Almost a year after brewing its first batch of beer, Turner Alley Brewing Company in southwest Cedar Rapids is inviting patrons in to try a pint.

The brewery opened its tap room, at 2715 12th St. SW, at the beginning of March. Since launching in May 2014, the brewery has sold kegs to bars and restaurants, but now fans can sample Turner Alley's slate of "Old World-style" beers feet from the tanks that brew them.

The tap room doesn't serve food, but food trucks are parked outside most Friday and Saturday evenings between 5 and 8 p.m. and customers are welcome to bring their orders inside. The Grateful Crepe typically serves food on Fridays and Box Lunch dishes up 1960s diner-style food on Saturdays.

Co-owner Bill Patterson said he's happy to support local food trucks while avoiding becoming a restaurant.

"Our focus is on beer production, first and foremost," he said. "We're trying to do everything with managed growth."

Since May, they've expanded distribution into the Des Moines area and are brewing 2,0000 gallons a year.

"We're selling all the beer we make right now - we need to ramp up production," Patterson said.

The 7,000 square foot space offers room for that - Patterson envisions more tanks, fermentation vessels and maybe even equipment for bottling or canning.

A tap room always was on the wish list, but he and business partner Travis Scheidecker wanted to start brewing as soon as possible - it took longer to meet the city's building code requirements to open a public tap room than it did to begin brewing. In October, they hosted an open house, and 414 people came through in a couple of hours. That's when Patterson thought, OK, people do want us to have a tap room.

Since the brewery was named for Iowa artist Grant Wood's Turner Alley studio in downtown Cedar Rapids, people keep donating Grant Wood prints and paintings to the space, and a small piggy bank bust of Wood overlooks the bar. Patterson said they're looking for local artists to display work on the brewery's walls, in keeping with the American Gothic painter's spirit.

The space has no TVs - instead, patrons can play board games or try to earn a free pint by scoring at bimini - a game which involves getting a ring to land on a hook. The brewery also is hosting regular events, including Saturday morning bike rides that start off with a pint of beer.

In addition to trying a pint in the taproom, customers can fill growlers or pick up a keg for private parties. The brewery has launched a "Great Friends of Turner Alley" program, whose members get perks such as access to member-only events and special beer releases.

Patterson, who has left his day job to work at Turner Alley full time, said the last year has been a fulfilling one.

"It's fun. Beer for the most part is pretty happy," he said. "It's meant to be enjoyed, meant to be had with family and friends while you have conversations. There's something wonderful about that."

Drink Up!

WHERE: 2715 12th St. SW, Cedar Rapids

WHEN: 4 to 10 p.m. Thursday to Saturday

DETAILS: (319) 777-4414; turneralleybrewing.com