Brooklyn Brewery will leave its original Williamsburg location, where it has operated for 30 years, and relocate to a larger space four blocks away. The iconic brewery will serve its final round at 79 North 11th Street this month, moving to an airier space at 1 Wythe Avenue nearly four times the size, with a rooftop terrace bar, expanded facilities, event spaces, and a full kitchen, according to Time Out. To mark the move, the brewery is hosting a free farewell party on Saturday, August 29, giving patrons one last chance to enjoy a pint at its longtime headquarters.
Brooklyn Brewery first opened on North 11th Street in 1996, with a goal of bringing brewing back to the borough. At the turn of the century, Brooklyn was home to 45 breweries, including 11 across 12 blocks in Williamsburg, according to the New York Times. By the 1970s, no breweries in Brooklyn were left.
As the Times wrote of the Brooklyn Brewery’s debut 30 years ago:
“The opening of the Brooklyn Brewery in a stylish, exposed brick warehouse at 79 North 11th Street last week marked the first commercial brewing operation in Brooklyn in 20 years. With two microbreweries scheduled to open in the borough later this year, local officials pointed to this opening as a turning point in Brooklyn’s industrial history.”
After 30 years, Brooklyn Brewery CEO Eric Ottaway announced the move in 2022, citing that the increasing commercial development across the neighborhood was “putting pressure” on manufacturers, according to Brooklyn Paper.
Spanning 41,000 square feet, the new brewery on Wythe Avenue will stretch across three levels, anchored by a “Main Hall” on the ground floor. Brewery tours, guided tastings, and the original location’s other beloved programming are also expected to return once the brewery is up and running.
It will also feature an upgraded audio-visual system. The company told Brooklyn Paper that it plans to host DJ sets, live music, talks, and other events.
The new brewery will also feature a full food menu, a first for the brewery, developed with Chef Michael Ayoub, founder of Brooklyn’s popular pizza joint Fornino. It will also offer more than beer for the first time, adding wine, cocktails, and other drinks to its beverage lineup.
The new facility will serve as Brooklyn Brewery’s global R&D center, allowing for more small-batch and experimental brewing.
“The new brewery gives us room to innovate with a state-of-the-art brewing facility while expanding far beyond beer alone,” Brewmaster Garrett Oliver told Brooklyn Paper. “For me personally, it brings together my beer, wine, cocktail, and culinary sides all under one roof—and I think visitors are really going to feel that energy when they walk through the doors.”
Those interested in attending the farewell party can RSVP here. Attendance is free, but guests can also buy a $6 option that includes a discounted 12-ounce beer. The celebration will feature live entertainment from Tony & The Kiki and Sharkswimmer, with plenty of drinks on hand.
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The post Brooklyn Brewery to leave longtime Williamsburg home after 30 years first appeared on 6sqft.
