning an ordinance number.
It then will move to City Council for an introductory hearing, followed by separate hearings at the Planning Commision, City Council, Land Use and Zoning Committee and back to Council for the final vote.
