Jerseyville Germania Brewery Plans Soft Opening

JERSEYVILLE — Germania Brew Haus will celebrate the soft opening of its Jerseyville location from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday.

It received approval in December from City Council to open a location at 309 N. State St., the former Jersey Hometown location.

According to Germania co-owner Ben Brynildsen, the location was slated for a smooth opening in mid-March, but spring weather and communication issues with the Illinois Department of Transportation delayed those plans.

“Things have been pushed, but these days it’s not uncommon to see,” he said. “It’s never fun, but we’re finally here.”

Soft-open is for indoor use only. Brynildsen hopes the drive-thru will be operational in early May. Interior hours will be 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. seven days a week, except Sunday, when it will be closed for Easter.

The store plans to have full-time hours within a month of opening.

At 6,000 square feet, it will be the largest Germania Brew Haus among its locations in Alton, East Alton and Godfrey. The Jerseyville site will also be the first with a commercial kitchen, which has been used since December to make sauces and syrups for the other sites.

“We would like to launch a few other things specific to maybe Jerseyville,” Brynildsen said. These items could include pastries, salads and sandwiches.

The location has additional space intended for use as a gift shop under Jersey Hometown. Germania has collaborated with Alton-based Wow Event Center to use this space for events, weddings, baby showers and other occasions.