Ludlow circus entrepreneur continues work on brewery concept

Paul Miller is the driving force behind Ludlow’s popular Circus Mojo — a training ground for circus arts — where Miller serves up performances and libations to patrons in the Ludlow Theatre building at 322 Elm St.

Circus Mojo has featured artists from 36 countries in an effort to put Ludlow on the global map for theater arts destinations.  
 
Seven years ago, Miller purchased the 68-year-old building, as well as a neighboring liquor distribution center. He has since used those spaces to headquarter his circus operations; he also sells beer.
 
Now, Miller will partner with Belgium native Matthew Vermael to combine a new brewery concept with the circus business under the appropriately named Bircus Brewery.
 
“The theater is a great venue, but you don’t make enough money selling other people’s beer,” Miller said.
 
The pair will draw upon Belgian-inspired brew recipes, and proceeds will support Circus Mojo’s Social Circus Fund, which assists Ludlow’s children, nursing homes and hospitals.
 
Miller was able to raise $150,000 for the project from a variety of sources, including an investment by Blue Oven Bakery. The grassroots bakery, which started in 2007, has been providing grains to local breweries and distilleries for many years and is now the largest investor to date in Bircus.

Bircus is the first brewing company in the United States and the first business in Kentucky to obtain Tier 1 of Regulation A+ with Securities and Exchange Commission. This designation allows anyone who lives in Indiana, Kentucky or Ohio to invest in Bircus, with a minimum investment of $1,000.

“What’s so neat about this is my butcher invested, my doctor invested, a lot of people are investing, and I’ve been really specific and strategic in raising this money,” he said. “I wanted to tie in the whole idea of giving the gift of beer this year — buy your dad a share in the brewery.”

The brewery has also be labeled a Qualified Small Business with the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority, which qualifies it for the Angel Investment Act that requires a minimum investment of $10,000 to receive a 40 percent tax credit.

With $150,000 in investments and all of the necessary permits, Bircus has been given the green light to start brewing, and is currently searching for a brewmaster. They're accepting applications for a brewmaster with commercial experience who is open to creating recipes with Blue Oven's grains.