Here’s what to expect at the new and the old Bickersons Brewhouse locations.
We recently announced that Bickersons Brewhouse was taking over Peddler Brewing’s location in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood. Though the news was a matter of public record the parties involved were not at liberty to talk about it until the ink dried. Now they can speak freely, so it’s official. Bickersons Brewhouse of Renton, Washington is opening a second location. No firm opening date for the taproom yet, but within weeks for sure.
On Wednesday, March 23rd Bickersons Brewhouse fired up the brewhouse and created its first beer at the new location — 1514 Leary Way NW in Seattle. Frank Castro, one of the owners of Bickersons Brewhouse, took time away from his brewing day to answer a few questions.
The first beer created on the new brewhouse, which is getting brewed as I write this, is a Mexican Lager. For Bickersons, the new-to-them brewing system represents a significant increase in production capabilities. In Renton, they brew on a five-barrel brewhouse, which feeds five- and ten-barrel fermenters. At the Ballard location, it’s a 20-barrel brewhouse that feeds 20- and 40-barrel fermenters.
What Will Happen to Renton?
Bickersons Brewhouse opened its Renton brewery and taproom in late 2019. Regulars at the original taproom can relax. The Renton location is not closing, though the future will likely see some changes. Frank says that as production transitions to the Ballard location, he envisions the Renton location morphing into something akin to a barrel room and taphouse. Less stainless steel, more oak, and more room for seating. The complete transition is still months away.
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Frank says that in the more immediate future, he’ll continue to produce Bickerson’s hazy IPAs at the brewery in Renton since he’s so firmly nailed down the process on that equipment. Mostly, production of the other beers will happen in Ballard on the larger system. Each location will serve beers brewed at both locations.
What Will Happen in Ballard?
Bickersons Brewhouse has not announced an exact opening date for the new location but Frank says they are shooting for the middle of April. Follow Bickersons on Instagram to stay informed. We will also report any news here on the Washington Beer Blog as details come together.
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Once it opens, things will seem very familiar to people who frequented Peddler Brewing. The basic policies regarding things like kids, dogs, and food will remain the same. Also, many of the monthly events that Peddler Brewing hosted will continue.
Along with that, Bickersons will add some events of its own. For instance, some of the businesses that have held pop-ups at the Renton location are expressing interest in popping up at the Ballard location. Also, Frank says they’ll likely add some live music events throughout the summer.
Folks in Ballard are in for a treat. Frank and his crew at Bickersons Brewhouse are really nice people and they make really good beer. Stay tuned for more info about the opening of the Ballard location.
