SEARSMONT—It’s a little difficult to find at first, but Threshers Brewing Co. has the perfect off-the-beaten path location for friends and families to get together, listen to some music and drink some beer.

Friends and co-owners Ethan Evangelos and Scott Bendtson shared the hobby of home brewing for several years before the conversation inevitably turned to a career change. As carpenters, they saw the potential of building a microbrewery out of a section of old sawmill that’s tucked down the road near the Fraternity Village General Store. It used to be a building owned by Sprowl Brothers and had sat empty for more than a decade. “When we rented it, it used to be this big, open greasy, bay filled with huge trucks,” said Bendtson. They built a tasting room with ample space for a band, along with a separate area for an office, grain storage and brew equipment.

“We both have young daughters and we like going out to have some beers, but we don’t really like bars,” said Bendtson. “We just felt like there needed to be a place around here that catered to families and was a nice place to relax. I want people to come in, bring their kids and feel comfortable here.”

The tasting room is rustic and has the casual feel of a home bar room. Evangelos built the tap backsplash out a double burled piece of wood. And a an old-fashioned thresher, the symbol of their logo, hangs upon the wall, along with other farm equipment as decoration.

They spent about a year crafting four signature brews in small batches for maximum flavor with their own personal tastes ranging more toward the Belgian style of brewing.  They will unveil three of those beers at the soft opening with one more they are working on for the grand opening. Their Pale Ale is an American pale ale that’s less bitter than a traditional IPA. Their Citra IPA, will be a more bitter beer balanced with a citrisy/grapefruity hop profile. Their Firefly is a wheat ale.

The duo is excited to see how the public will react to a new place to socialize in tiny Searsmont. “It’s about community here,” said Bendtson. “If people are looking for things to do or an open mic, we’ll do that.”

To find it, locate the Fraternity Village General Store off Route 131. To the right of that will be a road flanked by two red barns. Drive down that road until you see the big green warehouse.

The soft opening is Saturday, July 9 at 5 p.m. with acoustic music and the grand opening is planned for August 6. Stay tuned to their Facebook page for more details.

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com