EXETER — Craft beer aficionados will have 50 new taps to choose from when the Thirty Moose Taphouse comes to town, taking over the former Mexico Lindo location on Portsmouth Avenue.

The Thirsty Moose signed a lease June 10 and has already begun renovations to the building which has been vacant for several months. Plans for the space include a new bar, glass garage doors opening to outdoor patio seating, a fire pit and raised-bed gardens. This will be the fourth Thirsty Moose location, with restaurants already in Portsmouth, Dover and Manchester.

"We all live locally and kept driving by it, made some phone calls and it became a reality," said co-owner Brian Ward. "This location is going to allow us to be creative and try things out. It’s smaller than the other locations."

Co-owner Joe Kelley, who also operates Joe's New York Pizza and Fat Belly's Bar and Grill, said the Thirsty Moose takes pride in its beer selection.

"We change up beers constantly," he said. "We really excel there, we constantly rotate. We have good beer but we also have great food and a great environment. It’s a place to watch a game, hang out with your family." The restaurant will have 20 to 30 TVs.

While the Portsmouth location boasts around 100 beers on tap, the Exeter restaurant will have about 50 due to its smaller size, and about 88 seats.

"One of our goals is that every time you come in the restaurant, you can a try a beer you haven’t tried before," said John Upton, financial officer for Thirsty Moose.

The Exeter location will offer takeout and delivery options. The brick oven, which will be out in the open for diners to see, cooks pizza in less than five minutes.

Plans for outdoor seating are still in the design process, but the hope is a raised-bed garden will border the patio, growing blueberries, raspberries and mint for cocktails and meals. Kelley mentioned yard games as something he'd like to see outdoors, along with umbrellas and a fire pit.

"Exeter needs more casual dining like ours, with a cool concept," said Carrie Upton, managing partner. "There's a lot of great higher-end restaurants downtown but for our style restaurant, you really only have Margaritas."

Darren Winham, the town's economic development director, was part of the team that helped bring the Thirsty Moose to Exeter. “The Thirsty Moose is a home run for the Portsmouth Avenue corridor as it is a growing, well-established business that appeals to a diverse customer base," he said. "The planned outdoor seating environment is particularly exciting and will highlight Exeter’s rising vibrancy along an important artery.”

The location comes with the necessary parking and Upton said that's not typical in Exeter. "There aren’t many places a family can park and get in with five kids," he said. "It was a natural fit."

Carrie Upton said the Thirsty Moose restaurants cater to all demographics, from young professionals to families.

Food will likely be served until at least 10 p.m. on weekdays and later on weekends. A brunch menu will be offered on Sundays and potentially Saturdays. Ward said he expects business will dictate hours of operation.

Kelley and Ward said they're shooting for a Sept. 1 opening, if not sooner.

"The town has been really friendly and receptive," Kelley said. "Exeter wants the business."