Dublin Brewing will be the latest brewery to open in Downingtown. The brewery will be located at 137 Wallace Avenue and has an estimated opening of Summer 2022.
The brewery has been in planning for a few years now and will be the 3rd to come to the town. We spoke with Ireland-born owner and brewer Brendan Fitzgerald to get details on what craft beer fans can expect.
BIPA: What stage are you currently in? Licensing?
Brendan: We are currently doing the buildout. I’ve started with the local permitting, then the brewhouse will be going in.
BIPA: How did you become initially interested in craft beer?
Brendan: I am originally from Dublin, Ireland, and came over to the US in 1989 on an exchange program, and I’ve been homebrewing for about 30 years. I am also in the leadership of the “BUZZ” Homebrew Club.
BIPA: What styles of beers will you focus on?
Brendan: I’ll be making a good variety of styles: Irish dry stouts, IPA’s, saison, red ale, lagers, and definitely some barrel-aged beers when I can get barrels.
BIPA: Can you describe the space you are opening?
Brendan: Our entire building is about 11,500 sq/ft, and we will be utilizing around 6,000 sq/ft to start, with the taproom being around 2,500 sq/ft. Behind that will be the brewhouse, fermentation, and a kitchen.
I’m doing the fit-out myself as I am a contractor by trade. I do plumbing, electrical, carpentry, cabinetry, tile, painting, etc. I’m planning on doing this as an electric brewhouse to start. My vessels are 8.5bbl, but 7bbl realistically, and I will be doing smaller batches (3-4bbl) to open. A winemaker friend of mine will also be in the same building but in a separate area from the tasting room.
For the taproom, we will have a 30 ft bar with seating for about 20 people, with the total taproom holding about 200. I have 3 tap towers and will install 12 taps to start. I am also adding a library, in an elevated platform area in a corner of the taproom.
In addition to the taproom and winery space, we will have a large room for events, seating around 30 people, and a room for games – I would love to get some shuffleboard in there! We also have garage space for an indoor/outdoor beer garden that will be shared between the brewery and winery. I’ll also be building a deck off the back and a music stage.
BIPA: Will you release crowlers/cans there as well?
Brendan: We will do growler fills, and I am looking into a crowler machine. We will be canning as well for takeout.
BIPA: Will there be food offered?
Brendan: Yes we will have a kitchen. Looking to do healthy food, and some Mediterranean fair. I want items that make you feel good and have as many local ingredients as possible. Things like paninis, salads, sandwiches, and some fresh pizzas.
BIPA: Anything else our readers should know about the Dublin Brewery?
Brendan: We will be building the bar, and would like to crowd-source the decorations. I would like to decorate the place with people’s favorite, local things. We also obviously want to be the biggest thing for St. Paddy’s Day, but we will not have green beer…ever. I am hoping to get some pipe bands in to play occasionally as well.
