Rubber Soul Brewing Co. bounces into Salisbury

Salisbury's restaurants and convenience stores will soon have a new brand of local beer to sell.

Rubber Soul Brewing, located on Northwood Drive, plans to open its doors by mid-April.

While other breweries in the area offer menu items aside from cold beverages, Rubber Soul will be strictly all about the beer.

Jesse Prall, Rubber Soul's co-founder and head brewer, has been in the business for the past 16 years. He was the head brewer at Appalachian Brewing Co. in Pennsylvania before becoming the brewing supervisor at Dogfish Head for the last 10 years.

"I don't know everything, but I know a lot about making good beer," he said. "It's been a big part of a lot of my life."

Prall, who is opening the brewery with four other friends, said the timing was finally right for the group to start their own business.

"We each bring something valuable to the table," Prall said.

As head brewer, he will oversee all things beer. Frank Hrestak, Rubber Soul's other co-founder, is the numbers guy. Corey Deibler will handle taxes, and Beau Faulkner is in charge of marketing. Jon Sullivan will oversee sales and advertising.

"Each of us have specialized career backgrounds that work perfectly together," Prall said.

After countless hours of developing the brewery's brand and concept, working and reworking the business plan, finalizing the structural blueprints and coming up with the last bit of money, Prall said the founders can finally see the finish line on the horizon. They plan to distribute to the Delmarva Peninsula and to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where Prall and his crew are from.

To please every palate, the brewery will offer a broad spectrum of beer, ranging from amber ales to heavy stouts and hoppy IPAs.

The brewery's 2,400-square-foot, open-concept floor plan will allow guests to see the seven aging barrels and fermentation tanks in action. There will be a small retail section and an intimate tasting room with six to eight beers on tap for tastings or growler fillups.

Although Prall grew up in Pennsylvania, his family has lived in Delaware for several years. He has a summer home on Chincoteague Island and now a new business in Salisbury.

"Yeah, I am all Eastern Shore," he said. "I just love this area and the people. I am so excited to be where I'm at."

The "coolness factor"

Dave Ryan, executive director for Salisbury-Wicomico Economic Development Inc., is excited about the benefits the new brewery will bring to the city.

"It'll create some new jobs and utilize a vacant building, which is great," he said. "Plus, breweries give communities that coolness factor."

Those in the industry are passionate about their product, and those who enjoy tasting and trying new brews will travel for it. Breweries can turn an ordinary town into a destination spot — and the industry is booming.

It contributed $33.9 billion to the U.S. economy in 2012 and created more than 360,000 jobs, according to the National Brewers Association.

Maryland is home to 46 breweries, a $455.5 million economic impact and Delaware has 10 breweries, an $82.9 million economic impact.

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hcarroll2@dmg.gannett.com

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