Today we’d like to introduce you to Common Law Brewing. Them and their team share their story with us below:
Common-Law Brewing Co. was actually born out of the local homebrewing community. Brad and Mark met several years ago and quickly sparked a friendship around brewing.
Both had years of experience in homebrewing, and they were both well aware of the lack of options for local beer in Spring Hill. It took a little while for the idea to come together, but Common Law eventually become a business plan, then a fully-funded venture, and is now on the verge of opening its doors to serve beer to the community.
CLB focuses on a good mix of traditional styles and experimental brews so that there is something for everyone. The common thread though is the use of local ingredients when possible. Local honey, coffee, and even grits have featured in some of the test batches that have been put out via samples thus far. There is also an American Lager in the works that will feature 100% Tennessee-grown grains.
People often ask about the name. Brad is a licensed attorney, even though he doesn’t practice currently. At the end of the day though, the naming and label art is a huge source of fun. Not a beer festival goes by where some attorney doesn’t come up from the crowd to tell us how much fun they are having watching the brand evolve.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I don’t think anything has been smooth for anyone over the last couple of years. The initial business plan for CLB was complete in late 2019, and all investors had committed by February of 2020. Then Covid hit… Trying to open a brewery that relies on interaction with the public and business from local restaurants during a global pandemic and the initial shutdown was impossible. This has led to a much longer timeline for opening than what was initially projected.
We have also had trouble once we got started back on the path to opening with completing construction. Contractors are all incredibly busy right now. Our job, although it means the world to us, is pretty small in the grand scheme of things. Add this to the long lead times for materials, and we have seen some significant delays. Our Brewers Notice was issued in July and our local beer permits in August, but we still aren’t in production due to construction delays. We do think the end is in sight though.
As you know, we’re big fans of Common Law Brewing Co. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
CLB prides itself on being a good mix of styles. Craft beer can often be about hype and trendy styles. While we understand that and are capable of playing to some of those trends, we also think people will always have a soft spot for well-made beer-flavored beer. In a smaller town like Spring Hill, we also think this is important because many beer drinkers may not necessarily be fans of the crazier craft beers. We want to provide a welcoming menu that has something for everyone.
To that end though, we do hit on some of the major trends in craft beer for those seeking an adventure. We have gotten a lot of attention for some of our fruited sours, and our barrel-aged stouts are always a fan favorite. Additionally, we produce a wide range of hazy IPAs for those looking for the juicy. As lagers come back to the spotlight, we are also ramping up our ability to produce them.
As mentioned earlier, we also like to focus on local ingredients. Perhaps the best known of these is with our cream ale, T.C.A. We use stone-ground grits from a local farm in place of the flaked corn that we would normally add to the recipe. Not only do we think this gives the beer a unique flavor, but it also helps other businesses and agriculture within the state. We have also sources locally for honey, coffee, grains, cookies, donuts, and our barrels for our barrel-aging program.
We are very proud that we have been able to build our brand from the ground up. People who have had a chance to try us at local festivals are always excited to talk to us about the beer. We are always happy to share recipes and our thoughts behind particular beers and styles.
I think this has given a chance for people in the community to really feel like they know us and we are part of their area. I think that is important for small businesses in general, and it will be crucial for us as the first brewery in Spring Hill.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs, or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I really enjoy hearing the stories behind other breweries, so I am a big fan of Hops News (and my geeky side also loves their Hops GEEK News spinoff).
I am always reading books, articles, etc. looking for new ideas and new ways to improve my craft. I am currently reading The New IPA by Scott Janish, which takes a really scientific approach to flavor and aroma in IPAs.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@commonlaw.beer
- Website: commonlaw.beer
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/commonlawbrewing/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/commonlawbrewing
