A local brewer and his partner are opening Rail Yard Brewing in Milo in the facility that previously hosted Bissell Brothers Brewing.

John Riitano, who is also brewer and co-owner at Two Knights Brewing in Sangerville, has partnered with Tracy Bonner-Corson on the project. Riitano expects to launch the brewery’s tap room and restaurant, The Rusty Rail, by the end of the year. He aims to have the 10-barrel production facility running in January.

Riitano said he’ll produce beer for both Rail Yard and Two Knights in Milo, since the Milo facility has 10 times the brewing capacity of his Sangerville operation.

Rail Yard’s tap room will offer its own beer alongside brews from Two Knights, but they’ll also serve products from other breweries in the Maine Highlands, including Bryant’s Brewing of Hartland, Gordon’s Grog of St. Albans, Outland Farm Brewery of Pittsfield and Turning Page Farm in Monson. Rusty Rail will also feature wine, cider and spirits from Maine Highlands producers.

Riitano said Rusty Rail’s food menu, still under development, will showcase a hybrid of pub-style and fine dining dishes, with an emphasis on locally sourced ingredients. Area hospitality industry veteran Seth Ostrosky will be Rusty Rail’s general manager.

The tap room can seat up to 90 customers inside, and roughly another 90 outside. Riitano expects Rusty Rail will be open evenings from Thursday through Sunday to start, with expanded hours in the summer.

Riitano said he hopes their efforts to showcase offerings from the Maine Highlands alongside Rail Yard’s own products will be a boon to the region. “It’s going to help draw attention to this area,” he said. “People will realize there’s a lot more here than they think.”