Brooklyn Brewery is preparing to leave its longtime home for greener pastures just a few blocks away.
After 30 years on North 11th Street, the brewery is set to relocate to a larger, airier space on Wythe Avenue this fall, and will bid farewell to its original location with a rollicking goodbye party on Aug. 29.
“We’ve spent thirty years building something special on North 11th Street, and now we have the chance to take everything we’ve learned — about beer, hospitality, and community — and bring it to life in a space truly worthy of what we have become,” said Brooklyn Brewery CEO Eric Ottaway, in a statement.
With brewmaster Garrett Oliver at the helm, the brewery and tasting room opened back in 1996. Since then, the neighborhood has shifted rapidly — and so has Brooklyn Brewery’s profile. The Williamsburg taproom is a hub for the neighborhood, and the brewery’s beers are available around the city and the country.
The original Brooklyn Brewery opened on North 11th Street in 1996. Photo by Susan De Vries
“Back in 1996, the Williamsburg/Greenpoint borderlands was a place where lots of fun stuff was happening … but it was a very different neighborhood then, and taxis weren’t exactly lining up to take you there,” Oliver said in a statement. “The evolution over these last 30 years has been incredible, and it’s exciting for us to evolve right alongside it.”
Brooklyn Brewery first announced the move back in 2022.
At the time, Ottaway said the increasing commercial development of the nabe was putting pressure on manufacturers — but that the company was able to score a space at 1 Wythe Ave. thanks to the Greenpoint-Williamsburg Industrial Business Zone.
The new space spans 41,000 feet – nearly four times the size of the existing brewery — and Ottaway said the extra room will allow them to expand their horizons.
The new brewery at 1 Wythe Ave. is set to open later this summer. Photo by Susan De Vries
“Our new location will give us the room to fully realize our vision, with a kitchen, outdoor space, expanded programming, and brewing capabilities that will push us creatively in ways we never could before,” he said.
Stretched across three levels, the new Brooklyn Brewery will be anchored by the “Main Hall” on the ground floor, and topped with an airy outdoor terrace bar.
The entertainment and cultural programming beloved at the original location will continue, with the addition of an upgraded audio-visual system, and the company plans to host DJ sets, live music, talks, and more.
For the first time in three decades, Brooklyn Brewery will have a full kitchen. The menu, developed by Fornino founder Chef Michael Ayoub, focuses on pizza and other foods that “pair naturally” with the company’s brews.
Brooklyn Brewery plans to offer expanded food and drink options, as well as brewery tours and entertainment. Rendering courtesy of Brooklyn Brewery
Down below, the company plans to “significantly expand” its brewing operation. Brooklyn Brewery will develop its new beers, collaborations and speciality releases at 1 Wythe Ave., where the extra space will allow them to expand small-batch and experimental brews.
They’ll also finally be able to offer brewery tours, guided tastings, and more.
The team is also developing an expanded bar program, and plan to offer cocktails and other drinks in addition to beer.
“The new brewery gives us room to innovate with a state-of-the-art brewing facility while expanding far beyond beer alone,” Oliver said. “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.”
The Aug. 29 farewell party at 79 North 11th St. will feature beers galore, as well as performances by Tony & The Kiki and Sharkswimmer. The event is 21+, and attendance is free, with an RSVP bundle that includes a discounted draft beer available for $6. Brooklyn Brewery is planning to soft launch its new space at 1 Wythe Ave. late this summer, with a grand opening planned for sometime in the fall.