The Brooklyn Brewery’s search for a long-term home is finally over.
The 34-year-old New York brewery announced today that it will anchor the Greenpoint-Williamsburg Industrial Business Zone real estate development, with plans to open in the space in summer 2024.
Brooklyn will occupy 41,000 sq. ft. of the 82,000 sq. ft. building, encompassing the lower level, first and fourth floors of a three-sided building at 1 Wythe Avenue. The new space is located four blocks from Brooklyn’s existing Williamsburg brewery at North 11th Street, which it has occupied for three decades. The location is zoned for light manufacturing use.
Brooklyn Brewery CEO Eric Ottaway, in a press release, recalled when the company moved into Williamsburg in 1991 that properties “were practically being given away since the neighborhood was considered pretty sketchy.”
“Obviously Williamsburg has completely transformed, and is now one of the most desirable neighborhoods in the city,” Ottaway continued. “The ongoing commercial development of the area puts pressure on the ability of manufacturers like ourselves to remain in the area. However, the IBIA zoning creates mandatory set asides for industrial use, and we are happy that we have been able to work with the owners of 1 Wythe to use the industrial space that has been created in the building.”
Ottaway began working with Nathaniel Mallon, managing partner of commercial brokerage Verada, in December 2019 to identify new spaces within Brooklyn Brewery’s existing neighborhood.
“It just made sense; keep the brewery in the neighborhood they helped create, fill a zoning requirement for manufacturing space, design and build a top notch facility,” Mallon said. “Brooklyn Brewery was holding out for the right opportunity and we are thrilled to have found the perfect location at 1 Wythe.”
Additional details in regards to the amount of volume Brooklyn will be able to produce at the new facility, details of the taproom space and the future of Brooklyn’s existing location were unavailable as of press time.
Brooklyn ranked as the 13th largest Brewers Association-defined craft brewery by volume in 2021, with production of 216,119 barrels (+18%). However, volume was down compared to the 293,000 barrels produced in 2017. The loss of tourism and foot traffic during the COVID-19 pandemic severely affected Brooklyn’s business.
Over the last decade or so, Brooklyn has forged a number of international partnerships and joint ventures. In 2020, the company sold its international brand rights in Europe and parts of Asia to long-time collaborator Carlsberg for around $130 million.
Brooklyn previously sold a 24.5% stake in the business to Japanese brewer Kirin in October 2016.
In 2018, Brooklyn acquired a 20% stake in New York’s F.X. Matt Brewery, which has contract produced Brooklyn’s offerings for three decades. In 2016, the company invested in Colorado’s Funkwerks and California’s 21st Amendment Brewery.
Brooklyn co-founder Steve Hindy, one of the famed “Class of ’88” pioneers of the craft brewing movement, retired at the end of 2020.