La Jara Brewing Company resumes construction in Norwalk after COVID-19 delay (Feature)

La Jara Brewing Company co-owners Derek and Randolph (Randy) Johnstone stand with their brewing equipment. They plan to open their brewery and bar sometime in 2021.

La Jara Brewing Company intended to open its brewery and bar in Norwalk in late 2020. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the small business’ plans were delayed for months.

The company grew out of Derek Johnstone and Jason Sullivan’s hobby of home-brewing beers. After Derek’s father, Randolph (Randy) became involved their business began to form, and the trio became co-owners of the company.

They began researching beers and lager to brew in their company, and purchased the equipment needed to start brewing in larger quantities.

As the co-owners began to build their business, Sullivan found a building in Norwalk that had enough room for their brewery and a bar to serve their patrons.

“It was part of the original business plan to have a brewery and bar in the same building,” said Sullivan. “A — this building is oversized for us. It’s too big, which gives us room to grow. B — we can convert it into manufacturing space. It’s big enough for manufacturing and big enough for us to have a really big tasting area for people.”

Randolph Johnstone also shared that htey have ambitions to brew wine, too.

Once the company had a building, it required several city permits before construction could begin. As the owners applied for the permits, the coronavirus pandemic began, and several city department hours were reduced or closed.

Since they had pending permits, Sullivan and the Johnstones rushed to the city departments so they could begin working.

“We had some pending permits with the city, so we had to chase those down. Certain officials were only there one day a week. Then they would leave it with someone else, and that person had gone for the week. The schedules were always changing,” said Derek Sullivan. “Once we got the permits from the county, we hit the ground running, and all this went up in the last three months.”

Since receiving their permits, the co-owners of La Jara Brewing Company have moved their brewing machines into their building. They plan to open their bar and brewery later in 2021.

Derek also stated that the final permit they needed took five months to receive.

Since beginning construction, the brewery equipment has moved in, and they are drawing designs for the bar.

While the owners are the only full time employees at this time, they plan to hire more employees once the bar and brewery opens later this year.

While construction has just resumed, the company ownersare confident they will open in 2021. They have advertised their confidence on their website.

To learn about their company, go to lajarabrewing.com.