Tucked in the heart of downtown Mansfield, Ohio, The Phoenix Brewing Company breathes new life into a century-old former mortuary, crafting a vibrant hub for craft beer lovers. Housed in the restored Schroer Funeral Home, built in 1914, the brewery transforms the once-somber space—complete with its original hand-operated casket elevator and former embalming room—into a lively taproom. The Phoenix took flight in April 2014, driven by the passion of co-owners Duncan Macfarlane, Steve Zigmund, Scott Cardwell, and Josh Beard, all local beer enthusiasts dedicated to reviving Mansfield’s craft beer scene. Their 16 taps pour a diverse lineup, from flagship brews like the Redemption IPA and Danger City Brown Ale to seasonal gems like the Warden’s Pie Blackberry Tart Ale and Z’Nejo Mexican Lager, often inspired by the building’s eerie history and local lore. With a commitment to sustainability and community, the taproom’s eco-friendly interior, featuring upcycled bowling alley tabletops and salvaged lights, creates an authentic pub vibe where live music and game nights thrive.
The beers at The Phoenix Brewing Company are as bold as the brewery’s story, blending tradition with innovation. Brewed on a 5-barrel brewhouse in the basement—where bodies were once prepared—their award-winning lineup caters to every palate, from hopheads to stout aficionados. Standouts include the Embalming Fluid IPA, a smooth, hop-forward brew with a nod to the building’s past, and the Ferryman Stout, a rich, roasty delight perfect for cozy evenings. The owners, with over 30 years of combined brewing experience, also experiment with barrel-aged beers and collaborate with local distilleries like Iron Vault for unique offerings like Phoenix Fire Whiskey. The upstairs Spirit Room, a former viewing area, now serves bourbon, scotch, and exclusive barrel-aged brews, adding a spirited twist to the experience. Whether you’re sipping in the taproom, on one of two patios, or taking cans to go, The Phoenix delivers a taste of Mansfield’s resilience, resurrecting tradition one batch at a time.
Ghost Stories and History of the Building
The building’s past as a mortuary sets the stage for its haunted reputation. From 1914 until 1932, the Schroer family ran the funeral home, a natural extension of their furniture and casket-making business. The lower level, once used for embalming and preparation, now houses the brewery’s five-barrel brewing system. During renovations in 2014, workers uncovered human bones beneath the concrete floor, which were turned over to the police. Though the origins of the bones remain unclear, the discovery fueled speculation about restless spirits tied to the building’s grim history. To honor the unknown, the brewery named a series of wheat beers after them: John Doe, Jane Doe, Barb Doe, and Juan Doe, each infused with flavors like raspberry or lime.
Since opening, both staff and patrons have reported strange occurrences. Customers have described feeling someone brush against them or bump their chair, only to turn and find no one there. Paranormal investigators have captured orbs in photographs and recorded spikes in electromagnetic field (EMF) activity, suggesting unseen presences. Some have even heard disembodied voices, faint whispers echoing in the taproom or near the old hand-operated elevator, once used to move caskets between floors. The brewery leans into its haunted reputation, offering ghost hunts by appointment, especially around Halloween, which draw visitors eager to explore the building’s spectral side. Carmone Macfarlane, head of creative and marketing, has noted that the “haunted” label attracts new customers, particularly those visiting nearby paranormal hotspots like the Ohio State Reformatory.
One recurring story involves the “Spirit Room” upstairs, a nod to the building’s otherworldly vibe. While no specific ghost has been named like in other haunted breweries, the collective experiences suggest multiple entities may linger. Some speculate these could be tied to the mortuary’s past clients or even Charles Schroer himself, who died in 1932, marking the end of the funeral home’s operations. Others wonder if the spirits are simply drawn to the lively energy of the taproom, where live music and laughter now fill a space once steeped in solemnity.
The brewery’s setting enhances its eerie charm. Original features, like refinished windows and hand-troweled plaster walls, preserve the building’s early 20th-century character. Tabletops salvaged from a bowling alley and a back bar with an 85-year history add to the sense of a place where time—and perhaps spirits—linger. The Phoenix embraces its dual identity as a craft beer haven and a paranormal destination, blending hoppy IPAs and rich stouts with stories that send shivers down the spine.
Phoenix Brewing Company
131 N Diamond St
Mansfield, OH 44902
Phone: (419) 522-2552
Website: phoenixbrewing.com
For more haunted breweries, check out: BeerInfo’s Most Haunted Breweries in America