Rogers Planning Commissioners Approve First Benton County Distillery

— Planning Commissioners approved Tuesday a permit for Gene Hobbs to operate the first distillery in Rogers.

No one in the audience spoke against the operation at 707 S. Eighth St. in the former Central Glass company. Tom Davis, who owns property behind the building spoke in favor of the distillery.

At A Glance

Commission Action

Rogers’ Planning Commission meet Tuesday and approved:

• A permit for a Walmart Neighborhood Market fueling station on the southwest corner of West Walnut and Eighth streets.

• Plans for the Rogers Bike Park on 43.7 acres east of South Arkansas Street and north of Pine Street.

• The plat of Hidden Acres, six-lot subdivision on 5.26 acres between Pack Land and South 45th Street.

Source: Staff Report

"I don't have any objection to the distillery, although I would like a 6-foot privacy fence between the building and my property," Davis said. Commissioners made the fence part of the permit.

Hobbs explained the building was in rough shape and would have to be remodeled to fit his needs.

"We will have a brick firewall installed between the distilling room, with a 300-gallon stainless steel still at the back of the building and the tasting and sales area at the front," Hobbs said. Additionally a fire suppression unit will be installed in the distilling room.

"We will be open initially from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday," Hobbs said. "We may add Saturday if there is enough business to warrant staying open."

Craft beers have been making inroads in the beer world, brewing officials said. Craft distilling is also beginning to become popular, according to the American Distilling Institute. There were 24 craft distilleries in the United States in 2001 and 456 as of December 2013.

"This is just our first step," Hobbs said. "There are pages and pages of state and federal forms that have to be filled out, inspections and a dozen other things before we can begin distilling our product, which will be a variety of 100- to 190-proof flavored liquor. We hope to be open for business in August, at the latest before Bikes, Blues & BBQ," Hobbs said.

Taxes on distilled liquor depend on the proof and the amount produced, according to a spokesman at the federal Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. Tax can range from $2.70 to $13.50 per gallon.

NW News on 04/16/2014

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