“Passion is what started it all,” and that passion is coming to the Lehigh Valley. Iron Hill Brewery and Restaurant is expected to open in early July in the Lehigh Valley Mall Lifestyle Center in Whitehall.

The Iron Hill website reports co-founders Kevin Finn, Mark Edelson and Kevin Davies started the business “to be the best local brewery in the world.”

The brewery chain got its start from a home-brewing kit bought by Finn’s wife. He and Edelson started brewing as a hobby and began winning awards for their creations. The duo partnered with Davies who had the restaurant expertise, and the rest is history. Iron Hill has 21 locations spanning Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, South Carolina and Georgia.

Iron Hill opened its first location in 1996 in Newark, Del., near the University of Delaware campus, according to Edelson, vice president of beer. The next two locations to open were both in Pennsylvania. This site will mark the 13th location in Pennsylvania.

“We like Pennsylvania,” Edelson said. “We’ve had good luck here.”

Edelson and CEO Chris Westcott both noted they had their eyes on the Lehigh Valley for a long time. Edelson said they looked at sites in Bethlehem, Allentown, Saucon Valley and more. However, the closure of Bravo Cucina Italian Kitchen provided the perfect opportunity.

“We have great expectations for this location,” Westcott said.

Edelson mentioned it was nice to be able to take advantage of the existing structure to give them a leg up on the construction. Additionally, he noted they are happy to see brands they know and respect, such as Cheesecake Factory and Apple, in the same area.

“They have some good business plans, so it makes me feel good to be in the same place,” Edelson said.

It made sense for them to have a brick and mortar location in the Lehigh Valley since they already have some name recognition and brand equity, Westcott and Edelson noted. Iron Hill has already made a name for itself in the retail market in the area, and the beer is sold at Coca-Cola Park during IronPigs games.

“Our beer sells fairly well here,” Edelson said, noting there is a good bit of excitement for them to come to town.

According to Westcott, the real strength of the brand is that they make the beer on sight. The public can see the tanks and equipment on display, offering an inside view to the brewing process. The large majority of the beer sold in the restaurant will be made on site.

“Nothing’s more local than beer brewed 10 feet from your table,” the Iron Hill website boasts.

The beer selection will include six signature brews, eight seasonal rotations and one local beer created just for this site called the Hometown Tap. While they are still finalizing and perfecting the Lehigh Valley Hometown Tap, Edelson said they have a style and flavor profile they think will be perfect for the area.

Additionally, the scratch kitchen makes everything fresh, and the menu is designed to complement the beer offerings to create an all-around delicious experience. Some of the food options, such as the jumbo Bavarian pretzel appetizer and the fish and chips and pork chop are actually made using some of the Iron Hill brews.

The open kitchen also allows the public to see the chefs creating their food from scratch. In addition to their tried-and-true menu, Iron Hill will also offer periodic features and seasonal special dishes for their guests.

Westcott noted the layout of the restaurant and brewery will be “designed for comfortable dining” with a celebratory atmosphere. He said they want the ambience to be reminiscent of the beer halls of Germany.

Westcott reported there will be seating for about 240 people inside and an expanded patio area of about 90 seats outside. To continue in their effort to promote the local connection and atmosphere, they are looking to hire approximately 100 staff members from the local community. The hiring process is currently underway.

One of the cruxes of the Iron Hill decor and ambience is the signature murals. The brewery partnered with artist Jeff Schaller to create the vibrant artwork. Each location has a similar feel with specific motifs and shared images. What makes the murals extra special is that they also incorporate illustrations and images of iconic local touchstones. The Lehigh Valley location will include figures reminiscent of Bethlehem Steel and the foundry, the Moravian star, Musikfest, Crayola and Just Born.

The company strives to include local landmarks and iconic scenes “out of respect for where we’re doing business,” Westcott said.

In addition to offering freshly made food and freshly brewed beer, the company also offers extras for its customers, including a loyalty rewards club and an “exclusive craft beer experience” through the IH Beer Club.

According to its website, Iron Hill is “the most award-winning brewery east of the Mississippi,” so make sure you come out to enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and delicious food and drink.