The Growler in Cooper-Young has expanded its offerings and been rebranded as Hammer and Ale.
According to owner David Smith, the change came about when a partner left the business and wanted to take the name.
“I always felt the name was too one-sided — [suggesting] come in and fill your growler and leave,” says Smith.
You can still get your growlers filled at Hammer and Ale, but the space now has a small kitchen. Changes are being slowly rolled out the next week, but Smith hopes to have a special event involving one of the local breweries on Saturday, April 4th.
Smith says the menu is “pretty simple.” “There’s no oven or fryer or skillet,” he says. “But nothing is frozen. All of it is made from scratch.”
Among the menu items is a pressed Cuban sandwich, a broccoli cole slaw side, pretzels with homemade beer mustard using different local brews, and a vanilla beer float.
The name came from a local branding company, which emphasized the craft, hand-made nature of the business — from the beer itself to wood elements used in the space design.
“The main tool of the craftsman is the hammer,” went the pitch.
Says Smith, “I said, I dig it.”
