A brewery in Rehoboth is one step closer to being able to serve its own beer on site.

Veteran-owned and operated Anawan Brewing Company, located at 7 Park Street in Rehoboth, opened up this past January but only for beer sales and distribution. There was no tap room or beer garden to drink in, but that will soon change. The brewery's request for a pouring license is under review and could soon be a reality for the small town brewing company.

Two years after the company was founded and patented back in 2017 by Steffen S. Johnson, an Army veteran, along with his partner and head brewer Dan DiRienzo, Anawan Brewing has finally found a building to start brewing its own house-recipe beers.

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Location Is Key

"We looked for a space to call home for years until we settled upon 7 Park Street in Rehoboth," Johnson said. "Construction began around late 2019 and has continued into early 2021 (due to the pandemic). We have been open for curbside pickup since January 2021."

Obtaining a Pouring License for 'ABC' Was No Walk in the Park

"We have had to go through several hurdles throughout our planning process for ABC," Johnson explained. "We experienced the government shutdown in 2019 when we were trying to get our federal brewery license. We experienced the pandemic-COVID shutdown when we tried to get our Massachusetts brewer's license and now we are experiencing minor setbacks due to the pandemic as it pertains to our pouring license."

"We applied for the pouring permit in July of 2020, but due to the town office/meetings being shut down and us needing to edit the application for resubmission, we didn't get to resubmit until July of 2021," he said. "Once we resubmitted, the town then needed to approve the license before sending to the state of Massachusetts. As far as the town goes, we don't foresee any further setbacks."

Preparing for the Next Plan of Action Moving Forward

"We are currently awaiting state approval for the pouring permit. Once the pouring permit has been sent back to the Town of Rehoboth, it can then be issued to us approved," Johnson said. "In the meantime, while awaiting Massachusetts approval, we are going to be putting the finishing construction touches on the taproom and outdoor beer garden in hopes to open sometime this late summer/early fall."

The Future for Anawan Brewing Company Is Clear – and Allows Dogs

"If granted a pouring license, this will be the last piece of the long-awaited puzzle that is opening a bootstrapped nano-brewery," Johnson said. "We hope to be open on Thursday, Friday, and Saturdays to start with six to nine beers on tap, merch and cans to go, and a rotating schedule of food trucks weekly."

"We will also be dog friendly, and a 100 percent veteran-owned small business," he said. "We hope ABC can be a place for the local community to relax and enjoy an independent, handcrafted and local beer."

One Army Veterans Dream Could Soon Be a Supportive Reality

"Our customers/supporters have been nothing short of amazing. I started this dream when I was deployed in Afghanistan in 2012," Johnson said. "I began the journey in 2017 and have felt the love ever since. I get messages, reviews, emails weekly about how excited everyone is, and it is truly what keeps us going. If it wasn't for our local community of supporters, we wouldn't ever be where we are today."

Keep an eye and ear out for the big news coming soon from Anawan as they patiently await the news they've been longing to hear from the state.

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