MOBILE, Alabama – AL.com readers wasted little time weighing in on the prospect of a homegrown brewery calling downtown Mobile home.

Reader journeyman22 wrote, "Mobile has been left out of the craft beer movement far too long. Hopefully, this won't run into any more hurdles and the beer will be good. This is an industry that needs to be encouraged, and state laws further adjusted to make it easier to make a go of it. Example: why not let them serve liquor at the restaurant? That's a strange rule that could be the difference between a group of people going to the brewpub or somewhere else, because one person in the group doesn't like beer. For too long, it was easier to buy a craft beer from out-of-state breweries than those brewed in-state. Alabama is making progress, slowly."

At issue is the proposed Serda Brewing Co., a microbrewery focusing on German-style beers, whose partners include downtown businessman John Serda, owner of Serda's Coffee Co.

If the project proceeds, the venture will be licensed as a manufacturer rather than a brewpub, meaning it will not be allowed to serve liquor but it will be able to sell its own canned and bottled products.

Specifically, the brewery would be housed in the former Roussos restaurant building, a large one-story brick structure at 166 S. Royal St. within Fort Conde Village, and the location, alone, has attracted reader attention.

"I hope it's successful and that plans include making the exterior of the building more attractive and compatible with Fort Conde Village. It sort of reminds me of an old jail right now," thirdcoaster wrote.

Tell us what you think, though. Take the poll, and use the comments section below to explain why you do or don't support the proposed venture.