The past six weeks left the future of Webster's Knucklehead Craft Brewery in limbo.

Was it time to move to a bigger location? Should the brewery expand capacity? What could the future bring with a potential change in ownership?

But Len Dummer, one of the brewery's founders, answered those questions with a smile and a wry laugh. He turned to his family to provide support and answers.

Co-founder George Cline decided to walk away amicably from the brewery last month, according to a Facebook post. So Dummer and his wife Kathy and two sons, Josh (who runs the kitchen) and Jake (who is the head brewer), bought out Cline's share in the brewery.

Then the brewery, located at 426 Ridge Road, proceeded with expansion planning. Over multiple meetings, the Dummers presented plans to both the town's zoning and planning boards. And according to Dummer, those plans were accepted.

"Working with my best friend, my wife, and working with my sons, who are both phenomenal men, it’s a joy. I am so blessed. It’s what makes me stay on here. It’s emotional and it’s personal," said Dummer, 61. "The end result is, it’s us. It’s a big change from where we were."

The brewery announced Cline's departure in a Facebook post on Sept. 20.

"When George and I started Knucklehead, that was his dream," Dummer said. "We were homebrewing in the garage. A lot of passion, a lot of inspiration, and a lot energy. We were friends before, we were friends during, and remain friends after. Without them, we wouldn’t be in this place."

"It's a fun opportunity for the Dummer clan to move Knucklehead forward."

The brewery has grown more bold in its offerings over the past four years. It still features Rochester classics like the cream ale and scotch ale, but you'll also find beers like a strawberry rhubarb Pilsner and a maple vanilla porter.

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Dummer said they've met with as many as 40 interested investors. Others have offered to become partners. But those talks have been tabled for the immediate future.

"Right now, I have three partners," Dummer said. "I have Kathy and Jake and Josh. That's where we're staying right now."

"Being here, it's a crazy amount of hours," Jake Dummer said. "I love my job. I don't hit the 'snooze' button in the morning. I'm excited to come to work. When you're really enjoying what you're doing, it honestly doesn't matter to me if I am up here six or seven days a week."

Moving forward is also made more difficult by the fact that the brewery sits in the middle of residentially zoned area. But Len Dummer said the plans they submitted were fully accepted by both the town's planning and zoning boards.

"We asked for a lot, but we thought that by asking for a lot, they would maybe ask us to scale back and maybe say some of the things, we’re not going to grant you," he said. "They granted us everything. It took multiple meetings, but the town was outstanding."

Without the approvals, the Dummers were considering moving. "We really didn’t want to move," Dummer said. "We had some offers in different locations, one that I was very interested in not in Webster. But we want to stay in Webster."

Dummer credited Webster Town Supervisor Ron Nesbit for his help and support. The brewery was able bounce ideas off him and he offered his coaching.

Basically, the Dummers presented the plans to the town so they could move forward in the future without restrictions. Len Dummer said there is no timeline for completion.

Mike Palencar currently owns the building, which was once Seitz's grocery store. And part of the building is occupied by Stay & Play Dog Hotel and Daycare. Dummer said that Stay & Play is in the process of moving to a bigger space. That opens up possibilities for Knucklehead. But in the interim, a new tenant will probably move into that space, he added.

Dummer said he is hopeful they can buy the building, which includes three second-floor apartments, in the future. Knucklehead will reutilize and repurpose some of the space it has.

"He is agreeable to sell the building to us and he has been all along," Dummer said. "He's a great landlord. The first step would be buy the building."

The first step would be adding a beer garden. The beer garden, which would sit at the north end of the property, would be followed by a kitchen renovation and expansion. The brewery has developed a following for its Taco Tuesday events on the first Tuesday of every month. It is known for its small menu of pub fare and housemade sandwiches.

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Josh Dummer studied culinary arts at Johnson and Wales University in Rhode Island, but he is hamstrung by the limitations of the current kitchen. They want to install a deep fryer, open flame, hood, and ANSUL (fire suppression) system. The Dummers want to expand the menu offerings.

"We want to give people more choices and let Joshua have more fun," Len Dummer said. "We want to better showcase his skills."

"We are kid-friendly and having more options will be good for families and our business," Josh Dummer added.

In the back of the property, the Dummers proposed adding a retaining wall, because the land slopes off. "We could pick up an additional 28 parking spots in the rear," Len Dummer said.

Len Dummer said Knucklehead explored potentially installing a 15-barrel brewhouse, but ultimately decided on adding more and bigger fermenters to expand capacity. Jake Dummer will continue to operate the brewery's 5-barrel system.

"I'm OK to brewing on the system we have," Jake Dummer said. "It's labor-intensive, it's open-flame, it's hot as heck back there. But if we can eventually move the brewery to where the doggie daycare is, that would be cool."

In order to meet demand, Jake Dummer brews Tainted Haze India pale ale once a week. He said it represents 35 to 40 percent of the brewery's total sales. The brewery will remain small. (Len Dummer projected that Knucklehead will produce around 300 barrels of beer this year.)

"We can’t brew it fast enough," Jake Dummer said. "Even having a 10-barrel fermenter will give us more flexibility."

Kathy’s Kreme Ale is Knucklehead's second best seller surprisingly.

Amy and George Cline helped steward and foster the Knucklehead dream. The Dummers are thankful for that. But they now bear the responsibility of helping it thrive and grow.

"You open a brewery and hope to make money, but you don't count on the friendships you make and establish," Len Dummer said. "To have someone come in and give you a Christmas gift wrapped up, because they like you, or they show up at a town meeting or at a wake when somebody in the family dies, it's amazing."

"We've become the Cheers of Webster," Jake Dummer added.

WCLEVELAND@Gannett.com