Construction work is underway on the future home of Jughandle Brewing Company in the Tinton Falls Centre Plaza on Asbury Avenue in Tinton Falls.
TINTON FALLS - Friends Pete Artherholt and Chris Hanigan have both individually brewed their own craft beers at their home for more than a decade, experimenting with flavors and sharing their creations with friends and family.
But now they are teaming up, along with former Tinton Falls Mayor Michael Skudera, to bring their craft beers to the masses.
Construction work is underway to create the home for the new Jughandle Brewing Company out of an approximately 3,200-square-foot former flower shop in the Tinton Falls Centre Plaza on Asbury Avenue.
"The three of us started talking about this about a year ago and were looking at several towns where we could do it, but we chose Tinton Falls because it is very business friendly. This area in particular is very well lit, there is plenty of parking and there is already a lot of traffic going by here because of all of the other retail locations," said Skudera, a corporate technology manager who is the brewing company's business strategist. "This is a great neighborhood and we're proud to be bringing something here that we think people are really going to enjoy."
Initially, Jughandle Brewing will be able to produce up to 4,000 barrels - 31 gallons per barrel - of craft beer annually and will be open to the public for tours and tastings.
When the brewery officially opens, which Skudera said could happen by late April or early May, it will be open for tastings on Fridays and Saturday and the schedule could expand from there.
Jughandle Brewing Company is expected to initially offer about six different beers that costumers will be able to purchase in pints, growlers or kegs.
While those beer are expected to span from light to dark, the exact lineup has not yet been set in stone - and it may never be.
"Part of what our brewery is about is experimentation. We are going to try new things and want to keep it as local as possible and involve the community in the beers that we make," said Hanigan, a corporate art director from Red Bank. "I really hope people get excited to try new beers when they come here. Not just once, but all the time. I'm sure we'll find a staple at some point that's on tap all the time. But the excitement is about being able to keep coming back here and trying something new."
While the friends have been brewing beers long enough to know the flavors they prefer, they're now turning the focus to appealing to the taste buds of others and plan to place more of a social emphasis on their brewing processes.
"We'll brew what we think works in the beginning, but what we really want to do is talk to a lot of people, see what they think and then work on our beer from there. I don't have a lot of pride as far as that is concerned, because I want to make beer that everybody likes," said Artherholt, a former chemist from Tinton Falls who also currently owns a carpentry business. "We really want the community to feel involved in what we're doing and feel like a part of it. This is how a brewery should be. It's how it was before prohibition and I'd to see it that way again, where beers are brewed in town - not across the country - and enjoyed here."
The brewery's name is even a nod to the Garden State.
"Anyone from New Jersey immediately knows what a jughandle is," said Artherholt, who's wife, Darlene, came up with the name. "But even if you live in another part of the country it still makes sense, because it could refer to a jug of beer with a handle on it."
Even though its grand opening is still months away, the Jughandle Brewing Company is already selling gift cards to future customers and other future customers have been swinging by to check on the progress.
"I like this idea, I'm really looking forward to it," said Wayne Conroy, who lives behind the Tinton Falls Centre Plaza after visiting the brewery on Saturday. "I've been living here for almost 16 years now and this is a very busy strip mall already because of all the good stores in it. This will just enhance it."
Rob Spahr may be reached at rspahr@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TheRobSpahr. Find NJ.com on Facebook.