Apple Blossom Brewing Co. Coming to Fayetteville in June

Northwest Arkansas’ craft beer market will get another entrant this summer, when six partners open Apple Blossom Brewing Co. at the Park Centre development along Zion Road in Fayetteville.

The 8,500-SF brewery and restaurant will feature a 35-foot bar, a dining area that seats about 100 and additional patio-style outdoor seating. The brewery will use a 10-barrel system, and be the establishment’s focal point.

“It’ll be your typical tanks-up-front brew pub,” said Al Shaffer, one of the partners.

Evan McDonald said the partners have been exploring the idea of opening a brew pub since 2007, but didn’t want to skimp in terms of scale or location. Another partner, Ching Mong, said settling on the Park Centre space was a no-brainer.

“There’s nothing up here, not a lot of local options, but a lot of people live around here,” Mong said. “Then you add the [Lake Fayetteville] park and bike trail, and it makes even more sense.”

The partners hope to open in late June, and the plan is to start with four or five in-house beers on tap. Some other local and regional microbrews also might be offered, as will name-brand bottled varieties.

Wine and liquor also will be served from behind a bar manufactured in Ireland for use in a Cleveland watering hole. Shaffer bought the bar and transported it via three semis to Northwest Arkansas, where it’s been in storage for about four years.

“It’s really awesome to see it out and know it’s going to get some life again,” he said.

Joe Utsch, who will be in charge of food, said the menu will be “appetizer heavy,” but anchored by homemade soups, salads and sandwiches. Bread will be made in-house.

Lunch items will start at about $5 or $6, while dinner entrees will be more in the $15 range. ABBC will use as many local and seasonal products as possible, and while that will lead to some variance in the menu, Utsch said it generally will include a steak, seafood and vegetarian option.

Daniel Smith and Sammie Stephenson are the other partners, and McDonald said the group is in the final stages of hiring a brewmaster.