PHOTO COURTESY OF LINCOLN AVENUE BREWERY

When Bellevue’s Lincoln Avenue Brewery closes at the end of the day, Shane Saylor springs into action. He works through the night, making beer on a 2-barrel system that’s seen better days.

He does it to keep up with demand in a thirsty borough that lifted its ban on alcohol less than a decade ago. He does it so area farm animals can chow down on spent grains. He does it to bring community members together under one roof.

But, mostly, he does it for his folks.

In 2019, Grant and Lisa Saylor and their former business partners opened the brewery. A small army of volunteers logged more than 1,000 hours helping them bring the 116-year-old bank building back to its original grandeur. Their American dream was coming together.

And then it fell apart.

PHOTO COURTESY OF LINCOLN AVENUE BREWERY

On Sept. 11, 2022, during a global pandemic, Grant, the head brewer and driving force behind the business, suffered a heart attack and brain injury. Shane has taken the reins as brewmaster, while his sisters Tori and Bethany tend bar, run food and do whatever else needs to be done in the bustling eatery. Lisa, who is also a nurse, runs day-to-day operations while Grant sits quietly, but happily, by her side.

PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER

As they’d done before, Bellevue residents stepped up to get the family back on their feet, holding fundraisers and offering everything from advice to elbow grease. There’s an antique sculpture in the brewery window of a jolly man in a tri-corner hat kissing a large stein of beer.

That’s how Bellevue feels about its brewery.

The Saylors, high school sweethearts who grew up in the borough, purchased the former post office building on nearby North Sprague Avenue and plan to use it as a production facility. They’ve got a new, 7-barrel system in place and are waiting for contractors to begin renovations that will eventually include a second taproom and canning line.

“With this expansion, it’s thrilling to witness the brewery’s continued growth and its positive impact within the borough,” says Dan McKelvey, a member of Bellevue Borough Council.

Bellevue Forward, a nonprofit dedicated to economic development and cultural engagement-growth in the borough, is assisting. According to founding Chairperson RJ Thompson, it was an easy decision, and not just because the seeds of the organization were planted at Lincoln Avenue Brewery during a networking mixer.

“Grant and Lisa Saylor have profoundly enriched Bellevue through their unwavering dedication and vision,” he says. “By establishing Lincoln Avenue Brewery, they’ve created a welcoming space that embodies the spirit of our community. Their commitment to local sourcing and fostering connections has revitalized our main street, inspiring others to invest in Bellevue’s future.”

The Saylors have no intention of leaving their beloved headquarters on the corner of Lincoln and Hawley avenues. The tiny kitchen continues to crank out delicious eats including paninis, burgers, pickle dip, flatbreads, Sunday brunch and a Reuben that belongs in the Sandwich Hall of Fame.

PHOTO COURTESY OF LINCOLN AVENUE BREWERY

“We’re putting in a dark board and we’re discussing launching a mug club soon” Lisa says. “I like when people stay and hang out. My daughter said to me that this place is what’s kept me going. Having everybody around has been really helpful.”

People pack the place for open mic nights, jam sessions and trivia competitions. They reconnect with old friends and make new ones over pints of Jalapeno Machete Cream Ale. They remember the past and make plans for the future.

Lincoln Avenue Brewery is more than a business, afterall, it’s the heart of the neighborhood.