This Oct. 9, if they hit their deadline, Simmons and his partners hope to open the doors to a new downtown beer joint, the Capital City Ale House. Its menu will offer poultry, pasta and plenty of sandwiches, the standard diet of pub-style restaurants, with Simmons and company placing the energy and emphasis on what washes it all down.

That’s beer. Lots of it. At least 30 different kinds on tap, and 150 more in bottles Simmons says. None of it will be brewed on location, as Capital City is not a brewery but a sort of purveyor of fine suds gathered from around the country and the world.

Capital City will make use of all the new space with a much larger dining area and basement lounge with pool tables and darts. It’ll be open Monday through Saturday for lunch and dinner, closing at midnight.

— Wayne Melton