Beer Garage Brewing offering up cold drinks and good times

      Joe Ehle, owner of Beer Garage Brewing in Montezuma with his wife, Ellen, takes a break from making another batch of beer in the local brewery. The business is located in an old service station and car wash at 113th N. 4th St. that was boarded up for years.

​By J.O. Parker
 
       The old Phillips 66 garage in Montezuma once served customers with a fresh tank of gas, an oil change or a grease job and general auto repairs, such as a new set of spark plugs, all with a friendly smile. It later was a local carwash.
       After years of being bordered up, Joe and Ellen Ehle of Lake Ponderosa have given the old service station at 113th N. 4th St. new life.
        The business motto is “A small brewery with a big heart in a small town.”
        The couple recently opened Beer Garage Brewing on July 3 with a ribbon cutting.   
       Today, the couple is serving up cold craft beers, domestic beers, wine and sodas to those who stop in for a drink.
        Performers often stop by and strum their guitars and sing their songs.
        The couple currently offers a variety of craft beers that they make in house.
        “We have six beers of our own on tap,” said Joe.
        “We try to change it as much as possible,” added Ellen. “We are always trying new beers.”
         Joe said it takes from seven to 14 days to make a variety of beer.
      The couple doesn’t offer food, but encourages customers to support neighboring restaurants. On occasion, an area food truck will be on hand to serve customers.
        And there is always plenty of hot popcorn to enjoy.
        When asked how the business is going, Ellen said, “We have done very well.”
         “The town has been extremely supportive,” she said.
          The couple first looked at the building in the spring of 2024 with plans to use it for storage.
          “After taking a look at it, we thought it would make a great brewery,” noted Joe.
          The couple dug in and started remodeling on the weekends when staying at the lake.
           The business can seat 30 inside and there is also an outdoor covered seating area.
           “We are dog and family-friendly,” said Ellen.
           And outside next to the building is an old early 50s International tow truck.
         “We wanted a tow truck because the building used to be a gas station,” said Joe. “Finding a tow truck was costly. We just wanted yard art.”
          “The old truck is just a shell with no engine and a makeshift tow bar,” added Joe. “He’s retired.”
        The business décor includes old car tires with metal table tops and car seats along with Art Deco springer style chairs for comfort. 
          The business also offers a line of clothing including T-shirts, sweatshirts and hats.
        The business is open Thursday – Sunday. Hours are 5 – 10 p.m. on Thursday, 1 – 10 p.m. on Friday, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. on Saturday, and 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Sunday.
         Ellen said she and Joe are open to discussing using the space for events.
       For more information on the business or to contact the owners, please visit Beer Garage Brewing on Facebook.