Beermaker to Open Microbrewery in Downtown Dearborn

If all goes as planned, Dearborn may soon have its very first microbrewery by the end of the year.

Although nothing has been signed yet, Dearborn Brewing founder John Rucinski confirmed that the company is scouting locations in the west Dearborn area for a new brewery location.

On June 5, Rucinski tweeted: "A big 'thank you' to Dearborn's zoning administrator. Been very helpful as we close in on picking a site to set up shop."

Rucinski told Patch.com that the company has been meeting with city officials to determine whether a brewery would be allowed under the city's master plan.

"We've cleared the hurdles as far as our zoning questions, now we're just looking for a location," he said.

The plan, Rucinski said, is to open a seven-barrel microbrewery and tasting room, with three or four housemade ales and seasonal ales available for purchase.

"My vision is to become a local beer distributor to businesses and pubs across Michigan," Rucinski said. "We don't want to be viewed as competition for the bars. Our brewery will be a place where people can come after work, buy a growler of beer and move on to another restaurant for dinner."

The Dearborn resident said planning for the brewery has been 10 years in the making.

"I kept tossing the idea around and knocking it down," he explained. "The number of reasons not to move forward always outnumbered the positive reasons. It's been a running joke between me and my wife."

After winning numerous awards for his home brews, however, and being approached by friends and family for his beer recipes, Rucinski decided it was time to move forward.

"I feel really comfortable with my business plan, and I see a nitch I can fill in the community," he said.

The next steps, he said, will be signing a lease and applying for liquor licenses from the state.

"We'll probably have to go before the Zoning Board of Appeals and city council with a variance request for the buildout," Rucinski said. "Once we have a physical address, we can get an architect and get moving on the project."

Rucinski said his goal is to open the brewery by December.

"The people who have heard about us are very excited," he said. "This is a new venture for me. It will be fun to make something I love and watch people enjoy it."

To follow updates on Dearborn Brewing, visit https://twitter.com/DearbornBrew, or https://www.facebook.com/DearbornBrewing.