“The sun looks down on nothing half so good as a household laughing together over a meal, or two friends talking over a pint of beer, or a man alone reading a book that interests him…”
– C.S. Lewis
Our Philosophy
We want to bring people together over unique, quality drinks. We long for our pub to offer a quiet vibe where the world’s noise is kept to a minimum. We hope to educate people on the process of brewing, the intricacies of it – and help them find a beer that best suits their palate. Whether folks come into the brewery to laugh with friends, or read or study alone, our desire is to provide a sort of sanctuary where men and women can experience a lightness of mood and a lifting of the heart.
The Brewster:
Michael Freitag
It was in 2010 when my wife, Amy, gave me my first home brewing kit. The result was…drinkable, anyway…and I was hooked. We lived in Dallas, Texas at the time and there was a pub there that let me explore the world of beer styles and sample a plethora of truly excellent brew. My brewing passion took over our kitchen, then our garage, and now (the dream, finally realized!) – it’s own space!
My first career was as a hospice chaplain and I have a master’s degree in theology. When I started brewing, I also became interested in how beer and wine was such a central part of the Christian tradition. It not only was safer to drink than water back then and became the drink of choice of monks, but it also was a centerpiece of many religious gatherings, celebrations, and feasts.
The Upper Room Brewery is a combination of those two passions – beer and Christian faith – and I’m honored to brew for you.
Contact Michael: brewer@upperroombrewery.com
The Businessman:
Dustin Favinger
Craft beer caught my attention over the last few years! Not only does each beer have its own distinct taste, but they also have their own unique story. Visiting different taprooms throughout the region and hearing how each brewery got started was nothing short of a pipe dream for me… until now!
I don’t have the slightest idea of how to brew beer – ha! – but when I connected with Michael and tasted the quality of his brews, I thought perhaps my past experience in marketing and business development, through my work at UNK, I would very much like to be a part of this once in a lifetime adventure – opening up a local brewery right here in Kearney, Nebraska.
My wife, Lindsey, and I met the Freitags through a mutual friend and the ideas started to flow. After a year of hunting for a space, configuring the buildout, and fine-tuning the business plan, the dream of co-owning a brewery is now a reality!
Contact Dustin: marketing@upperroombrewery.com
FAQs
Yes, we will serve wine, water, soda, hard seltzer, and other non-alcoholic beverages!
Yes! We have food trucks regularly (Check FB or UnTappd for schedules), a deal with Gambino’s (25% off order when ordering by phone and delivered to the brewery), soft pretzels, and personal sized pizzas. You can also bring in/order in anything you like!
Yes, we have growlers or cans (4 packs) to go. Kegs are also available, but need to be arranged ahead of time.
We’re still in the process of figuring out how best to structure our monthly beer subscription service, so please check back here on the website to learn more details as soon as they’re available. We are excited to get this new service to our customers up and running!