Battlefield microbrewery sets fall opening date

Last edited 2:51 p.m., March 1, 2021

A microbrewery in the works since at least last year has set a fall opening date.

Wire Road Brewery LLC plans to hire 10 employees for the 3,500-square-foot venture, according to a news release from the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce's economic development arm.

"A supportive city administration, successful existing businesses and potential for growth made our choice to bring a brewery to the area an easy one," said Deanna Walker, co-owner and partner of the brewery, in the release. "Battlefield checked all the boxes and made perfect sense for a place like Wire Road."

A groundbreaking ceremony is slated to be scheduled soon on land near Highway FF and Farm Road 172. The brewery site is less than a mile south of Republic Road.

Springfield Business Journal late last year reported on Wire Road Brewery's plans for Battlefield, though at the time, the owners weren’t ready to make a formal announcement. The business is owned by Kary and Deanna Walker and Jeff and Angela Birchler.

Battlefield City Administrator Frank Schoneboom told SBJ in November the Wire Road owners first approached city officials about the concept in May. The land was annexed into the city over the summer and rezoned to commercial in September, Schoneboom previously said, noting no development incentives were provided for the owners.

Nesbitt Construction Inc. is serving as general contractor for the project designed by Esterly, Schneider & Associates Inc., according to the release.

Ten breweries operate within Springfield city limits, and Wire Road becomes the closest microbrewery to set up shop outside of the city, according to past reporting.