Canadian Beer-maker To Open First U.S. Brewery In Gowanus

GOWANUS, BROOKLYN — Brooklyn will get to be the first spot in the country home to popular Canadian beer maker Collective Arts Brewery. The company plans to open its first U.S. outpost in a former historic brewery in Gowanus later this year.

Collective Arts Brewery leased the 16,000-square-foot spot in a complex of buildings on Third Avenue for its two-level tap room, restaurant and microbrewery, The Commercial Observer first reported. The space will include 24 beer taps, seating for 100 people at the restaurant and 40 seats in a cocktail lounge on the lower level.

Owners said the new Brooklyn space will become a site for innovation and creativity for the brand, which is known for the unique art featured on its cans.

“We want to make space that becomes an incubator for us to create new beers but also a creative hub for the community we’re in, and the artists and musicians we collaborate with,” co-founder Matt Johnston said in a release.

The new brewery will include collaboration with local and international artists, musicians and brewers, they said. The community space in the brewery will be used for exhibits for the artists in and musicians can be featured in the space's in a live music lounge, which the founders hope will support the arts at a time when galleries and live music venues are disappearing, co-founder Bob Russell said in the release.

It will also be the first time the beer-makers run a restaurant.

“We’ve never had a kitchen before, which means we have a new outlet to be creative with, developing foods that compliment our beers and we anticipate serving food that has ingredients that are ethically sourced, approachable and creative,” Russell said.

Collective Arts, based in Ontario, was founded by Matt Johnston and Bob Russell in 2013 and has since been operating only out of its one brewery and taproom in Canada.

Brooklynites might already have had a taste of what the beer-makers have to offer though. Last year, Collective Arts hosted Brew York, a week of events to celebrate their NYC launch.

The beer fest included live music performances, live-painted murals and a taste of 10 of their beers.

The new Brooklyn spot is set to open this summer, owners said.

Right now, the company is looking to hire someone to run the new space. Those interested in becoming the Brooklyn head brewer can email careers@collectiveartsbrewing.com.