A large craft brewery capable of producing over 310,000 gallons of beer a year is set to open in West Berkeley, assuming the owners secure final planning permissions. The plan also calls for a restaurant and barrel-aging facility.
Far West Brewing already has a permit from Berkeley to manufacture beer at the 10,212-square-foot industrial building at 1150 Sixth St. (at Harrison).
In its application to the city for restaurant and retail operation permits, Far West, which was formed specifically to open this business, said it would brew six year-round beers, limited release beers, and a series of barrel-aged sour beers and American wild ales.
“Our core beers and limited releases will represent a variety of styles including Pale Ale, India Pale Ale, Belgian-style Ale, Brown Ale and Stout,” they wrote.
The vision for the quick-service restaurant includes serving simple, locally sourced food to complement the beers, partnering with Berkeley food makers like Acme Bread Company and The Cheese Board Collective.
“The menu will include cheese and charcuterie plates, fresh breads and olive oils, Bavarian-style pretzels, sandwiches and flatbread pizzas,” reads the application, which has not yet been posted online. “The beer menu will feature our core beers and limited releases.” The restaurant’s opening hours are expected to be 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday.
Bottles of limited-release beer will also be for sale, as will growlers of draft beer which can be refilled on site. In its application, Far West Brewing said incidental retail sales of its craft beers “are crucial to building a successful craft brewery.”
The brewery’s barrel house will have the capacity to store over 250 wine and spirits barrels that will be able to age over 20,000 gallons of beer, the owners said.
The proposed development can be seen as part of an ongoing craft beer boom in the East Bay which is seeing new destinations opening at a rapid clip in Berkeley, Oakland and Alameda.
Far West Brewing would also be moving into West Berkeley’s “drinks district,” an established beer, wine and spirits hub. It will be just a few blocks from Pyramid Brewery & Alehouse on Gilman Street, and Trumer Pils Brauerei on Fourth Street, as well as the area’s numerous urban wine-makers and Takara Sake on Addison Street.
Sierra Nevada opened beer tasting spot the Torpedo Room on Fourth Street, The Rare Barrel is a new sour-beer tasting room on Parker Street, a beer and food truck garden is set to open next month in Berkeley’s Westbrae neighborhood, and beer-centric restaurants such as Moxy Beer Garden and Hog’s Apothecary are in vogue. Check out Berkeleyside Nosh’s interactive Drinking in Berkeley map for a full picture.
Further afield, brewing giant 21st Amendment is slated to open an enormous, 95,000-square-foot facility in a former Kellogg’s cereal factory in San Leandro.
Related:
East Bay’s craft beer boom is just getting started (01.15.14)
All systems go for West Berkeley beer/food garden (11.27.13)
Sierra Nevada’s Torpedo Room opens in Berkeley (11.26.13)
The Hog’s Apothecary: new to the Temescal neighborhood (09.25.13)
Drinking around Berkeley: A Nosh guide (04.09.13)
The Mead Kitchen joins local artisan drinks boom [04.02.13]
Nano-brewpub and lounge planned for Alcatraz Ave. (03.21.13)
City approves sour beer brewery for beer geeks (03.10.13)
Burgers and beer duo debut on Friday (03.07.13)
Berkeleyside Nosh’s interactive “Drinking in Berkeley” map
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