Rocket Republic Brewing Company, Inc. is a craft brewery located in Madison, Alabama incorporated in Alabama in March 2013. The brewery received their state ABC license in July 2013 and successfully launched their beers on September 6, 2013. The launch day was held at The Nook, a beer bar in Huntsville, Alabama and launch beers were Vapor Trail Cream Ale and Astronut Brown Ale. Rocket Republic is owned by Eric Crigger (brewer), Tatum Crigger, John Troy and Lynn Troy.
Contents
Crigger started brewing on a Mr. Beer kit, quickly progressed to all-grain brewing and then took a part time position at the, now defunct, Olde Towne Brewing Company in Huntsville, Alabama. At Olde Towne, Crigger learned the business aspect to brewing as well as how to brew on Olde Towne's 20 bbl brewhouse. In 2008, Crigger attended a class at Chicago's Siebel Institute of Technology on how to start your own brewery.
Brewing
Rocket Republic ceased contract brewing, started brewing out of their own facility in March of 2015 and opened their tap room on March 17, 2015, St. Patrick's Day. All beer is produced out of their 10,000 square foot warehouse space converted into a functioning brewery. As part of this project, the brewery launched a successful Indiegogo campaign whereby contributors could become "citizens" and earn extra perks to be part of the build-out process.
Tap Room
The tap room is open daily and offers 13 taps plus two Nitro taps. Food trucks are scheduled daily and entertainment each Friday and Saturday evening. A map, real-time calendar of events, food and entertainment is available on the website here: http://www.rocketrepublicbrewing.com/tap-room/
The tap room is kid-friendly and offers non-alcoholic sodas and water.
Beer cocktails are offered and the beer list changes frequently, to see the latest check-ins on Untapped, go here: https://untappd.com/v/rocket-republic-brewing-company/861603
The brewery is the western-most in Madison County and is the closest to Huntsville International Airport, making it a favorite for travelers with easy access via cabs and Uber; and it's only 15 minutes to downtown Huntsville via I-565.
Beer to-go is now available as of June 2016 upon the passage of the "Growler Law" by the state legislature. Rocket Republic offers 32 oz "Crowlers" to-go, filled while you wait. There are also six-packs of several styles available.
Collaboration
In August 2014, Mr. Beer contacted Eric Crigger to gauge interest in collaborating with them on a beer. Having started on Mr. Beer kit, Rocket Republic quickly started working the Mr. Beer brewmaster to create a clone recipe of one of their most popular beers: AstroNut Brown. On October 22, 2014 a Mr. Beer version of Rocket Republic AstroNut Brown Ale shipped from Mr. Beer.
Equipment
Rocket Republic owns a 15 bbl direct fire brewhouse from San Diego based Premier Stainless. In additional the brewhouse, Rocket Republic owns four Premier 30 bbl fermentation vessels, a hot liquor tank, and a 30 bbl brite tank. Prior to purchasing the Premier equipment, Rocket Republic purchased two 30 bbl fermentation vessels in 2013 which are located at their contract brewer. Rocket Republic owns all of their cooperage and occasionally utilizes pubkegs.
Location
289 Production Avenue in Madison, Alabama. 256-325-HOPS
Open daily, current hours as well as a calendar of events is available on rocketrepublicbrewing.com.
Beers
A full beer list of past and present beers is here: https://untappd.com/RocketRepublic/beer