The guys behind the soon-to-open Old Town Beer Exchange want to operate more than just a taproom and craft beer store in downtown Huntsville.



They want the 1,300-square-foot space at 301 Holmes Ave. to be a beer nerd's paradise.



"I guarantee if you come in here and say, 'I don't like beer,' it's a lot like saying, 'I don't like ice cream,'" said Old Town Beer Exchange partner Bill Fowler. "You just haven't had good beer and you need someone to help you know what you're tasting."

A craft beer destination



Old Town Beer Exchange will be the newest craft beer and wine offering in downtown Huntsville when it launches the second week of April. Founded by Solid Earth CEO Matt Fowler, his brother, Bill, former Olde Towne Brewing owner Don Alan Hankins and attorney Derek Simpson, the store aims to entertain and educate customers on the growing craft beer scene.



The store and taproom will be led by manager Chase Shelton, well-known for his work with Below the Radar across the street. Old Town Beer Exchange won't be a grocery store or liquor mart, but a boutique-style destination for patrons who want to learn about the art behind the beer.



"We're not going to have Coors Light and Bud Light," Bill Fowler said. "It's not going to be a place where you throw down beer after beer after beer. We really want this to be an experience, so our inventory's going to reflect that, as well."

Showing Huntsville's history



As third-generation downtown business owners, the Fowler brothers wanted to create a space that showcased Huntsville's unique history. The facility, which was developed for retail use, had a gravel floor and cinderblock walls when they selected the spot last year.



Today, the building features a 32-tap bar made of salvaged wood from a 1850s north Alabama homestead and bricks from the demolished Coca Cola bottling plant in downtown Huntsville. The taproom chairs, which have been recovered, came from the now-closed Kaffeeklatsch Bar on Jefferson Street.



The taproom tables also have a story to tell. They look like antiques, but they were actually made recently by men at a substance abuse rehabilitation center in Georgia. When the store opens next month, local beer-inspired art from Carole Foret will grace the walls.



"We want to be all about 'craft,'" Matt Fowler said. "It's more about the maker than it is so much the thing."

Local, regional beer focus



With a strong focus on local and regional craft beers, Old Town Beer Exchange will also offer a selection of international brews, as well as higher-end, harder-to-find wine. Bill Fowler said the shelves will hold up to 4,000 bottles of beer, and they already plan to offer at least 500 bottles of wine.



Because the city voted to expand the Quigley Arts & Entertainment District in January, Old Town Beer Exchange customers will be able to roam around outside with alcohol in special to-go cups during designated hours. Patrons will also be able to buy beer by the pint or bottle, in growlers or six-pack varieties.



Bill Fowler said he and Shelton are both graduates of the Cicerone Certification craft beer program, so customers who have questions or need guidance about what to drink will be in good hands.

Possible expansion

The business is modeled after beer exchange concepts in Charleston, S.C., and Greenville, N.C. If Old Town Beer Exchange does well, the partners may possibly expand the store to Franklin, Tenn. They also like the Decatur, Cullman and Florence areas.

"This location, which may have been an Achilles' heel five years ago, is all of a sudden the center of activity," Bill Fowler said. "To look toward another location, it would have to be something very similar to where there is a resurgence of the downtown area that would draw people in from outside."



Old Town Beer Exchange, which will seat 22 but can fit up to 50 for small standing-room events, will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. Bill Fowler said they haven't made a decision yet on whether to open Sundays.

Customers should visit their Facebook page for updates on opening.