Video: New Beer Brewer in Water Valley Opening Soon

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WATER VALLEY, Miss. (WCBI) – If you enjoy the taste of a craft beer you may get a chance to sample some Mississippi-made beer within the next few months. WCBI’s Heather Black traveled to Water Valley where a brewery is getting ready for their debut.

This may look like an abandoned building in down town Water Valley, but what once stood as the Hendricks Machine shop will soon become the fourth micro-brewery in the state and the first in Northeast Mississippi.

Tony Balzola, the head Brewer of Yalobusha Brewing says even though most of their equipment has been delivered, they still are a couple of months away from opening their doors to customers.

“We can’t wait to start and we’re chomping at the bit to get this brewing going,” says Balzola.

Once the Yalobusha County Brewing Company is open, they’ll offer weekly tours for customers to see how they make their products. You may even get a little taste.

“We’re not allowed to serve beer here, but we can give tasters as long as you take a tour,” says Balzola.

They will offer two types of craft beer for customers, but they are hoping to develop more creative brews as time goes on.

“Our pale is going to be lighter crisp and refreshing something for the hot days and our IPAs are going to be hoppier in that hoppier means a little more bitter. You’re going to get some slight citrus flavors, floral flavors, it’s going to be a little more intense on flavor a little more full bodied,” says Balzola.

Craft beer not your choice of drink? No worries they will also be creating their very own version of the classic drink rootbeer.

“We’re doing rootbeer and we’re going to put a little local touch by using some local honey and we’re trying to incorporate muscadine into the recipe,” says Balzola.

With sixteen years of brewing experience at McMenamins located in Portland, Oregan, Tony is excited to bring his beer expertise to Northeast Mississippi. He says he is looking forward to creating a great tasting beer.

“We don’t have to do anything super crazy to get people to notice us. All we need to do is make a good drinkable product that people will love. We hope everybody at least gives us a shot. Even if you are not into craft beer. We’ll try to make you get into it,” says Balzola.

If you want to get a taste of their rootbeer before the doors open, they will be giving free samples at the upcoming Watermelon Festival on August 2nd. Yalobusha Brewing Company is hoping to have their beers available across the state by December.