Hot Air Brewing to ‘uplift’

After seven months of renovations, Hot Air Brewing, 212 N. Maple St., is now open for business on a limited basis.

Katie Davidson, owner, said the idea for the brewery came about in May 2019.

“We need one (a brewery) here, it’s different than what we have,” she said.

Davidson and her husband and business partner, Andrew Rullestad, have been working on the building with the help of family friends and area contractors who transformed the first floor from what used to be an indoor mini-golf center into an owner apartment in the back and a functioning brewery in the front.

Some of the brewing equipment is in the basement, but there are several visible in the tap room, the public area of the brewery.

Davidson said they were thankful to find a local brewer, J. Wilson, who was looking for a change and had years of experience brewing beer as well as connections in the brewing world who agreed to be the brewer for Hot Air Brewing.

When the brewery is fully operational, hopefully in April Davidson said, there will be 12 beers ranging from a blond ale — described as a light, refreshing, carbonated beer with a lower alcohol content — to wood aged oatmeal stout — a less carbonated cask beer with notes of coffee, coconut and spice — with additional “imperial beers” that have double or triple the alcohol content.

Eventually Hot Air will offer canned beer to go, but the national can shortage has slowed the availability of cans. Davidson said she has found a source in Sri Lanka where the brewery will be able to get 12 and 16 ounce cans for its beers.

The brewery will also offer kegs of beer to some businesses out of the area including places in Des Moines and Primrose in Corning. Locally, Davidson said she prefers that if patrons are drinking Hot Air beer that they do it at Hot Air Brewing. But she does hope that the brewery will attract business for the local restaurants.

“We’re hoping people come to our place and have a beer or two and go eat or go eat and come to our place and have a beer or two,” Davidson said.

Hot Air

Davidson said she chose the name Hot Air Brewing to honor her childhood in Creston. The annual Balloon Days celebrations are a favorite memory. Rullestad has been able to fly in a balloon, she said, and describes the feeling as peaceful.

“Just the idea of lifting people up and being lifted up that’s what we wanted that to symbolize,” she said.

During the 2020 Balloon Days, when unfortunately the weather kept all of the balloons grounded, Davidson held a beer tasting at the Elk’s Lodge where the balloonists congregated.

“We were doing our sample at the Elks and they said, ‘Let us know if you need anything,’” she said.

Gary Fouche of Indianola donated some memorabilia including a balloon basket that was no longer air worthy the decor at the brewery.

Third place

Although a brewery is essentially a bar, Davidson plans for the business to be family friendly. There is an “eye-spy” mural on the back wall created by local students Ash Hays and Brendan Millslagle and games for both children and adults.

“Kids can sit and read, maybe run down to the library and pick up a book,” she said.

Davidson spoke of ‘third place’ theory — a term coined by sociologist Ray Oldenburg that refers to places where people spend time between home and work and can “exchange ideas, have a good time, and build relationships.”

“We need a kind of third space where it’s not work, it’s not home, but it’s a place you can go and spend time with your friends, with your kids,” Davidson said.

As the business progresses, Davidson plans to add trivia nights and other contests.

For now, the brewery will have three beers available each Friday from 5 to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 5 p.m. until the beer is gone. This week Holy Dagger, St. Izzy and Hench Monkey will be on the menu.

In addition, Hot Air Brewing will be serving lunch with paninis and cream soda three days a week from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.