Dayberrys, Lyon College partner on beer brewing program

Entrepreneurs Dustin and Tham Dayberry wanted to own a beer garden or tap room for nearly a decade. When the couple travels, they often stop at local breweries and enjoy the beer and food.

Two opportunities converged on them after the pandemic. First, a building in downtown Batesville, adjacent to the Independence County Library, became available. The second was a unique collaboration with Lyon College.

The school has a beer brewing program and a fermentation science class. The school and Dayberrys reached an agreement. They would set up a brewing system in the basement of the building, and Lyon College students would brew the beer to give them a real-world experience.

In October, the Polk & Paddle Brewery was opened, the couple told Talk Business and Politics. Tham Dayberry’s son, Jacon Hardin, is an investor in the business. It’s the first brewery in Independence County since Prohibition, according to local historians.

“It’s worked out. It’s been a great partnership,” Dustin Dayberry said.

The brewing program began four years ago by Dr. Alexander Beeser, associate professor of biology. Beeser, a home brewer, developed a fermentation science class that has since evolved into a popular course among students and community members alike.

“This partnership with Polk & Paddle represents the culmination of years of hard work and innovation,” said Dr. Melissa Taverner, president of Lyon College. “We are excited to see our students apply their knowledge in a real-world setting, contributing to the growth and revitalization of our local community. This venture is a perfect example of how education and entrepreneurship can come together to create something truly special.”

Mac Harn, the brewing operations manager and new director of Lyon College’s outdoor education and adventure program (LEAP), will oversee the brewing operations. Harn manages the team of student interns, who must be at least 21 years of age and who will assist in the brewing process.

“Being able to merge my passions for brewing and outdoor education in this role is a dream come true,” said Harn.

The beers brewed at Polk & Paddle will bear the Lyon College brand and be available exclusively within the restaurant and the surrounding entertainment district. Lyon College will neither produce nor offer beer for sale on its campus.

Polk and Paddle pays the students to work in the brewery even when it’s not part of the class. They pay the school for the labor, and the school in-turn pays the students, Dustin Dayberry said. It’s essentially a contract labor agreement.

Tham Dayberry said she runs the brewery on a day-to-day basis. They have a staff of about 10, and four different in-house beers are offered on a week-to-week basis. The beers offered switch flavors every few weeks. Six other beers brewed in Arkansas are also offered.

“We want to focus on Arkansas breweries,” Dustin Dayberry said.

Seltzers, wines, non-alcoholic beers and other drinks are offered. It even has a full-service bar.

The brewery offers a choice of two entrees each week. They are mostly gourmet sandwich offerings. Four appetizers are also available. Tham Dayberry said they want to keep the restaurant operations simple and efficient. Each week, the entree choices are changed and sometimes they are themed with an upcoming holiday. For example, the week before Cinco De Mayo, two Mexican food entrees were offered, she said.

“We try to do a few things really well,” she said.

The kitchen is located in the basement, along with the brewing system. A dumbwaiter ferries orders to the dining room, saving steps for employees.

If the entree offerings aren’t appealing to a customer, Tham Dayberry said she will try to get them to eat at other restaurants in the downtown area. When another restaurant opened recently, she sent several of her workers to help them open because they were using the same technology Polk & Paddle uses and were familiar with the systems.

Batesville’s downtown is classified as an entertainment district, so patrons in the district can carry alcohol in specified cups. Tham Dayberry coordinated with the other restaurants within the district to set a $1 price for the specialty cups that can be used to buy alcohol anywhere in the district.

“It’s not a competition. I want all the businesses’ downtown to thrive,” Tham Dayberry said. “I have no problem recommending other restaurants.”

The Dayberrys are native to the area and want the revitalization of the downtown to continue. One part of that is creating a stronger connection from Lyon College to the community, and the brewery helps in that regard.

The name Polk & Paddle is an homage to the Polk bayou located in the Batesville area. It’s a popular outdoor recreational area. Above the bar hangs Dustin Dayberry’s grandparents’ canoe. The light fixtures are set in the canoe.

The Dayberrys plan to expand the size of their brewery in the coming months. They also hope to add a fifth Lyon College brewed beer to their offerings.

There are three things the couple really loves — food, drinks and music. They will occasionally bring in musicians to perform at the brewery.

“That’s the culture I want to create,” Tham Dayberry said.