Dan Healy and Brian Myers soon will open the doors to Midstate Distillery in Harrisburg.
If all goes according to plan, Harrisburg’s first craft distillery will open next month, as Midstate Distillery today received its final permission to manufacture spirits and serve customers.
Business partners Dan Healy and Brian Myers said the distillery passed its state Liquor Control Board inspection this morning, which means the pair can begin to produce their first batches of spirits. They plan first to offer rum, vodka and moonshine, with whiskey and gin to follow.
“My hope is to be open no later than Thanksgiving,” said Healy.
For almost two years, Healy and Myers have been renovating the 6,000-square-foot, former Smith Paint building across Cameron Street from Consolidated Scrap Resources. The building was severely dilapidated when they bought the property in December 2013, and they’ve done most of the work themselves.
“It needed everything,” said Healy, who said the pair chose Harrisburg due to its central location in the metropolitan area.
The production, aging and storage areas.
Today, most of the pieces are in place. A gleaming copper still was recently installed near the rear of the industrial space, with the bar and restored vintage stools at the front. Tables will occupy much of the area between the bar and the still.
“I’ll be working day and night to get everything finished,” Healy said.
The bar area near the front of the house.
Healy said Midstate Distillery will produce about 20 cases of liquor a week to start, with the ability to ramp up as demand increases. They will serve drinks by the glass, as well as sell bottles, and also would like to distribute to bars in the area.
It is believed that Midstate Distillery will be the first legal distillery to operate in Harrisburg since Prohibition.
Midstate Distillery is located at 1817 N. Cameron St., Harrisburg. More information is at their website and Facebook page.
