There’s a new enterprise in downtown Fort Dodge. Brothers Nate and Todd McCubbin have launched ShinyTop Brewing at 520 Central Ave.

The business, which had its grand opening May 18, not only makes beer, but also sells it through a taproom. According to Todd McCubbin this is the first time since 1885 that the city has been home to a brewery.

The inspiration for this venture came from his time serving with the U.S. military in Germany, Todd McCubbin said.

“Some of the best beers I ever had were in Germany when I was in the Army,” he said, adding that missing the taste led him and his brother, Nate McCubbin, to experiment with home brewing.

A decision was made to turn what started out as a hobby into a business. ShinyTop Brewing was born with Nate McCubbin at the operational helm and the two brothers as co-owners.

“Nate likes recipes and the science that goes into brewing beers,” Todd McCubbin said. “He got really good at making beer. So, we decided to go with this format, which is a brewery with a taproom. Nate is the face of ShinyTop.”

Both the brewery and the taproom are all about handcrafted beer.

“We’re just selling the beer here,” Todd McCubbin said. “It’s a draft beer. We just sell our own beer. We have eight varieties of beer. In the taproom, we have seven taps and eight beers, so there will only be seven on tap at any given time.”

Nate McCubbin said people who want to try beers with outstanding taste are invited to pay a visit to ShinyTop.

“ShinyTop is a place for beer lovers of all kinds,” he said. “These are handcrafted beers. Flavor sets them apart. We want our community to know they are welcome to sample, ask questions and just hang out.”

There is no food service in the taproom, but hungry patrons have a variety of options.

“You can order appetizers and sandwiches from Olde Boston’s and they deliver them here,” Todd McCubbin said. “Or you can order a pizza from anywhere that delivers. You are welcome to swing through a drive-thru on your way here.”

The McCubbins bought the building that now houses ShinyTop Brewing and massively renovated it.

“It was gutted,” Todd McCubbin said. “Basically everything is new. My goal in the design of this was to incorporate industrial with a warm feel. It’s warm and inviting, yet it has that modern, industrial feel to it.”

McCubbin said Jensen Builders handled the rebuild of the space. The taproom features an elegant bar that was built by another local business, Fletcher Wood Products Inc.

Todd McCubbin said the choice of Central Avenue for the brewery reflects the enthusiasm he and his brother have for the revitalization of the city’s historic downtown.

“We just kind of knew that this was the area where it needed to be,” he said. “Downtown recently has become beautiful. It’s had this major turnaround, a major shift. I see downtown continuing to thrive.”

The taproom hasn’t been open for long, but Nat McCubbin said the public has responded positively to it and the beer.

“It’s been fantastic,” he said. “A lot of people say, ‘it’s about time, we’ve been waiting for something like this.’ I’ve having a blast.”

His brother has a message about the beer for those folks who have yet to stop by.

“It’s made here in Fort Dodge,” Todd McCubbin said. “It’s the freshest beer you will ever drink in your life. There is distinct flavor to the beer.”

More expansion

The brothers currently only brew enough beer to meet the needs of the taproom, but an increase in the brewing capability will come online shortly, Todd McCubbin said.

“It takes about three weeks to make beer,” he said. “We can produce 200 gallons a week now and that will go up to 300 gallons a week soon. We just bought two more fermenters. We can’t keep up with production. As soon as production increases to the point where we aren’t running out in the taproom, we’ll start with growlers. A growler is a jug that holds 64 ounces of beer. You come in. We fill it up for you, put a lid on it, heat-seal a little plastic ring on the top and you can take it home and drink it.”

McCubbin said that take-home option should be available this month. Wider sales are also expected to commence this summer.

“As a small brewery in Iowa we are able to self-distribute,” he said. “We plan to sell to the region. There are no microbreweries between here and Okoboji.”

In the years ahead, the brothers said they hope to see the business grow far beyond its modest beginnings.

“Eventually, and this is long-term, we’d like to have a package brewery where we bottle or can and distribute,” Nate McCubbin said. “We’ll take it one step at a time. We’ll start with Fort Dodge and the northwestern area of Iowa and then expand throughout the whole state.”

Investment opportunity

To help fund an outdoor patio venue at the rear of the business and support additional expansion of the enterprise the McCubbins have created an innovative investment opportunity for patrons.

This program is described in a statement issued by the owners:

“We are offering two options for people to invest in their own piece of ShinyTop Brewing. The first is called the Legacy Glass. For $250 the Legacy investor will be awarded a personalized, limited-edition 22-ounce pilsner glass that will be kept in a place of honor in ShinyTop’s taproom that can be filled for the 16-ounce price. As a Legacy investor, rights to the Legacy Glass will be transferable to the next of kin of your choosing. Imagine an extra 6 ounces of ShinyTop goodness at every visit and the ability to pass this privilege on for generations to come. A Legions Glass will also be offered. For a mere $100 the Legions investor will be given a personalized 20-ounce pilsner glass that will be kept in ShinyTop’s taproom for life. Investing at this level gives the stakeholder the ability to fill their Legions Glass for the same price as the normal 16-ounce prices.”

Art for sale

Visitors to the taproom will notice that its walls are lined with artworks by local artists. The art is for sale and will constantly be refreshed, according to Todd McCubbin.

Three artists are currently being featured – Gary Winch who takes wildlife photography, LeRoy Husske who paints and Rick McCubbin, the father of Nate and Todd, who has spent the last two years experimenting with the ziatype process.

Also for sale is an assortment of ShinyTop merchandise including glassware and T-shirts.

The taproom is open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 3 to 10 p.m. and on Saturdays from noon to 10 p.m.