COLUMBIANA, Ohio – Birdfish Brewing Co. will celebrate its 10th anniversary with the premiere of a film that tells its story.
“Birdfish Brewing: 10 Years on Tap” will be screened at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 20 at Columbiana Arts Theater, on the town circle. Admission is free, and advance tickets are not necessary.
From its start, the brewery has been a cornerstone of the town and a place where community-minded people gather. The 25-minute documentary by Columbiana resident Tristan Hostetter shows how it became such a complementary force.
It includes interviews with the brewery’s owners, city officials and the many food sellers, merchants, bands and guests who are part of its world.
Birdfish beer will be sold at the screening, and guests will have the option of buying a 16-ounce brew in a specially designed “Ten Years on Tap” souvenir Birdfish glass for $10. All proceeds from the sale of beer and the glasses will benefit the Columbiana Cultural Collective, an arts organization.
Hostetter’s previous filmmaking has consisted of music videos and other short-form pieces. The Birdfish documentary is “the first professional thing I’ve made,” he said.
The director will host a brief question and answer session after the screening. The local band Aimlis will perform before the film and again after the Q&A session.
The brewery at 140 E. Park Ave. grew hand in hand with the touristy town, becoming one of its attractions.
It hosts live music, game nights, club meetings, fundraisers and other events, and has become a homebase for local artists.
In his film, Hostetter lets the people who know Birdfish best do the talking.
“[The owners] wanted to take the spotlight off of themselves, even though it is about them,” he said. “We tried to get as many local business owners and musicians who have worked with Birdfish over the years to tell their story for them.”
Hostetter, 29, is a journalism and content creation student at Youngstown State University and a regular guest at the brewery.
He wanted to make a film about the place for his personal portfolio and bounced the idea off Josh Dunn, co-owner of Birdfish.
Dunn liked his proposal but had a more precise idea. With the anniversary coming up, he asked Hostetter if the film could focus on Birdfish’s decade of business.
“He said, ‘Absolutely,’” Dunn recalled.
Hostetter conducted interviews with Dunn and his brother, Jon, and also Jared Channell and Greg Snyder, all of whom are Birdfish co-owners.
He also talked to customers, folks from local businesses that are linked to the brewery and city officials.
“He’s passionate about what we have done in our community,” Dunn said.
Hostetter’s wife, Avery, is in the local band Jack and the Cadavers, which has frequently played at Birdfish. The band’s music forms the background soundtrack for the documentary. Hostetter, by the way, is also in a local band – Tonight with Vince.
Lance Willard, city manager of Columbiana, is among the people interviewed in the film. He accurately described the role Birdfish has played as a town center and a destination for visiting shoppers and golfers.
“They jumped right into the community, right from the very beginning, and we knew they were in it for the long run,” Willard said. “They collaborate on ideas they’ve come up with over the years and have had a lot of fundraisers that helped out the city.”
Downtown Columbiana is full of unique shops that lure folks from across the region. “We’re blessed to have pretty much no vacancies at any given time, and I believe that Birdfish was an important part of that,” Willard said.
The brewery, he said, helps make the city a destination and attracts younger people as permanent residents.
Birdfish Brewing produces about 1,500 barrels of beer per year.
It upgraded its liquor license two years ago and now also offers a selection of bourbon, with additional bourbon and vodka cocktails on tap. It also offers wine, cider, seltzer and mead.
It books live music three days a week and has a food truck on-site seven days a week. Visitors also can play in the pinball and euchre leagues.
The brewery is also friendly to dogs and families.
Pictured at top: Filmmaker Tristan Hostetter and Birdfish co-owner Jared Channell shoot a scene for the documentary about the brewery.