Red Hills Brewing Company sets grand opening date

A little over one year after starting construction, Homewood’s first craft brewery is finally opening.

Red Hills Brewing Company, located off of Central Avenue near Steel City Pops, has set its grand opening for Saturday, Sept. 10. Brewery owner Joe Pilleteri said he and master brewer Eric Baumann are excited to finally open their doors.

“It’s exciting and it’s time,” Pilleteri said. “I’m ready for a new challenge.”

The process of opening a brewery started in 2014, when Pilleteri received city zoning approval to bottle and can its beers on-site. After that, there were months of construction, moving in equipment and decorating. Now, the brewery is set with kegs in the cooler, custom-made Red Hills salamander taps and four beers ready to drink.

On opening night, Red Hills will have A Pound A Brown Mild, Gangsta Rap Friday West Coast IPA, Homewood Hefeweizen and Tribute Session IPA on tap.

Pilleteri said he is most excited about the brown mild, which is a light beer even though it is dark in color.

“I just don’t think it’s something people have done before,” Pilleteri said. “It’s a full-flavored brown ale that’s not heavy.”

The Homewood Hefeweizen is a lighter color beer that Pilleteri said “you can drink at the beach all day.”

The range of beers also offers a range of alcohol by volume (ABV), with the mild at 4.5 percent ABV and the IPA at 7.2. Eventually, they hope to build their beer list up to six year-round beers and two seasonals, as well as delve into limited batch specialty beers.

Specialty beers would likely be about 5 gallons a piece and allow Baumann, who is a chef by trade, to experiment with flavors and offer a unique beer to customers.

“That’s what’s so cool about having him around,” Pilleteri said. “I do everything by formula; he does everything by taste.”

For those who do not want a beer, or who cannot drink, Red Hills will also have sodas that are made in-house on tap. Available sodas include ginger ale, lemon basil, orange creamsicle and blueberry.

The availability of sodas, as well as a foosball table, air hockey table and kids area, are parts of Red Hills which Pilleteri hopes appeal to families.

“I want to be as family-friendly as possible and have that comfortability,” Pilleteri said.

As a father of two, Pilleteri said having a brewery in Homewood will be a nice addition for families and parents who cannot always make it downtown for a beer. He also hopes Red Hills will be a first stop for people planning a night out.

“We don’t care if we’re the only brewery you go to, we just want to be the first,” he said.

He also hopes the brewery keeps a neighborhood feel and encourages conversation, which is why Pilleteri said he chose not to have many small tables. There are a few high-top tables in the taproom, but most seating is at the bar, in large booths or on long picnic tables.

In addition to beer served in the taproom, Red Hills will have takeaway beer available in growlers as well as Red Hills Brewing Company glassware for sale.

The grand opening starts Sept. 10 at 5 p.m. After that, Red Hills will be open from 4-10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, from 4 p.m. to 12 a.m. on Friday, from noon to 12 a.m. on Saturday and from noon to 10 p.m. on Sunday.

For more information, visit facebook.com/redhillsbrewing.