By Ariel Yong
Bringing “good beer” to Vienna is going to have to wait.
Matt Greer was set to open his hybrid gastro-pub and brewery, Caboose Brewing Company, next month but due to permit issues, he is now looking at a late August or early September opening.
“It’s mostly just the approval process for building permits,” Greer says. “We got stuck in a queue with the town of Vienna. They just have a special way of doing things.” Greer chose Vienna to open his brewery because he didn’t want Whole Foods to be the only place to get a good beer with his friends.
According to Greer, Vienna’s board of architectural review only meets once a month. Documentation for changes in his brewery are required 45 days in advance so missing a day can set approval back by one month.
Although the brewery won’t open until the end of summer, it has been busy. Over the last two months, Caboose Brewing Company has been brewing beer, such as Crazy Train Tripel (9.7%), a beer with “moderate spiciness and fruity esters that compliment its slightly peppery finish…[and is] brewed with a clone of the legendary Westmalle yeast strain,” says Greer; Car Hopper IPA (7.5%) described by Greer as having an “intense hop aroma reminiscent of pine, citrus and fresh herbs”; and Raspberry Wheat (6%), made with real raspberries and a focus on “the tartness of the fruit rather than the sweetness,” says Greer. Unfortunately, the company can’t sell any of it.
Greer hopes to secure ABC approval within 30 days so the brewery can at least start selling growlers. Until then, Greer’s friends have been sipping on his beers for free and the public can buy gift certificates through its Facebook page. “Once we’re open, it’s going to be a lot of fun for everybody,” Greer says.
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