How to get a sneak peek of new Hunter-Gatherer brewery before it opens
Kevin Varner’s dream of opening a large-scale brewery in Columbia has finally become a reality.
The owner of the Hunter-Gatherer microbrewery and pub has been working for months on plans to convert the abandoned historic Curtiss-Wright Hanger at Owens Field into a tap room, event space and open-to-the-public brewery.
Before the official opening – expected sometime in the next couple of months – Historic Columbia is conducting a behind-the-scenes tour to give guests a sneak peek inside the renovated 13,000-square-foot hangar that dates to 1929.
VIDEO: Renovations at the historic hangar
Go Columbia spoke with Varner prior to the tour and got a little sneak peek of our own.
Q: When did you begin to consider the hanger had potential to be your brewery?
A: I went to Europe a couple of years ago to tour some of the oldest and most traditional breweries in the world. There are breweries in England and Belgium that are still powered by steam engines. I would love to work in that kind of setting. My best option in Columbia is to open a brewery in a historic building that is suitable for reuse as a brewery and figure out how to create an authentic brewery setting.
Q: Was it difficult to convince the city of your plans?
A: The people that work for the city of Columbia right now are great and have provided help every time that I needed it.
Q: How have you incorporated the historic elements and renovations of the building into the brewery’s design?
A: The owners of the building have done a great job restoring the building.
Q: Was it difficult to collaborate on design and aesthetic?
A: We are doing as little as possible to change the aesthetic of the building.
Q: What’s one thing people will be most surprised to see during the tour?
A: I think people will like to see how little has changed, and the building is well-suited for our operation.
Q: Have you thought of the name of the first beer you’re going to brew here?
A: For over 20 years, we have been making English-style ales based on traditional processes and ingredients. I want to make sure we get that right first. Then we are going to work on figuring out what else we can do well.
Q: When is the grand opening?
A: Hopefully, we can open in September.
If you go
Historic Columbia’s behind-the-scenes tour of the Curtiss-Wright Hangar and The Hangar Lofts
WHEN: 6-8 p.m. Thursday, July 27
WHERE: Curtiss-Wright Hangar and The Hangar Lofts, 1400 Jim Hamilton Blvd.
COST: $25, Historic Columbia members; $30, nonmembers. Limited tickets available.
INFO: www.historiccolumbia.org
This story was originally published July 19, 2017 at 9:47 AM.