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LOLO – The idea that beer can foster community development isn’t new, but it’s a philosophy that Lolo Peak Brewing Co. owners Patrick Offen and Al Zepeda are fully embracing.

Under construction on the north end of town and slated for a tentative opening date sometime this May, their massive new custom-built brewery, taproom, restaurant, garden, park, community center and townhouse development promises to be the social hub that has been lacking in Lolo, Offen said.

“The biggest thing is Lolo doesn’t really have a place where people can go and socialize and meet their brewers and learn about the person they’ve been living next to for the past 10 years,” he said. “That’s what the brewery is going to be too. We don’t want a formal setting. We want a setting where people can come in, chat with each other, meet new people. It’s about bringing the community together. This is definitely going to be the spot to do it.”

Offen, who owns a business in Lolo and ran the Creamery Picnic in Stevensville for six years, said that for people who aren’t married or don’t have kids, there aren’t a lot of opportunities or places to socialize in town.