When bicyclists begin visiting downtown Stillwater via the new Brown’s Creek State Trail, they’re going to be thirsty. Frank Fabio wants them to have a frothy finish.

Fabio plans to open Maple Island Brewing Co. near the terminus of the new trail, which is being built on the former Minnesota Zephyr dinner train route.

“Bicyclists love beer,” Fabio said. “At the end of a ride, we always stop and have a beer because it’s the best protein there is.”

The microbrewery and taproom, scheduled to open in May, will be housed in the 3,700 square feet that formerly housed Maple Island Hardware and, before that, part of the Maple Island Creamery. Plans include a back patio overlooking the St. Croix River, Fabio said.

Fabio, who lives in Grant, bought the building at 225 N. Main St. in late 2011. He said he’s received nothing but positive feedback on his plans.

“There hasn’t been one person I’ve talked to who has said, ‘Oh, that’s not a good idea,’ ” he said. “Everybody I’ve talked to has said, ‘That’s the best spot, a great location, and it would be the perfect addition to downtown Stillwater.’ ”

The Stillwater Planning Commission is expected to approve Fabio’s request for a special-use permit Monday, said Bill Turnblad, the city’s community development director.

“Microbreweries create a following, and the kinds of folks who visit them are the kind of people we’re interested in having downtown,” Turnblad said. “I wish him luck. I hope he does well.”

Added Fabio: “There’s plenty of restaurants; there’s enough antique shops. People want to come to downtown Stillwater as a destination to have fun, relax and enjoy — and the craft-beer people are just that. They’re more relaxed; they’re not the 20-something bar crowd. We’re going to bring a lot of people to downtown Stillwater who wouldn’t normally come downtown.”

Fabio is allowed to open the business under the so-called “Surly Bill” that passed the Legislature in 2011. Maple Island will be allowed to sell its beer by the pint, bottle or jug on site, but in accordance with state law, will not make or serve food. Customers will be allowed to bring food or order takeout from nearby restaurants.

“We’ll have menus on hand,” Fabio said.

Brew master Nic Brau has created three flagship beers — Coffee Oatmeal Stout, Killer Kolsch and Maple Island IPA — and a variety of rotating beers, Fabio said.

Fabio, a self-described craft beer fanatic, said one of his favorites is the stout, which is “dark oatmeal stout with cold-pressed coffee and vanilla flavor and some chocolate, caramel and a little milk-sugar to sweeten it up.”

“I would much rather have a craft beer than a domestic beer,” he said. “Craft beers are more of a meal in a glass, so to speak. The flavor profiles actually equal wine flavor profiles — you smell it, have an initial taste, have the savor in your mouth and then have the finish when you swallow. It’s an art form, just like making wine.”

Maple Island Brewing’s next-door neighbor, Northern Vineyard Winery, is a perfect fit, he said. “We’re excited for the chance to be able to commingle,” Fabio said. “There are a lot of couples where the wife likes wine and the husband likes beer or vice versa, so it’s going to be a good symbiotic relationship.”

Maple Island will house a seven-barrel brewing system capable of producing 714 kegs a year. The taproom will be open from 5 to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and noon to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

The name “Maple Island” dates to the 1880s and a May Township farm owned by lumberman Isaac Staples. The farm took its name from a maple-covered island on Mud Lake.

Fabio, who also owns a fire- and water-damage restoration business, said keeping the Maple Island name was important.

“Integrity is most important to me,” he wrote in a statement to city officials. “It’s important, in a community such as Stillwater, with its deep and rich history, to keep the name Maple Island in our new adventure as we continue to make history for future generations.”

Mary Divine can be reached at 651-228-5443. Follow her at twitter.com/MaryEDivine.