For nearly a century, the tranquil waters of Sister Lakes have been a fixture in the lives of the Morin family.

Starting when their family purchased a cottage on Round Lake back in the 1930s, members of the local clan have all enjoyed summers in the neighborhood. Today, family patriarch Jerry Morin and two of his sons all call Sister Lakes home, after moving into the area full-time over the last several years.

Last year, the Morin family embarked on a quest to create a fixture for the community they all love so much — a spot where residents and visitors of Sister Lakes can go to enjoy some great beer and great company.

Over the last several months, Jerry and his three sons, Brian, Joe and David, have been working to transform a former hardware store, located next to the Sister Lakes Fire Department on County Road 690, into the home of their of new business, Sister Lakes Brewing Company. True to the their motto of “fostering community, one pint at a time,” the Morins have set out to create a new institution for the area.

“Not only do we want to share our passion for good beer with the community, but we want to give the community a place to come together,” Joe said.

Brothers Joe and Brian — both experienced home brewers — have been interested in opening their own microbrewery for several years. Over the years, the two Sister Lakes residents have invested more and more of their free time to perfecting their brewing skills, eventually leading them to work with their father and brother to take their trade from the homes to the community.

“It started as a general interest, became a hobby and now it’s a full blown passion,” Joe said.

With the massive surge in popularity of microbreweries across the country in recent years, the family decided now was a great time to launch their new venture, Brian said.

The owners plan on offering six to eight types of beer that will be full-time fixtures on tap, such as ales, porters or Indian Pale Ales. They will also be brewing special,seasonal beers from time to time, Joe said.

Customers will be able to enjoy their brew in both the main bar area inside the building, as well as outdoors in a beer garden. The Morins also plan on building a stage area for bands to provide live entertainment to visitors.

The owners are currently handling construction duties themselves — though many in the Sister Lakes have taken in interest in their project, volunteering to the give the four men a hand.

At the same time, Brian has been working with other microbreweries in the area, learning the ins and outs of the equipment he and Joe will soon be working with. The two have also been refining their recipes for production on a larger scale.

While much work remains ahead of the family in getting the microbrewery up and running, the owners are looking to have the place ready for business by spring.

“It’s kind of like Christmas. You’re kind of giddy and excited,” Brian said. “It’s not a brewery yet, but it’s forming into one. It’s very exciting.”