USA, MA: Rising Glass Brewery submits application to North Adams’ Planning Board

A local brewer is planning to open North Adams’ second farmer brewery in the former Eagles Hall on Curran Highway, iBerkshires.com reported.

In his application to the Planning Board, Jonathan Spinney said the 10-barrel Rising Glass Brewery would have a tap room and entertainment space along with commissary kitchen.

"We plan to self-distribute and apply for a pouring license to be able to serve beer by the glass," he wrote. "A canning line will be installed in the brewery to facilitate reaching the larger craft beer audience."

Rising Glass would apply for a farmer brewery license that would allow it to produce and serve beer onsite and to retail establishments with a focus on using local ingredients. Bright Ideas Brewing, which opened a couple years ago, operates on the same kind of license.

Plans are to remove and rebuild the entire front wall and relocate the main entrance to the south side. Spinney said the roof and wall are in poor condition and need to be rebuilt to raise the height of the ceiling to fit the brewing equipment. Steel and glass will be used in the reconstruction.

The bathrooms and hall will remain but the kitchen is being redesigned to accommodate up to three small food-based businesses, including baked goods, and have one be the in-house food-provider. The hall would continue to be available for weddings and other events.

The down-sized hall would have a U-shaped bar and table setups and the stage would be moved the north side where the straight bar is currently located. The club bar would become flex space and a beer garden would be on the southwest corner and kitchen garden and employee parking on the northwest side.

The Eagles Aerie 310 Hall closed last year as the club sought to downsize and the building's size and cost to operate became a problem. The property was put on the market with its latest listing price at $179,000.

The 8,000-square-foot hall at 515 Curran Highway was opened in 1969-1970 after the Aerie was forced out of its home in the former Richmond Theater. The theater, which it bought and renovated in 1954, was targeted for demolition for urban renewal.

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