ROUZERVILLE— “We want it to be relaxed, laid-back and come-as-you-are. You show up, enjoy it and leave it as it is for the next person to visit,” said Dane Murray, talking about the intended forest atmosphere in the new Michaux Brewing Co. he and his wife, Lauren, will open Thursday, July 7, at 11657 Buchanan Trail East in Rouzerville in the former Rolling Mill (check their social media for hours).
“We picked the name Michaux because it was meaningful for us. We spend a lot of time in Michaux Forest – we’ve done a lot of things with family and friends there – and our home is close to the forest,” he said.
Murray, who has been brewing beer for 13 years, said the idea to open the new venue “has been in the back of our minds for two to three years. We visited breweries or went on vacation just to visit breweries.”
The idea for Michaux was born when the family, including sons, Graeme, Tucker and Declan, were stuck in traffic on the way home from Myrtle Beach. “We said, ‘We’re done talking about it. Let’s just get the idea on paper and figure out how to open a brewery.’”
After 22 months of preparation for opening day, “I’m just excited to share my beer with a larger audience and be able to open a business that can respectfully serve the community and provide another spot for locals to hang out and provide employment opportunities for the community as well,” said Murray, a health and physical education teacher at Fairfield High School. Lauren is a physical therapist with WellSpan Health.
“To start, there will be 11 beers – four American ales, one German-style, four IPAs and two kettle sours – and one cider on tap. “We’ll have a constantly rotating draft list,” he added, “as well as dry white and red wine from Galen Glen Winery in Andreas and sweet red and white wine from Adams County Winery in Orrtanna.”
Michaux will feature cocktails sourcing bourbon from Mason Dixon Distillery in Gettysburg, and dark rum from Maggie’s Farm Rum Distillery in Pittsburgh. “We’ll also have a cocktail, Michauxlada, which is salt lime lager and tomato juice, basically a Bloody Mary,” Murray added. Sodas and beverages for children also will be available.
On the menu will be small plate appetizers, flatbread pizzas, sandwiches, and items for children, he said. The kitchen will be open until one hour before Michaux closes.
Murray also is confident the patio at Michaux will be open on July 7. “We have a lot of work to pull it off, but I think we can get it done.”
The most challenging part of the process has been “all the obstacles, including COVID restrictions, supply chain and staffing issues, and all the last-minute details like making sure all our legal bases were covered,” Murray said.
“And we’re most grateful to our entire families, close friends and new friends and different businesses that stepped up coming down the home stretch getting us to the opening and helping us meet our deadline.”
