(New Carlisle, IN) - Historic downtown New Carlisle is turning over a new leaf with the opening of several new businesses recently. One of them is a craft brewery that’s tied to local history.
Since 2018 Studebaker Brewing Company has been operating out of Tippecanoe Place in downtown South Bend. The swanky location has been a useful launch pad for the company, but, ironically, limited space in the 24,000 square-foot venue became an obstacle for growth.
Owner Kevin Jakel partnered with former toy designer and brand developer Steve Wehmeyer to expand Studebaker Brewing. Recently they brought their brand to New Carlisle, where they’ve opened a new location in the building where Miller’s Home Café operated for many decades. About four years ago, the town’s history museum rehabbed the space and has been looking for a suitable business to occupy it ever since.
Wehmeyer, of Culver, said finding a location tied to Studebaker auto lore was a key ingredient in their location search. “We looked at several spaces in South Bend prior to this,” he told HTNN. “It was important to us that there be some historical connection with Studebaker.” New Carlisle was a good fit, since Studebaker’s “proving ground,” where they tested vehicles, was located just outside of town at what is now Bendix Woods County Park. “For us to possess the space we do at Tippecanoe Place, which is the home of the Studebaker family, and now have a space in New Carlisle tied to the proving ground is very cool to us,” added Wehmeyer.
He says the building in New Carlisle has allowed them to expand their brewing capacity, giving head brewer Josh Goins more freedom to develop new brews. The brewery keeps about a dozen original Studebaker-themed beers on tap. Wehmeyer says you don’t have to be a car buff to appreciate offerings like “Wagon Wheel” American wheat, “Avanti” American amber, or the “Indy Special” milk stout. They also offer a full menu of pub food.
“Absolutely no regrets coming to New Carlisle,” said Wehmeyer. “We love the community. We’d like to become the neighborhood watering hole.” You can’t miss the place when you drive into town. There’s a 1949 Studebaker pickup truck parked right outside.
