The Scoop: Earthbound Brewing coming to Cherokee Street

Something unusual is fermenting at Earthbound Brewing. The three-person start-up is bringing its unorthodox approach to craft suds to a new space at 2710 Cherokee St. Earthbound’s brews emphasize unusual ingredients and recondite beer recipes with historical cachet. “We’re brewing strange wheat and hops that are classical to beer but which you may not see much anymore,” said Rebecca Schranz, vice president of business development for Earthbound. Along with president of beer Stuart Keating and vice president of operations Jeff Siddons, the trio began brewing in a University City apartment and entering their product in competitions before making the leap to an “extremely tiny” shotgun-style spot in the Cherokee neighborhood. The new space will house a tasting room open to the public in front and will contain the fermenting and bottling operations in back. Expect seating for 30, four rotating taps and one dedicated beer behind the bar. The tasting room will operate on a bring-your-own-food policy, though small fare may be offered after the opening. “We wanted to keep the experience intimate,” Schranz said. “We also knew the people on Cherokee, which is in a big growth stage right now, would be looking for something outside of their comfort zone.” The beer lineup suggests as much. Two brews planned for the September opening include a Kentucky common, a sour brown ale popular in 19th-century Louisville, and an IPA infused with Thai basil and jaggery, a semi-refined sugar made from dates and sugarcane. A couple varieties of pale ales and hopped wheats are also in the works. Earthbound’s new digs are slated to operate from Friday to Sunday. If you’re already getting thirsty, track its progress in the meantime on Facebook or Twitter.