Idea for Newton
business brewing
after law change
By John Jennings
Perhaps the new alcoholic beverage law in Iowa should be called the Mason Groben law. In effect, it allows Groben, and anyone else, to operate a winery as well as a brewery.
The new law, championed by State Sen. Dennis Black (D-Lynnville), and signed last week by Gov. Culver, allows a person employed by a class A native wine permittee to also be employed by a native brewery so long as the person does not have an ownership interest in either licensed premises.
Groben got involved in making wine several years ago when his parents, Paul and Jean Groben, started Jasper Winery here in Jasper County. Mason earned a couple of degrees related to wine making and vineyards and began working for his parents. Now, he has his mind set on starting a brewery here in Newton, but prior to last week, a Prohibition-era law on the Iowa code books has prevented entrepreneurs like Mason Groben from being involved in both alcoholic processes.
Groben now has his state license for brewing beer and will lease one of the former Maytag buildings from Iowa Telecom for the enterprise.
“We’re planning on a start next January at the latest, but it could be as soon as July,” Groben said.
It all depends on how soon he can get all the brewing equipment together. “We’ll start ordering the equipment in May, and it should arrive in eight to 12 weeks.”
The brewhouse equipment for the Mad House Brewery includes stainless steel tanks for fermenting, plus bottling and kegging equipment. Groben said the name “Mad House” came from a record store in Phoenix that he liked.
Groben plans on making three kinds of beer to start with, an amber ale, a pale ale and a wheat ale.
Black said he was glad to clear the way for a new business venture in Newton.
“This is a great use of a historical landmark in Newton, and a good business for an entrepreneurial young man,” Black said.
John Jennings can be contacted at 792-3121 ext. 425 or via e-mail at jjennings@newtondailynews.com.
