DEXTER, MI - A Dexter couple who spent 20 years home-brewing beer now plan to make their hobby a profession.

Brian and Deb Schroeder moved from Cincinnati to Dexter more than three years ago and plan to open a microbrewery in their new town in the late summer or early fall.

Erratic Ale Co. would occupy a 2,500-square-foot space at 8080 Grand St. in Dexter, if planning commission approvals are granted.

“(I) always had that thought in the back of mind: ‘Wouldn’t it be great to do this for a living?’ We never really felt that we ever had the right time or right place to do it until we moved to Dexter,” said Brian Schroeder, who is a full-time speech therapist.

“When we moved up here, we looked around the area (and) some of the older cities,” he said. “We like that small town feel that Dexter has. The small town charm. It’s got a lot of interesting shops and restaurants. Lots of great outdoor activities around and friendly people.”

The couple plans a taproom with about 50 seats, a small outdoor seating area and a small menu of appetizers. Customers would be encouraged to bring in their own food and staff would recommend beers that pair well with their meals.

“We do plan to be a nano brewery ... we’re doing that on purpose. We think that will let us serve our beer as fresh as it can be,” Brian Schroeder said. “We can incorporate new styles frequently. We think it’ll let us use local ingredients as much as we possibly can.”

The couple favors Belgian-style beers and will look to incorporate sour styles, pale ales and IPAs.