The boys from Panther Creek Brews had aimed for March to open their new taproom on West Main Street, but, just like the rest of us, their plans were derailed by the global pandemic.

"We've been working on it for six or seven months. The coronavirus didn't help us out," said JT Gowen, who has partnered with Jeremy Taylor and Melvin Stewart to form Panther Creek Brews.

Members of the Mid-State Brew Crew, the Panther Creek crew first tried their hands at home brewing together in 2008. Over the years, they have developed their own style and recipes. They just needed a place to call home.

"We started out on his porch," Stewart said motioning to Taylor, "and upgraded to a garage. Now we'll have this."

The spot the boys have landed in is the former home of The Green Dragon Pub and Brewery in the old creamery at 714 W. Main St. Almost a year after The Green Dragon closed, Panther Creek will open.

The newly remodeled taproom will open to the public (within socially distanced limits) with a grand opening from noon-10 p.m. Saturday, June 20.

Along with opening to the public, Panther Creek will have a can release of its new double IPA Dedication, which they will offer in "crowlers" (canned growlers). The opening will have outdoor seating under tents and food trucks in the parking lot. The tap room will be open for buying drinks but not for seating, Stewart said.

"We understand people's hesitancy. We want to provide them with a safe way to come out and have fun," he said.

The three dudes with a beer and a dream have worked to realize Panther Creek for more than a decade. They thought they had a place to brew in 2016 when they were negotiating for old Palmer Foods building in The Bottoms. But that deal fell through.

To help build a following, they have spent the intervening years contract brewing at other craft facilities across Middle Tennessee. Last year they release Panther Scratch, a hoppy brown IPA, for wider distribution through a partnership with BrairScratch Brewing. They've also brewed batches at East Nashville Brew Works and Little Harpeth Brewing. To help support these businesses, Taylor said they will have local craft beers on tap in the new location.

"We want to keep this tap room with delicious things," he said. If past truly is prologue, they certainly will. The boys are known throughout craft beer circles as some of the most talented.

As for the new beer, Dedication is a double IPA, which means it is an India Pale Ale but with double the alcohol content. It comes in at 8 percent AVB and is only sold in cans. They brewed it in 20-barrel batches at Little Harpeth Brewing.

Gowen explained that they named it Dedication, because that's what they've need over the years to finally realize their dream.

"Dedication that's what it takes, nights and weekends; blood, sweat and tears; crying babies because we aren't home," he said.

Their dedication can be found in their new space. Putting in the sweat equity, they have stamped their own personalities on the tap room. And while they didn't want to erase The Green Dragon, they wanted to make the place their own.

"We don't want to take their place. They were family," Taylor said about Joe and Kimberly Minter, owners of The Green Dragon. They all met in the Mid-State Brew Crew.

Along with giving the Panther Creek treatment to the tap room, they will also be adding state-of-the-art brewing equipment in the bay behind the bar, which they hope to have up and running sometime in August.

"We are growing and plan to add more," Stewart said. They are starting with food trucks but will add food options once the kitchen remodel is completed.

They are also working on new recipes for their brews, like one called "Unity."

Taylor said they chose that name because they want to bring people together over good beer.

"We are here for the community. We want to be a part of the community," he said.

Photo: Melvin Stewart, Jeremy Taylor and JT Gowen in the new tap room for Panther Creek Brews.