Iowa City’s Old Capitol Brew Works to close

IOWA CITY - After more than a decade in Iowa City, the near-downtown bar often referred to as 'Old Cap” will be closing it's doors for good.

Paul Krutzfeldt, who opened Old Capitol Brew Works and Public House with business partner Scott Lehnert on Halloween in 2004, confirmed Friday that the local bar will serve its final craft beer at the end of the month.

'On the 28th, we're done,” Krutzfeldt said.

Local realtor Randy Miller, whose wife Lora owns the property, said the building will likely be shut down for about 60 days while renovations take place. When it reopens, it will be home to a new restaurant and bar.

'There will be a different concept,” Miller said.

Krutzfeldt said there is also the possibility that some of Old Capitol Brew Works' staff will transition over to the new business.

Miller said more information on the new business would be available at a later date, but he also acknowledged that Old Capitol Brew Works will be missed.

'It's a pretty local, loyal group of people that I'm sure are going to miss it,” Miller said. 'It's just kind of a meeting place for a lot of people.”

Old Capitol Brew Works opened in 2004 at 525 S. Gilbert St., in a building originally constructed in 1900.

The next door building at 521 S. Gilbert St., where Orchard Green Restaurant and Lounge is now located, served as home to a brewery with the brewing handled upstairs while the fermentation process took place on the ground floor, Krutzfeldt said.

The cost of operating a brewery on expensive Iowa City property proved too costly and in 2008 Krutzfeldt and Lehnert sold the location to Lora Miller, dismantled the brewery and moved it to Davenport, where they founded Great River Brewery the following year.

Krutzfeldt said the end of Old Capitol Brew Works - where Great River Brewery can trace its roots - allows him to focus more on his passion for the brewery.

That said, Krutzfeldt admitted closing down the bar is bittersweet, due in large part to the loyal following it has created.

'A lot of the same customers have been there since 2004, that's all been wonderful,” he said. 'The problem is it's very distracting to run a business that's growing here in Davenport and still be able to take time to manage that place.”

In the last week of business, Krutzfeldt said there are plenty of discounts and events planned for Old Capitol Brew Works customers, including a tapping Saturday of their latest winter brew, Aah! Bock, a seasonal lager dedicated to Solon's former Stone City Brewing.

So while longtime customers are encouraged to stop in for one last draw, area residents who have yet to sample Old Cap's craft beers and laid back atmosphere are invited to do so before the bar closes.

'We loved that place,” Krutzfeldt said. 'Who doesn't want to have a cool, awesome place like that in a college town like Iowa City?”