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Laughing Sun Brewery | 8/14/2012

Mike Frohlich is the kind of person who can talk about beer until the sun goes down. Which is good, because the sun is rising on his new venture in downtown Bismarck.

"We`ve been working on this for about three years now in a number of different locations, but finally got this location and we couldn`t be happier," he said.

This fall, Frohlich and partner Todd Sattler will open Laughing Sun Brewery near the corner of Main Avenue and 5th street.

"We`re going to be a small brewery. About 400 barrels a year right now to start up with. But looking at having five regular taps, six rotating seasonal."

After signing the lease in May, Frohlich and Sattler set to work gutting and rebuilding the 5th street space, essentially building a brewery in about five months.

"Took a little while to get the building permit. It was an extra month there, but once we got that, we`ve just been rocking and rolling. Jackhammering the floor out to get our new plumbing in there for the drain lines in the brew house and the walk-in cooler," Frohlich said.

"There`s a real artistic community in town. And we`d like to tap into that. Provide a place, for example, live musicians to have a stage," Sattler said.

A stage, that like the rest of the bar, remains under construction. Frohlich has been doing much of the work himself, ensuring the project finishes on time, so he can get back to his real passion. Brewing.

"Bitter Kitty Brown, Angel Share Stout, an Elusive IPA, we`ve got a couple more in development."

Laughing Sun plans to open to customers on October 8.

Frohlich and Sattler say they plan to sell half-gallon "growlers" of beer out the door. They`ll also be selling some of their more popular varieties on store shelves in the area.