Anthem is getting a brewery, and Eric Kilstrom and co-host Sawana sit down with the man behind it. Mike, founder of Homeland Brew Co, traces a long road from Midwest beer country to the spirits business in Los Angeles, then to a pandemic-era dream he and his wife chased to Arizona. The brand honors military members and first responders, a nod to the many in their circle. His new beer hall sits on the west side of Interstate 17, beside the Havana Cigar Bar, with roughly 3,200 square feet, about twenty taps, and space designed for families, dogs, and neighbors alike. Mike wants community seating where strangers strike up a conversation, plus a founding members club he calls the Anthem Ale Society. He is targeting a Father’s Day weekend opening with a chamber ribbon cutting. It is a hopeful small business story about a newcomer betting on Anthem’s tight-knit crowd.
Key takeaways
- Homeland Brew Co will open on the west side of Interstate 17, beside the Havana Cigar Bar.
- The roughly 3,200 square foot beer hall plans about twenty taps, including seltzers and non-alcoholic pours.
- The brand centers on military members and first responders as a way to give back.
- A founding members club, the Anthem Ale Society, sold dozens of memberships before opening.
- Mike designed the space for families, dogs, yard games, and shared community seating.
- He aimed to open Father's Day weekend with a chamber ribbon cutting.