Local residents will have a new place to taste the fruits of Turlock’s own brewery, following a Planning Commission decision Tuesday evening.

Dust Bowl Brewing Co., best known for their Hops of Wrath India Pale Ale, received approval for the Dust Bowl Tap Room tavern, set to open in the Mercantile Building at 200 W. Main St. in downtown Turlock.

“I think it’s going to be great for downtown,” said Dust Bowl Brewing Founder Brett Tate. “I truly believe there are a lot of people from outside the area who will come to Turlock, who have never come to Turlock before.”

Tate anticipates microbrew fans – the sort of people who plan vacations around tasting beer – will go out of their way to taste some Dust Bowl brews available only at the Tap Room.

Dust Bowl currently only wholesales their Hops of Wrath, but in preparation for the Tap Room brewers have been experimenting with multiple styles of craft beer. The Tap Room expects to offer at least 10 different styles of Dust Bowl beer, cider, and a draft root beer, all produced at Dust Bowl’s brewery on Spengler Way.

Tate calls his 1,500 square foot, food-serving Tap Room a “beer bistro.” He says the tavern will include comfortable seating and lighting, light music which allows for conversation, and sports on the television – with no volume, unless it’s Sunday and people want to watch the game.

“There will be something for everyone there,” Tate said. “We hope to have a wonderful atmosphere”

Of course, the high point of the Dust Bowl Tap Room experience will be the beer – especially the new styles of Dust Bowl available only at the downtown Turlock site.

“They’re off the hook,” Tate said. “They’re good. They’re really good and we want to share them with everybody.”

“We’re looking forward to off the hook beer,” said Planning Commission Chairman Mike Brem after the project was approved.

To contact Alex Cantatore, e-mail acantatore@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2005.