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Williamsburg’s OG craft beer giant is officially getting a massive glow-up.
Thirty years after opening its original tasting room on North 11th Street, Brooklyn Brewery just revealed fresh renderings and new details for its upcoming move to 1 Wythe Avenue, a sprawling new headquarters that’s set to begin a soft opening later this summer before a full grand opening celebration this fall.
The new space, located just four blocks from the current brewery, is nearly four times the size of the longtime Williamsburg location and sounds more like a full-on campus than a traditional taproom. There will be a rooftop terrace bar, expanded brewing facilities, a full kitchen, event spaces, immersive AV systems and significantly more room for the brewery’s famously eclectic programming.
The renderings show a bright industrial space that keeps the familiar warehouse aesthetic intact, but adds massive windows, greenery and a much more open indoor-outdoor feel. The centerpiece is a huge ground-floor “Main Hall” with flexible seating, retail space and walls of doors that open directly to the street. Outside, the new fourth-floor terrace bar looks poised to become one of Williamsburg’s more low-key rooftop drinking spots, with skyline views and lots of greenery.
Perhaps the biggest change: food is finally becoming a major part of the experience. The brewery is partnering with chef Michael Ayoub, founder of Brooklyn pizza institution Fornino, on a menu centered around Neapolitan-style pizza and beer-friendly dishes. There will also be a dedicated demo kitchen with livestreaming capabilities for culinary events and collaborations. The beverage program is expanding, too. In addition to beer, the new bar will serve wine, cocktails and other drinks.
And for beer nerds, the expansion also dramatically upgrades the brewery’s small-batch and experimental brewing capabilities. The new facility will serve as the company’s global R&D center, with brewery tours and guided tastings expected to resume once the new location is fully operational.
The brewery that helped define Williamsburg’s beer scene is now building the kind of all-day destination Williamsburg eventually became.