Beer Church

Customers Emily Delinski and David Szuch, of South Bend, Ind., at Beer Church in New Buffalo, Mich.  (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Owners John Lustina and Jane Simon at their Beer Church in New Buffalo, Mich.  (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Beer Church Brewing founders John Lustina and Jane Simon.   (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Some of the beer offerings at Beer Church Brewing in New Buffalo, Mich.  (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Matt Smith and Alex High, behind the former altar adorned with “IHS” — an early Greek representation of the name Jesus.   (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Plenty of touches remain from the building’s original incarnation as a church.  (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Matt Smith, from left, head brewer Nate Peck and Alex High, at Beer Church Brewing, housed in a former Michigan church.  (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

The former church’s stained glass features the Methodist logo: a cross and a red flame.  (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

A worker pours a Beer Church brew at the Michigan brewery.  (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Plans to replace the heavy wood doors inlaid with stained glass featuring the Methodist logo — a cross and a red flame — were scuttled when the owners agreed that the doors looked good in the modern brewery.  (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Water’s Edge United Methodist Church in New Buffalo, Mich., was built more than 150 years ago. It’s now the home of Beer Church Brewing.  (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Matt Smith pours a beer for a customer at Beer Church, housed in a former Michigan house of worship.  (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Megan Johnson, left, and Angela Johnson, of LaPorte, Ind., sample the goods at Beer Church, which opened earlier this year.  (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Megan Johnson, left, and Angela Johnson, with their respective husbands, Kent, and Aaron, far right, enjoy some of the brews at Beer Church.   (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)