I didn’t set out to investigate Manchester’s brewing history—I just wanted a beer. 

But after a visit to the newly opened Manchester Brewing, a question stuck with me: Could this really be the first brewery in town since Prohibition?

So, I started digging. After a few emails, archived newspaper searches, and help from a local librarian, I had an answer, sort of. From everything I could find, Manchester Brewing—which opened its doors in February 2025—is the first to bring locally brewed beer back to the village in over a century.

And it brought tacos with it.

Manchester Brewing 

On February 27, 2025, Manchester Brewing, the village’s newest (and only!) brewery, opened its doors at 122 E Main Street. Nestled between Edward Jones and LaRock Dental, this charming spot is where history meets hops—and tacos. 

My research started with a 2014 Manchester Mirror series by Ray Berg and Alan Dyer, “Lager, Lymph, Germans and Templars in Manchester.” I found references to Manchester Brewing Co., founded in 1906 and closed in 1919, right around when the federal government decided beer was too much fun and ruined everything. Before 1906, breweries like Christian Renz’s and John Koch’s kept Manchester well-supplied with German-style lagers.

While deep in my research, I contacted the Michigan Liquor Control Commission and Margaret, a volunteer at the local library’s Claire Reck Local History Room. (Also, Margaret tried the tacos. She approves.) 

They both added evidence I was likely right: Manchester Brewing was the first brewery in Manchester in over 100 years. 

Welcome Home 

So you see, Manchester Brewing is, in many ways, a homecoming. 

“It’s been almost all word of mouth,” says Carley Burkett, Front of House leadership at Manchester Brewing. “One of the first weeks we opened, a customer told me they saw our ‘Open’ sign and literally made a U-turn in the street.”

Carley has spent her life in the hospitality industry. As a child, she helped her mother in restaurants, polishing glasses while her siblings bussed tables. Today, she brings that lifelong experience to Manchester Brewing, helping to create a space where residents and visitors alike feel at home.

The Bakery That Became a Brewery

The building that houses Manchester Brewing has lived many lives. Locals might remember it as the home of All Thingz Green, the 18th Century Shoppe, or even Roller Jewelry. For many years, Manchester Bakery was also located in a portion of what is now Manchester Brewing. 

When owner Jason Cooper and his team took over the space, they inherited a 10’ x 10’ bread oven—and the heavy-duty gear that once powered it. Today, that gear hangs on the wall as a tribute to the building’s roots and a nod to the community’s layered past.

“The gear and flywheel were salvaged. We mounted it on the wall to highlight our founder’s club & to pay homage to the previous tenant,” says Jason.

Like the bakery, Manchester Brewing is quickly becoming a hub for locals to gather. While there, we ran into friends and settled near the big front window with a view of Main Street. It was the perfect spot to catch up and reminisce as familiar faces passed our table. That’s exactly part of the brewery’s charm.

What about the beer?

Local response to the brewery has been enthusiastic, especially among those with deep ties to the community. During a recent interview for the Life in Michigan podcast, Terris Ahrens—a Manchester native and current Executive Director of the Chelsea Area Chamber of Commerce—shared his impressions.

“I was there the first week they opened for lunch. I’m a huge fan. Very good beer. I’m mostly an IPA guy, but I moved around on their menu quite a bit. That cream ale? Really tasty. If there’s ever been a deceiving name for a beer—it’s cream ale. It’s not creamy, but it’s good!”

Meet Bob: The Beer Wizard

Owner Jason Cooper originally planned to be the head brewer but quickly realized that running a brewery and brewing all the beer is, well, a lot. Enter Bob Johnson, an assistant brewer at Grizzly Peak in Ann Arbor. 

Now, he’s the head brewer at Manchester Brewing, working his magic on a compact one-barrel system sourced from a Colorado coffee shop-turned-brewery. “It’s small, but it gives us flexibility,” Bob says. “I brew twice a week just to keep up.”

So far, fan favorites include the “River Raisin Red” (a nod to the River Raisin that flows through town) and the Cream Ale. But don’t be surprised if a pickle beer or hop-forward seasonal makes its debut. Bob’s already working with hops from Michigan Hop Alliance and looking forward to some local harvest beers this fall.

The Tacos Are Not a Drill

Speaking of spice, the brewery’s food program—led by Chef James Armour—focuses on tacos with a twist. Jason shared that the original food concept came down to two contenders: BBQ or tacos. “Tacos are like a blank canvas,” he says. “You can create something amazing and make it your own.”

And they have. The staples—Barbacoa, Carnitas (Carley’s fave), and Pollo de Tinga—are hits. But the Cuban-inspired Picadillo and the pan-fried Perch Pescado are climbing the charts. One runaway hit? The house-made nachos debuted as a special and earned a permanent spot on the menu.

“I’m a sucker for good cuisine, man, and those tacos are killing,” Terris told us. “ The picadillo—which I made everyone at the table try, even the ones who hate green olives and raisins—is just a phenomenal taco. I did the grilled fish—Pescado—on the rice and bean bowl instead of a taco. That plus the picadillo? Excellent stuff. I love that place.”

Locally Brewed Craft Beer 

It took over 100 years, but locally brewed craft beer is finally back in Manchester. And it brought tacos. And good people. And a space where you can meet a friend by the window and wave to half the town as they walk past.

This isn’t just a brewery. It’s a comeback story in a pint glass.

Pictures

Check out our photo gallery for more photos of Manchester Brewing. 

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