Gasworks Brewing, the Lake Union brewpub famous for its waterfront patio crowd, is gearing up to open a roughly 15,000-square-foot production brewery and taproom in Seattle’s SoDo neighborhood this spring. The expansion will bring in a 20-barrel brewhouse and larger tanks so the brewery can finally scale up production and sell beer well beyond its current taproom. The team says it aims to start brewing at the SoDo site in May and open the doors to the public shortly after.
SoDo site and scale
Gasworks has staked out the former Two Beers/Seattle Cider building at 4660 Ohio Ave S for the new operation and plans to turn about 15,000 square feet into a combined brewing facility and public space, according to Washington Beer Blog. The buildout will feature a 20-barrel brewhouse feeding 20-, 40- and 60-barrel tanks, a serious jump in capacity that should ease the squeeze at the Lake Union spot and let the team run larger batches. Since the building is already set up for brewing, the company expects a relatively quick turnaround and is aiming to have beer flowing in May.
Distribution plans
According to the Puget Sound Business Journal, the SoDo facility will finally put Gasworks into the distribution game, a shift from the current 5-barrel setup at Lake Union. The Business Journal reports that the SoDo taproom is expected to open this spring and that the new equipment will support packaged beer for retail shelves and wholesale accounts. For a brand that has mostly leaned on walk-up traffic and its dockside regulars, that is a significant step up.
Lake Union location to remain
Gasworks will keep its original Lake Union brewpub at 2441 N Northlake Way open while using the SoDo site for higher volume production, according to Gasworks Brewing. The company has said it will not mothball the smaller 5-barrel system at Lake Union, instead reserving that setup for experimental batches and the always-busy waterfront patio, as noted by Washington Beer Blog. It is a model plenty of Seattle breweries have adopted to juggle neighborhood taproom vibes with wider distribution ambitions.
What this means for the scene
Owner-operator Cody Cluff, who also runs Magnuson Café & Brewery and has been involved in other taproom projects, has consistently chased larger, patio-friendly spaces, a pattern highlighted by Hoodline’s coverage of his Green Lake project. In its brews with a view writeup, the outlet noted that Seattle’s recent brewery openings reflect rising demand for bigger, event-ready rooms. For drinkers, SoDo’s proximity to stadium crowds and freight routes could translate into longer hours, larger events and broader retail access to Gasworks beers.
The SoDo expansion may land just in time for prime summer patio season. Fans can watch Gasworks’ channels for a firm opening date and can find current hours and details on the Lake Union location on the brewery’s site. For updates and reservations, see Gasworks Brewing. The buildout is in motion, and more specifics should surface as permits move along.
