Editor’s Note: Holy Trinity Brewing Company officially opens its doors at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, December 22.
If you hear church bells ringing at Holy Trinity Brewing Company, that means someone has ordered the Holy Mutha – an 18-sample flight of the brewery’s entire lineup served on a massive board carried by two cross handles. (Sorry, no solo orderers for this one – at least two imbibers must be present to consume.)
It’s one of the many pun meets tongue-in-cheek references in the new Downtown brewery’s arsenal which plans to make its debut mid-next week.
Taking over a former dance studio at 155 N. Fifth St., Holy Trinity is a brewery and taproom rolled into one. Brewing happens in the back, seating and the bar are in the front of a bare-bones space that Owner Tim McFeely says fits the theme – Jesus wasn’t a rich man after all, but a carpenter.
Holy Trinity is equipped with 18 taps (with about 13 ready for action at opening), all of which will pour house beers. The nitro tap is reserved for one of McFeely’s favorites: Coco-Berry Jesus, a 10% (but doesn’t feel like it) Russian Imperial Stout. Opening day beers also include the Saint Kevin, a s’mores stout served in a smoked glass, the Home Run Jesus, a Belgian quad, and, of course, Cherry Poppin’ Jesus, a stout.
Most people are excited about the beers’ colorful names, save a few naysayers who have asked how the brewery can come up with such names while supporting religion?
“We’re not really supporting religion, we’re supporting faith – and we like to have fun,” McFeely says. He expects most folks will read the beer names and their descriptions and get a good laugh – exactly what he was going for.
Outside of beer, Holy Trinity will serve hard seltzer, but go about it a bit differently than most breweries.
“Instead of doing a pre-flavored seltzer and having that one choice that maybe somebody doesn’t like, I decided I’m going to make a base seltzer and then we’re going to use flavor infusions for it,” McFeely says.
Syrups like white peach, black cherry, raspberry, guava and more will be custom added to the seltzer base that will sit at about 5.5% ABV. The flavored syrups will also be used for non-alcoholic versions for kids and those that don’t wish to drink.
For their cups to runneth over with Holy Trinity’s brews, guests will have to go to the taproom. The brewery isn’t planning to distribute, but will offer to-go crowler fills. McFeely expects they’ll sell everything they brew through the Downtown space, but on the off chance they don’t, a few kegs might appear at other bars.
COVID had its impacts on the project, putting Holy Trinity’s opening date well past a year from what McFeely expected, but it hasn’t been all bad. Luckily, McFeely bought his brewery equipment in the before times, and the delay has also given him time to get the brewery’s name out there and build anticipation – and time for many of the surrounding apartment development projects to wrap up construction, putting potential customers just steps from the brewery’s front door.
Holy Trinity will be open from 4 – 11 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m – midnight on Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. Sunday.
For more information, visit holytrinitybrewing.com.
All photos by Susan Post