Lafayette brewery expanding to Lebanon

Beer is really starting to flow in Boone County.

Lafayette-based People’s Brewing Co. announced Wednesday that it plans to open a brewery and restaurant in downtown Lebanon.

The news comes just after Moontown Brewing Co. revealed its plans to spend up to $1.2 million to renovate the historic Whitestown High School. Plus, two other breweries—Noble Order Brewing Co. and Books & Brews—recently opened in Zionsville.

People’s Brewing Co. plans to occupy the 6,000-square-foot space at 111 Main St. that formerly housed upscale French restaurant Bijou.

The space will accommodate seating for 140 people and feature a 36-line draft system with beer from People’s Brewing Co. and several guest taps.

The brewery will have a five-barrel system to produce small-batch recipes. Growler fills will be available for any of the small-batch beers and regular People’s Brewing Co. beers.

The restaurant menu will include burgers made with People’s Brewing beer and wraps like the “Hoosier Taco,” which features a breaded tenderloin.

Space in an alley adjacent to People’s will be used as a beer garden with outdoor seating for 50 people.

Brett Vander Plaats, partner of People’s Brewing, said one of the reasons the brewery opted to expand in Lebanon was the ongoing campaign by the Boone County Economic Development Corp. to attract breweries to the county.

The organization launched the marketing strategy last September, when no breweries existed in Boone County.

The EDC created flyers advertising itself as a “beer desert” and sent postcards during the holiday season that featured Santa’s sleigh and read “Don’t pass us by.”

Boone County EDC marketing and communications specialist Abbie Samson said the campaign helped attract Noble Order to Zionsville and put the area on the top of the list for People’s Brewing.

The latest advertisement features a beer bottle meant to resemble former U.S. President Abraham Lincoln and says, “I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts, and beer.”

“We can’t wait to see what he brings us,” Samson said.