IMG_4313.JPG

Das Stahl Bierhaus will be a 2,603-square-foot bottle shop and taproom on 7914 Memorial Parkway S.W. (Courtesy photo)

A friendship that started through the local chapter of Free the Hops will bring a new craft beer destination this fall to south Huntsville.

Mark Stahl, a longtime Huntsville resident, is partnering with new general manager, Rich Partain, to launch Das Stahl Bierhaus, a 2,603-square-foot bottle shop and taproom on 7914 Memorial Parkway S.W. Partain said buildout at the former title pawn facility could take anywhere from six to eight weeks.

Renovations will include new bathrooms, a bar, walk-in cooler, draft beer system, fixtures, shelving, floors, ceiling treatments and decor.

"It has been my experience that no operation with so many moving parts and inherent red tape ever opens exactly on time so that (six to eight week) estimate might be conservative," Partain said.

Das Stahl Bierhaus will be a mixture of traditional, rustic Old World decor found in classic German beer halls, along with some modern European touches. Partain said the store also will have retail, bar and seating areas that emphasize comfort and atmosphere.

Stahl and Partain hope to create an environment where beer lovers can discuss and share their love of the craft with others who have the same passion.

"One of the things I have always admired about some of the best beer bars in America is that they tend to have a transformative, transportive effect on patrons," Partain said. "They make you forget for a little while that you're sitting in a strip mall or a metal building or somewhere built for an entirely different purpose, and they transport your mind to some little dingy basement bar in Belgium or Germany with a great selection of brews and an inviting, lived-in feeling to them. That is what we are shooting for with this concept."

Customers will be able to swing by Das Stahl Bierhaus for a growler of draft beer or six-pack on their way home, as well as stop in after work or on the weekend to enjoy a pint with other craft beer lovers in the community.

The business will specialize in what Partain simply calls "good beer," from craft breweries across Huntsville and the state to establishments throughout the region and U.S. Das Stahl Bierhaus will also have a selection of international styles when it opens in early October.

"We want to carry some of the classic and innovative styles from breweries around the world who have spent centuries creating and defining what good beer is for future generations," Partain said. "To ignore any of those would be doing a disservice to our patrons."

Stahl approached Partain several months ago about spearheading the new venture. Partain, who worked as a sales manager for Yellowhammer Brewing and was a rep for Yellowhammer and Straight to Ale for four years, said his own knowledge and experience with craft beer make him a natural fit for the job.

Yellowhammer co-founder Ethan Couch said the position with Das Stahl Bierhaus is "right up Rich's alley." He hopes the ongoing road construction along South Memorial Parkway won't keep beer enthusiasts from enjoying the destination.

"He has an extensive knowledge of beer history and takes craft beer very seriously," he said. "He's devoted the past five years of his life to enriching the beer culture of North Alabama, and we will miss him on our side. The venture Mark is opening in south Huntsville is one I've thought would be successful for several years. There is just not a convenient craft beer mecca in south Huntsville."

Keep up with Das Stahl Bierhaus' progress on Facebook.