Brew pub taking over Magdalena's?

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/ ... wn-Corydon

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20111207/NEWS02/312070117/1008/NEWS01/Brew-pub-may-tap-downtown-Corydon

That would be a cool addition for the area. $750,000 doesn't go far in the brewing game unless you go small, real small. I hope they move forward.

How do you make a million dollars in the craft brewing business? Start with ten million.

Magdalena's is one of the few non-burgerdoodle dining options in Corydon and environs. It's a shame they have to close/move to make room for the brewery. Surely both could have coexisted. Me thinks there is more to the Magdalena story than has been reported.
As David mentioned, the brew pub does seem under capitalized and many investor mouths to be fed. I wish them well, but have my doubts about long term viability.

Point Blank Brewing Company will be starting their restaurant operations at 105 E Beaver St, Corydon, IN soon. It will likely be December or later before the brewing operation is online. After getting a tip from a well placed friend I stopped by PBB on Saturday morning to see what was up.

I spent a few minutes with two of the owners, Nathan Blank and Jesse Badger, and they were nice enough to give me a tour of the place. First let me say, this building (which they bought) is a very large two story structure chock full of architectural features that harken back to an earlier period of Americana. Their plan is to retain as much of that character as possible within the parameters of a modern operation.

The restaurant portion will be downstairs next to the home brew operation (Cellar on the Square) originally started by Nathan in a nearby location about four years ago. Nathan said the brewing equipment will arrive in November and he hopes to be brewing in December in time for his 30th birthday!

The brewery will take up a large space next to the main dining room. This two story high room appeared cavernous but will likely fill right up once filled with fermenters, aging tanks, and such. The kitchen itself will be quite large by my estimate and shouldn't impose any limitations on the chef due to size.

Jesse who started the Green Door restaurant located just around the corner will be heading up the kitchen operations. We did not discuss this in detail but based on his history at the Green Door and his copious posts regarding food on the Point Blank Brewing Company Facebook page, it is likely that the food on offer will be high quality gastropub fare. Like the Green Door, this will be a step above typical for Corydon but still very much approachable. The recently installed brick oven likely means pizzas will be part of the mix!

The tap room, private event facilities, and offices will be located on the second floor. The tap room will overlook the square and the very substantial bar, which was in pieces when I saw it, had been reclaimed from a public library in Louisville. Speaking of reclaimed, I was also shown some bowling alley lanes that will be turned into dining tables and such. It was very exciting to see this creative vision in the making.

I did not get to talk to PBB's head brewer, David, but I did chat with Nathan for a few minutes about their beer philosophy. The impression I got was that PBB will have a healthy respect for brewing traditional styles and, like all craftsmen and craftswomen, will inject their own creativeness into the mix. The most important question I asked was how they felt about session beers. I was assured that this aspect of brewing would be well-represented.

I want to thank Nathan and Jesse for taking a few minutes to talk to me. I took no notes and didn't really plan to write this up but as I look at sharing this sort of information as just bar talk among friends I hope the guys will forgive me if I've been inaccurate in any way. I also encourage them to contribute to Hotbytes when they have the time. Many of us are very excited about having a real Brew Pub out in the countryside. It would be very cool if we could organize an off-site there once everything is in place. Cheers!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Point-Bl ... 9447161277

Me thinks there is more to the Magdalena story than has been reported.

From what I've heard, this is true, and exonerates the brewpub from charges that it "pushed" out the previous tenant.

Brew Pub is open!! We went just after Thanksgiving when "Light Up Corydon" was going on. The place was packed. Had a 45 minute wait. They hadn't got their liquer licence by then, said it was going to be around 7th December, so I am presuming it is all up and running now. We each had a pizza and they were very good. The only complaint I had is that they had no real bar area, so it didn;t feel like a pub, more of a pizzeria. Still, a welcome addition to Corydon I say, We will go back and check the beers out in the near future.

If they've started serving beer, you sure can't tell it from their Facebook page. But I am looking forward to checking it out once the brewing operation is running.

No they have'nt yet. Messaged them today and got a reply saying they were going to ring Excise to find out today. Wish they would hurry up

If they've started serving beer, you sure can't tell it from their Facebook page. But I am looking forward to checking it out once the brewing operation is running.

No they have'nt yet. Messaged them today and got a reply saying they were going to ring Excise to find out today. Wish they would hurry up

If they've started serving beer, you sure can't tell it from their Facebook page. But I am looking forward to checking it out once the brewing operation is running.

State retail permits and small brewing permits are two completely different animals. The state's Local Board Hearing Information packet for December 2012 shows Old Capital Brewing DBA Point Blank Brewing Company scheduled for a hearing to get a type 103 permit (beer retail only).

That's a bit odd, given that a 112 would give them wine capability, too -- a good thing for retail restaurants, given that some customers do not drink beer.

At any rate, they'd already be up and running if the December hearing went down. Perhaps there was a delay. The local board hearings in Harrison County are on first Tuesday of the month, so I'm guessing they missed January. If the one in February clicks, they can begin serving beer as soon as gavel meets countertop. But none of this implies a beginning of their brewing operation, which requires both federal and state approval.

Has anyone tried the new Magdalena's location in Georgetown?

Has anyone tried the new Magdalena's location in Georgetown?

Yes.

Has anyone tried the new Magdalena's location in Georgetown?

Yes.

So wordy today Roger!

I tried them a few weeks ago for dinner while the girls were getting their hair cut down the street. They are located in the strip mall near Copper Field Subd. It was a souless space in my opinion and it seats about 100. Their one attempt at character is the pineapple (motif and menu). I asked about it and was told simply that the owner likes pineapple.

I had Magdelena's Seafood Trio. I know - that seems a very iffy choice in a strip mall restaurant with a menu more akin to Denny's than anything else but it's what the server recommended.

Oysters, cod, and crab, all favorites of mine and I'm not especially picky were featured with coleslaw I think. Can't remember a less satisfying version of seafood really. Also had cheese cake as there was still time to kill. Also underwhelming. Service was friendly but inattentive for a week night when there were less than twenty customers in the place.

Not trying to damn the place based on my one visit but I'm not anxious to return. Cheers!

I had Magdelena's Seafood Trio. I know - that seems a very iffy choice in a strip mall restaurant with a menu more akin to Denny's than anything else but it's what the server recommended.

That's what I had, too.

Just had a message from Point Blank, they are starting to serve beer today!!! A visit could be in the near future.