AKRON, Ohio - Lock 15 Brewing Co. is almost ready to open its doors.

The space is coming along at the northwest corner of W. North and N. Howard streets in Akron. Brewer Joe Karpinski and his three-person team are brewing, staff training is under way, and the finishing touches are being put in place.

Official grand opening is Tuesday, Aug. 21, said Colin Cook, one of the owners of the brewery, which is in a building owned by developer Tony Troppe. The brewery shares space in a building with Trailhead event space and the Cascade Lofts apartments.

Wednesday, Cook oversaw workers assembling white barnwood tabletops, which will offer a color contrast to the unique rust-colored and recently Polyurethaned floor. A Porter is scheduled to be kegged Friday, with distribution to area bars coming soon.

The space will hold six large communal tables, a 17-seat, 24-foot bar; and five high-top tables. The brewhouse is up and running, and four fermenters (two 15-barrel, two seven-barrel vessels) are in place.

Beers to start all have names derived from local history:

* Cascade Locks Pale Ale

* Mutton Hill Hefe

* 1913 Pilsner

* Instigator IPA

* Towpath Porter

* Swineheart Stout

* Mustill Mild

While the brewery is drawing heavily on its historic surroundings, it's also paying attention to cool artistic details. Artist Mike Ayers has created a piece about 3 feet by 5 feet for the front wall and is working on an 18-foot mural on metal that will be specially cut and attached to the bar top. That work will depict the area's industrial history, so as patrons belly up to the bar they can glimpse part of Akron's past.

His brother and fellow artist, Chuck Ayers, designed the beer labels, which will be portrayed in 12-inch diameter bottlecaps that will be mounted throughout the brewpub.

John Taylor is executive chef, and as busy as he is these days, he and Cook are taking a break to go to New York to participate in the Cleveland Rocks dinner at the James Beard House on Tuesday, July 31. Taylor - who previously was chef at The Jailhouse Taverne in Grafton - is one of eight Cleveland-area chefs cooking at the Cleveland-centric dinner.

Lock 15's menu appears to be an adventurous couple of steps above basic pub fare. Snacks and starters will include Bahn Mi sliders, crab-stuffed hush puppies and shrimp ceviche while salads and soups also will be available. Burgers, sandwiches and entrees (Nashville Hot Chicken, Ghost Pepper mac 'n' cheese, shrimp and grits and others) also are offered.

More coverage: Brewery to open in historic, natural setting