Postdoc Brewing Expands, Taking Over Cairn Brewing

Tom Schmidlin, the founder of Postdoc Brewing, says this development is similar to last summer’s news that saw Stoup Brewing take over Optimism Brewing in Seattle. Essentially, this is a friendly acquisition with one brewery taking over another. Postdoc Brewing of Redmond will take over Cairn Brewing of Kenmore. The brewery and taproom at the north end of Lake Washington will remain largely as it is today but will soon become a second location for Postdoc Brewing.

“We are hoping to close in May, pending licensing,” said Tom Schmidlin. “We intend to make minimal changes, but it will be branded as Postdoc Brewing with Postdoc beers. Cairn fan favorites may make occasional appearances.”

Tom Schmidlin and his wife Julie opened Postdoc Brewing’s original location in 2014. This is the company’s first expansion. On social media, the announcement said that they are honored for the opportunity to carry on Cairn’s tradition in Kenmore. “We have long admired Bill, Jen, and the Cairn team’s dedication to fostering community and providing a welcoming, neighborhood experience in the craft beer industry. We are in our 10th year in Redmond and are excited to share our love of great beer and community at a second location. We look forward to getting to know our new Kenmore neighbors and friends!”

The acquisition of Cairn Brewing’s seven-barrel brewing system will allow Postdoc Brewing to increase production a bit, but Tom says they’re also looking forward to making some niche styles. It will also allow the brewery to increase the frequency at which it introduces seasonal brews. “We might even work on some draft sodas and other beverages,” he adds.

sponsor

A map showing the location of the Postdoc Brewing and Cairn Brewing.

Cairn Brewing, a community-minded brewery and taproom, opened in 2016. It was founded by Jen and Bill Boyd. A statement from Cairn Brewing said, “We ended up here because Bill and Jen know that Cairn has the potential to be so much more than it is today. And as we talked it became clear to us all that Postdoc has the capability to take the essence of Cairn farther into the world. The breweries are so similar—focus on quality product, a community-driven vibe, and so on. We’re thrilled that Tom, Julie, and their team will shepherd our little neighborhood brewery and our team into the future.“

Postdoc Brewing – Redmond
17625 NE 65th St #100
Redmond, WA 98052
Postdoc Brewing – Kenmore (pending)
7204 NE 175th St Bldg A
Kenmore, WA 98028

sponsor