Nearly one year ago, Whitestown gained its first brewery with the opening of Moontown Brewing Company at 345 South Bowers St.
The brewery will celebrate its first year in business from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. March 16 with a “One Year Anniversary & Customer Appreciation Day” celebration. The event will feature special Moontown beers available that day only, $1 off pints, merchandise discounts, giveaways and free live music all day.
In just one year, Moontown has become a destination for beer, food and music. Its tight-knit staff and laid-back atmosphere is rooted in family, friendship and community.
Longtime Zionsville resident and commercial builder Pete Mattingly shared his love of brewing with his sons Patrick and Bobby, both graduates of Zionsville Community High School. After the family won first place in the inaugural Whitestown Beer Fest, former Whitestown Town Manager Dax Norton facilitated a deal for the Mattinglys to turn the Bowers Street Gymnasium, then in a state of disrepair, into a brewery. Pete’s company, MattCon General Contractors, managed by Patrick, custom-built the restaurant, brewery and event space while still preserving many of the building’s historic elements.
Patrick and Bobby then recruited close friend and veteran brewer Cody Peczkowski as head brewer and hired a well-vetted staff.
“Putting together the right team was really important,” Bobby said. “That’s paid dividends, for sure.”
Moontown recently hired a new chef, Ian Tirmenstein, whose specialties include sustainably sourced seafood, smoked meats and farm-to-table cuisine. Bobby said Tirmenstein came highly recommended and, after seeing his skill set, hiring him was an easy decision.
“We’ve got a really good vibe here,” Tirmenstein said. “I want to elevate the food with technique and skill, but at the same time we don’t want to take ourselves too seriously.”
With a large garden in the back and a chef and head brewer who source from many local farmers and vendors, Bobby said Moontown is a “from-scratch concept in every sense of the word.”
Moontown caters to the community while staying true to its unique vibe. Since its March 2017 grand opening, the brewery has put on more than 35 events, including trivia nights, beer tappings and a First Friday concert series.
“I think we surprised a lot of people with the local, up-and-coming bands we’ve brought in,” Bobby said.
As growth continues, Moontown plans to extend hours and begin canning and distributing beers.
“We’re really happy with our first year,” Bobby said. “The moon’s the limit.”
