Barbara and Bryan Ritter are turning a  homebrew hobby into a business.

“Over the past year several people have mentioned that we should do this,” Barbara said. “We brew beer at home and enjoy it. So we decided to go for it.”

Barbara Ritter did research and found that microbreweries are opening in small historic towns, she said.

The Ritter’s are leasing the southwest corner of the Beaux Art Center’s basement from owners, Bobby and Denise Duncan.

“We envision that it will bring in people to Fort Scott,”  she said. “They will see these old buildings and start putting money back into this amazing town. We see the brewery as bringing in new tourists.”

Bryan Ritter will be the primary brewer.

“It will be craft beer, part of it from the water from Fort Scott Lake and the Marmaton River,” Bryan said. “The other part of the beer is grain and hops. Hops are what gives it flavor.”

The Ritters found a hops farm in Ottawa and other ingredients will be locally resourced, he said.

They will use honey from their farm in producing the beer, along with wildflowers, fruit, and nuts.

The Ritter’s have owned Black Dog Farm, near Garland, for five years.

So far in the process, city, county, and federal approval have been given the Ritters.

“The state has visited the premise,” Bryan said. “A few more things they need to receive from us. Then we can start the brewery.”

Because beer takes time to ferment, it will have to cook for a few months, he said.

“We are hoping around Christmas or New Years to be open,” Bryan said.