Morrilton isn't exactly where you'd expect to find a massive, state-of-the-art brewing operation that feels more like a Northwest Arkansas destination than a small-town pitstop. Honestly, most people just zoom past this exit on I-40 while heading toward Little Rock or Fort Smith. They’re missing out. Point Remove Brewing Company has basically anchored itself as the centerpiece of the Petit Jean River Valley craft scene, and it’s doing it with a weirdly perfect mix of history and high-end production.
It’s big. I mean really big.
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The brewery sits inside the old Coca-Cola bottling plant. You can still feel that industrial "we make things here" energy the second you walk in. It’s not one of those cramped, dark taprooms where you’re bumping elbows with a stranger just to get a flight. It’s airy. It’s massive. It’s the kind of place where you can actually hear your own thoughts while drinking a crisp lager.
The Weird History of the Point Remove Name
People ask about the name all the time. Is it a command? A geographic marker? Sorta both.
The name comes from Point Remove Creek, a tributary of the Arkansas River. But the history goes deeper than just water. It’s a reference to the "Point of Removal." This area was a significant site during the Trail of Tears. Specifically, it was a landing point where the Cherokee and other indigenous people were moved during that forced migration. The founders—Kim and Steven "Sparky" Sparks, along with their partners—didn't just pick a cool-sounding name. They picked a name that anchors the business to the literal soil and the heavy history of Conway County.
It’s a bold move for a brewery. Usually, these places are named something generic like "River Valley Hops" or "Mountain View Brews." By leaning into the Point Remove identity, they’ve created something that feels permanent.
What They’re Actually Making (Beyond the Hype)
Let's talk about the beer. If the beer sucked, the cool building wouldn't matter.
They don't just do the "triple-hopped-hazelnut-IPA" nonsense that some craft places fall into. They focus on drinkability. They have these core pillars that they do better than almost anyone else in Central Arkansas.
- Blackrock Black IPA: This is arguably their flagship. It’s dark, almost imposing, but it doesn't drink like a heavy stout. It’s got that piney, citrusy kick you want from an IPA but with a roasty finish.
- Motown Lager: Named after Morrilton’s nickname. It’s a clean, easy-drinking Mexican-style lager. If you’re introducing a "Bud Light only" friend to craft beer, this is the gateway drug.
- The Seasonal Rotations: They play around with flavors like blood orange and various "Petit Jean" themed seasonals that actually use local influences.
They also have a massive wine program. Since they are part of the larger Point Remove Heritage Meats and Winemaking umbrella, you aren't just stuck with grain-based drinks. They produce a legitimate range of wines—Whites, Reds, and Rosés—that hold their own. It’s one of the few places where a "beer person" and a "wine person" can both be genuinely impressed by the quality of what’s in their glass.
The Production Powerhouse
The scale here is what surprises people. Most Arkansas breweries start with a tiny 3-barrel or 7-barrel system. Point Remove went big from the jump. They have a massive 15-barrel brewhouse.
Why does that matter to you? Consistency.
When you have a smaller system, every batch can taste slightly different because of tiny temperature fluctuations or hop timing. With a professional-grade, large-scale setup like they have in Morrilton, the Motown Lager you drink in January is going to taste exactly like the one you drink in July. They are built for distribution. You can find their cans in liquor stores across the state now, which is a testament to how fast they scaled up.
Why the Location is a Strategic Masterstroke
Most people think putting a multi-million dollar brewery in Morrilton is a gamble. It’s actually genius.
Think about the geography. You have Petit Jean State Park—Arkansas's first and most popular state park—just a few miles up the road. You have the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute. You have thousands of hikers, campers, and tourists flooding this area every weekend. Before Point Remove Brewing Company opened, these people would hike all day and then... go home?
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Now, they have a destination. The "Post-Hike Beer" is a legitimate cultural phenomenon in the Ozarks and the Ouachitas, and Point Remove has captured that market perfectly. The outdoor space is huge. There’s a stage for live music. There are food trucks (usually Delta 60 is parked out there making killer tacos or burgers).
It’s become the "living room" of the county. On any given Saturday, you’ll see bikers in leathers, hikers in muddy boots, and families with kids all hanging out in the same space. It works because it’s not pretentious.
The Industrial-Chic Taproom Vibe
The renovation of the old Coke plant was a massive undertaking. They kept the bones. You see the brick. You see the high ceilings. But they added these warm wood accents and a massive bar that makes it feel intentional rather than just an empty warehouse.
One thing that’s kinda cool? The view into the production area.
You aren't walled off from the process. You can sit at the bar and see the stainless steel tanks where the magic happens. It reminds you that this is a factory. It’s a liquid factory. There’s something honest about that. They aren't trying to hide the "industrial" part of the industrial-chic aesthetic.
Breaking Down the "Farm to Glass" Connection
The Sparks family isn't just into beer. They are into land.
They operate Point Remove Heritage Meats, which focuses on sustainable, high-quality cattle ranching. This creates a sort of "closed loop" vibe for the business. They care about the Arkansas agricultural landscape. When you’re sitting there eating a burger made from local beef and drinking a beer brewed with water from the nearby valley, you’re participating in a very specific Arkansas micro-economy.
It’s not just marketing fluff. They are actually invested in the reclamation of the land and the revitalization of downtown Morrilton. For decades, Morrilton’s downtown was like many others in the South—struggling against the pull of big-box stores. Point Remove gave people a reason to stop, park their cars, and stay for three hours.
Dealing with the "Small Town Brewery" Stigma
Let's be real. There’s often a bias that "real" craft beer only comes from the big cities. People think if it’s not from Asheville, Portland, or at least Little Rock, it’s just amateur hour.
Point Remove kills that myth.
The head brewer and the production team are technically proficient. They aren't making "homebrew plus." They are making clean, fault-free, professional-grade beer. They’ve won over the skeptics by simply being too good to ignore. Their distribution footprint is expanding because the demand is there. People in Fayetteville and Little Rock are asking for Point Remove by name.
That’s hard to do. It’s even harder to do when you’re based in a town of 6,000 people.
Actionable Insights for Your Visit
If you're planning to head out there, don't just wing it. There are better ways to experience this place than others.
- Check the Food Truck Schedule: They don't have a full "in-house" kitchen in the traditional sense, but they rotate high-end food trucks. Check their Facebook or Instagram before you go to see who’s parked out front.
- The Petit Jean Combo: Do the Cedar Falls hike at Petit Jean State Park in the morning. It’s about a 20-minute drive from the park to the brewery. Your beer will taste 200% better after you've climbed those stairs.
- Grab a 4-Pack: Their canning line is top-tier. Grab some "to-go" beers because some of their limited releases don't make it to the liquor stores in the bigger cities.
- Try the Wine: Seriously. Even if you're a beer snob. The Point Remove wines are surprisingly sophisticated and offer a different perspective on Arkansas terroir.
- Look for Events: They do a lot of community events—jeep rallies, live music, holiday markets. It’s a different vibe when the place is packed for a concert versus a quiet Tuesday afternoon.
The Reality of Craft Brewing in Arkansas
Arkansas’s beer scene is crowded now. To survive, you can't just be "the local option." You have to be a destination. Point Remove Brewing Company figured this out early. They didn't just build a bar; they built a brand that encompasses history, agriculture, and hospitality.
They’ve managed to turn a forgotten bottling plant into a beacon for the Arkansas River Valley. Whether you're there for the Blackrock IPA or just to sit on the patio and watch the sunset over the valley, it’s one of those rare places that actually lives up to the hype. It’s authentic. It’s high-quality. And honestly, it’s exactly what Morrilton needed.
If you find yourself on I-40, take the exit. It's worth the ten-minute detour to see what a properly executed brewery looks like. No fluff, just good liquid and a lot of respect for the ground it's built on.