Longtime brewer sets up shop in Cassville

Longtime brewer Joe Zucca plans to launch a home-based craft brewery in July under the label Hungry Hollow Brewing Co. The Cassville resident said he just received state and federal licensing to begin production on his 4-acre property, 14396 Farm Road 2140.

“Opening a brewery is a long process, from applying for licensing … to building out the brewery itself,” said Zucca, most recently the head brewer at Bike Rack Brewing Co. in Bentonville, Arkansas. “And I’m excited to finally share my beers with other craft brew lovers.”

He’s been working on the process for almost a year, he said.

With experience as a professional brewer beginning in 2003 at Boulevard Brewing Co. in Kansas City and later D&D Brewing Co. in Honduras, Zucca is starting with two beers, an India pale ale and what he calls an Ozark Country French Saison. Additional beer varieties are planned, and he intends to distribute in local retail stores and restaurants – throughout southwest Missouri, including Springfield and Joplin. Zucca said he’s not hired a beverage distribution company but would deliver product with the help of two employees.

“I have a feeling Springfield’s going to be the biggest town to do it in,” he said.

The brewery does not have a tasting room, but Zucca is planning an off-site retail location.

The 900-square-foot, $30,000 facility on Zucca’s property is large enough to produce 15 barrels of beer a month to fill about 2,400 750 milliliter bottles, he said.