Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Latest southern Colorado news, weather and sports from FOX21 News

Drinking beer in school: Preview the new Ivywild building
Posted: 02.23.2013 at 8:16 PM
Sam Baranowski

Sam is a general assignment reporter for FOX21 News.

0
Photo

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- It might look like a school but the hall monitors won't give you detention for drinking. They'll just keep you in check.

"I am very excited to drink beer in school. I'm just as excited to sell beer in school too!," Mike Bristol exclaimed.

His brewery and partners like Venetucci Farms, Blue Star restaurant and Pikes Peak Urban Gardens are making local into a brand in the old Ivywild school.

They've bringing area flavors, produce, art, and of course beer together under one roof in the nearly century-old school building.

"The school house generally was the center of the neighborhood, and for almost 100 years that was the case," Bristol explained, "So for us, we said, well how can we come in and create something that is not a school, but recreates that gathering place and gives people in the neighborhood a place to come and really give the vibrancy to the building again."

The renovations keep the building largely the same, including some of the room descriptions. The "Principal's Office" will be a coffee shop and bar in the same location where Ivywild's principal sat. The "Teacher's Lounge" will be additional seating for folks dining in, and "hall monitors" will keep you and your beer in the bar area to ensure no one's walking the halls and asking for a pink slip.

Each room will showcase local success.

"Within the building we'll have a bakery with great fresh baked goods, cured sausages being made on-site, too," he said, "We've got some urban gardens out front so we'll be doing some produce on-site. It was really important for us to show that Colorado Springs is home to some really great producers of things."

Bristol Brewery was looking to expand and instead stumbled upon the idea of a this community center.

Mike said the support from the neighborhood through partnerships, donations and historic advice and collector's pieces has been incredible.

The biggest difference in the building is if you look in left, you'll see original school art. To the right, a state-of-the-art brewing system flown in from Germany.

Mike explained, "It would be very eclectic, there would be a lot of people that you know, you'd be able to wander around and see some beautiful art, some great history in the school itself, and be able to get world-class beer and food in what I consider a really unique environment."

Popular Stories
Thumbnail
Springs mom speaks out against ex, child support system
Rachel Welte  |  Yesterday at 9:00 AM  |  9 comments
Thumbnail
16-year-old girl leads Springs police on high-speed chase
Travis Ruiz   |  Yesterday at 11:09 AM  |  1 comment
Thumbnail
Aww! Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has a baby boom!
John Martin  |  Yesterday at 3:20 PM  |  1 comment
Follow FOX21
Get news and weather notifications on your phone by downloading the iPhone or Android app below
Sign up to get alerts and updates for breaking news, severe weather, and deals:
submit
ADVERTISEMENT
Special Features
Loud & Proud
Tell us what makes your school cool.
Auto
Car maintainance
Pledge of Allegiance
Elementary school students say today's pledge
Best Bets
Advice from experts
ADVERTISEMENT