COLUMBIA, MD–A startup poised to enter the exploding craft beer industry has found a new home in a former ACME Supermarket store. The two founders – brothers Brooks and Jesse McNew — have been creating beer recipes for more than twenty years while operating a home brew supply and equipment store in Severna Park until they decided to make the leap to craft brewer with the launch of with their new company Cult Classic Brewing Co. “We understand the craft brewing industry inside and out and, with state laws changing that have simplified the process to start a brewing company, we felt the timing was right to introduce our beer recipes to the general public,” says Brooks McNew.

The search was on: they needed space to house the brewing operations, logistical and distribution functions, as well as office and tasting areas.

Being natives of Annapolis, they focused on Anne Arundel and Queen Anne's Counties for potential sites.

They found what they were looking for with the empty ACME supermarket. Besides meeting their space requirements it is located next to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. That means, among other things, a convenient stop for people travelling to and from the Delaware beaches during the summer.

The brothers have signed a 24,118 square foot lease and pending the permitting process they expect to be operational in January 2018. Marley Welsh of Lee & Associates Chesapeake Region handled the site selection.

“The open-space design of the former grocery store perfectly suited Cult Classic Brewing Co.'s requirement to retrofit the space with customized functions,” Welsh says.

Welsh has become something of an expert in craft brewing, at least from the real estate perspective. She has been involved in the leasing processes for Hysteria Brewing and Lost Ark Distillery, which both leased space at her listing at 9570 Berger Rd.; Push Brewing Co., a subsidiary of Frisco Tap House, which leased space at her listing at 6655 Dobbin Rd., as well as handling the site selection process for Chesepiooc Real Ale Brewery and Crooked Crab Brewing Co.

“The craft beer industry is up and coming in Maryland, with new players continually entering the marketplace,” she says.

As for Cult Classic Brewing, once its new site is up and running it plans to initially brew twelve beers — eight mainstay core varieties plus a rotating selection of seasonal beers and experimentals.

Save

The search was on: they needed space to house the brewing operations, logistical and distribution functions, as well as office and tasting areas.

Being natives of Annapolis, they focused on Anne Arundel and Queen Anne's Counties for potential sites.

“The open-space design of the former grocery store perfectly suited Cult Classic Brewing Co.'s requirement to retrofit the space with customized functions,” Welsh says.

“The craft beer industry is up and coming in Maryland, with new players continually entering the marketplace,” she says.

Save

Instant Insights /

Craft Brewing Startup Launches In Old Supermarket

Related Stories

Recommended For You