After opening their brewery in the city’s Waterside section at the start of this year, the founders of Rise Coffee Co. sought some advice on running the new establishment. They would need to walk only a couple of blocks from their base on Fairfield Avenue to the Half Full Brewery on Homestead Avenue to find that guidance.
“We had some questions about how to clean kegs, so we walked in, and these guys were nice enough to take us in and show us around and let us know how the process works,” said Rise Coffee co-founder Grant Gyesky. “What stood out the most was their attitude to take us in. They’ve been somewhat like big brothers since that point.”
Within a few months, the fraternal bond would ferment into a business venture. Launched late month, Rise and Shine is a drink that melds a Half Full-produced porter beer with Rise’s signature cold-brewed coffee. The brewers say that they have concocted not only a stand-out blend, but also the foundation for a long-term partnership between the two firms.
