According to the Birmingham News, a historic 4,000-square-foot building at 201 41st St. South is being transformed into Avondale Brewing Co. and is scheduled to open in late December or early January.

It's the project of Coby Lake (a local real estate agent) and Craig Shaw, who has been brewing his own beers for 15 years and is a member of Free the Hops. Shaw is a member of Birmingham Brewmasters and recently completed an apprenticeship under brewmaster James Ray of Montgomery Brewing Co.

The building dates back to 1885 and has been a bank and a fire station. It most recently was Long Branch Saloon, a popular gathering place before closing in the late 1980s. For brewing, the company purchased a German-made 17-barrel system capable of producing 10,000 barrels per year at full production, according to Bham Wiki, which also reports they are planning the following beers:

• Long Branch Lager, German-style lager
• Avondale Pale Ale, a dark pale ale
• Bottletree IPA, an India pale ale specially made for the nearby Bottletree Cafe

For more information, visit their Facebook page.