Derby native decided his town needed a craft brewery, too. This week, he’s opening one

Denise Neil

Another home brewer has decided to share his skills with the public by opening a craft brewery.

This one, though, is in Derby, which doesn’t yet have the craft beer scene Wichita does.

On Thursday, Derby natives Adam and Hannah Clark will officially open their First Man Brewery at 437 E. Madison Ave. in Derby. Their space, which previously was home to Blue Dragon Books, sits just across the street from Derby’s Madison Avenue Central Park.

The business will showcase the skills Adam has developed since he first started experimenting with home brewing in 2015. He would always invite friends and family over to try his creations, and they loved his beer so much, he and Hannah decided to open their own brewery.

First Man Brewery will have 60 seats inside and eventually will also have a patio. For now, it will serve beer only, though the couple has plans to add a kitchen in the near future. In the meantime, customers can bring their own food or patronize the food trucks the Clarks plan to invite to park outside.

Adam and Hannah Clark, who have four children, say their First Man Brewery will be family friendly.
Adam and Hannah Clark, who have four children, say their First Man Brewery will be family friendly.

For opening weekend, the brewery will have seven beers on tap, including a pale ale, an IPA, a wheat, a brown ale, an amber, a Norwegian lager, and a sour. The hours for opening weekend will be 4 to 10 p.m. Thursday, 3 to 11 p.m. Friday and noon to 11 p.m. Saturday. Starting next week, the hours will be 3-10 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, 3 to 11 p.m. Fridays, and noon to 11 p.m. Saturdays. (The hours could change depending on beer availability each day.)

The Clarks said that they decided that Derby needed a brewery. Adam and Hannah, who both grew up in Derby and met at St. Mary’s Schools when it used to operate on Madison Avenue, said the community has been supportive of their endeavor.

The couple has four children and says their brewery will be family friendly. As soon as the patio opens (the Clarks are just waiting on permits) it will be pet friendly, too.

For more information on First Man Brewery, visit www.facebook.com/firstmanbrewery

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