Alexander Alusheff

Lansing State Journal

LANSING - Beer is brewing in Old Town for the first time in more than 100 years since the original Lansing Brewing Co. closed in 1914.

Ozone's Brewhouse will open this week at 305 Beaver St. at the site of former storage warehouse transformed into a cozy taproom and brewery by father-and-son team Dan and Kyle Malone.

The two hosted a soft opening for friends and family on Saturday afternoon and plan to open Friday with a ribbon cutting at 11 a.m. However, they may open sooner. Ozone's has beers on tap, each one with a quirky flavor profile that Kyle Malone says matches the eccentricity of Old Town.

There's the -48 Michigan SMASH pale ale that has a pineapple flavor and a bubblegum aroma, named after the time in 2013 when Michigan State University kept University of Michigan to negative 48 rushing yards There's the Snap Hook, the hefeweisen that tastes like a chocolate covered banana. And there's the Kyrptonale, an amber ale with hints of cherry vanilla at the beginning and a finish of caramel and biscuit. Beers cost between $5.25 and $6.25.

"We didn't want everyone to come in here and drink the same thing they did at other breweries," said Kyle Malone, the head brewer, who recommends Kryptonale.

The cozy taproom has seating for 55 and an outdoor patio can seat 30. Ozone's does not serve food but will have Good Truckin' food truck parked outside during its ribbon cutting Friday.

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Brewing began as a hobby for Dan Malone 20 years ago. Kyle Malone started brewing with his father when he turned 21 in 2010 and that's when the idea of opening a brewery first fermented in his head. They bought the warehouse in January and got up-and-running thanks to a roughly $400,000 investment by Dan Malone, who is the senior vice president of Energy Resources at Consumers Energy.

"It's a huge relief to be at this point," Dan Malone said. "We're at a point where we can enjoy the business."

Others are enjoying it, too.

Scott Richard and Andrea Klingbiel live nearby on Turner Street and have been eagerly awaiting its opening since they first heard about it.

The two made a point to come on Friday night before the soft opening to buy a mug club membership. The membership is $50 for the year and comes with a personalized glass. Members get $1 off beers and $2 off 64-ounce growler glass refills.

"We're big craft beer drinkers," Richard said, drinking a Kryptonale. "We like to go and try all the breweries so its nice to have a brewery here for a home base. It's good to have a craft brewery in Old Town."

Ozone's Brewhouse is the 12th brewery to open in the Greater Lansing region and the fourth to open in the city limits.

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Although its the newest brewery in town, Ozone has incorporated some history.

The bar in the back of the taproom was originally in the Mustang Bar on Turner Street, which is now home to UrbanBeat Event Center. The Malone's landlord, Terry Terry, originally showed them that space before they settled on the warehouse. But he let them take the bar anyway.

"It really triggered something different to them," Terry said. "Some of the history of Old Town is right there now."

Ozone's is also the first brewery to successfully open in Old Town since Lansing Brewing Co. closed on Turner Street. The former site of that brewery is roughly 200 yards away from the new establishment. Zander's Old Town Brewery was planned on Clinton Street in 2008, but never opened.

"It's pretty amazing what (Ozone's) will do for Old Town," said Vanessa Shafer, executive director of the Old Town Commercial Association. "It will be such a destination space."

Alexander Alusheff is a reporter for the Lansing State Journal. Contact him at (517) 388-5973 or aalusheff@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexalusheff.

Ozone's hours of operation

Tuesday through Thursday: 2 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Friday and Saturday: 12 p.m. - 12 a.m.

Sunday: TBD

Note: Ozone's could be open before Friday. Check its Facebook page for updates.