C-Street Brewery being revived

After his stepson and son-in-law failed in their 2010 efforts to open C-Street Brewery, and he failed to sell the property and equipment, John “Buz” Hosfield has revived brewing plans and is working toward an October opening under the name White River Brewing Co.

Hosfield is looking to break into the local retail scene with four varieties of craft beer, and possibly a seasonal brew, though specific varieties and names have yet to be nailed down.

“We are strictly going to be distributing the beer,” Hosfield said, adding that he knew little about the restaurant business. “We haven’t even established the four staple products we’re going to have, but what we’ve made so far, we like.”

White River is currently seeking a brewer’s permit from the U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, Hosfield said, as well as state and city licensing for the brewery that would distribute to local retailers and bars. He also is seeking a conditional use permit from the city to become a center-city manufacturer and has a public hearing scheduled with the Planning and Zoning Commission on Sept. 20.

Hosfield, the stepfather of Doug Draper and stepfather-in-law of Kris Foster, said he knew about two years ago that C-Street Brewery was in trouble when Draper decided to move to Oregon.  Foster – who has since left the state – didn’t feel he had the experience to move forward with plans, Hosfield said.

Left with a 10,000-square-foot property he purchased for the brewery, Hosfield worked to sell the property and equipment after plans for C-Street were folded.
 
In May, Hosfield said he decided the best course of action was to revive the operation.

Hosfield said he has yet to sign an agreement with a local distributor, but he said he has been in negotiations with a couple of local companies, though he declined to name them.

For more on this story, check out today's Early Friday Digital Edition or the Sept. 3 print edition of Springfield Business Journal.