Brooklyn Brewery

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and

Brooklyn Brewery President Steve Hindy

yesterday cut the ribbon on Brooklyn Brewery's

new brewhouse next door to its existing

facility in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The $8

million expansion increases Brooklyn Brewery's

production capacity from 12,000 barrels per

year to 120,000 barrels per year.

With the expansion, the brewery has added

ten jobs and now employs 49 full-time and 20

part-time employees. It expects to hire

another 15 people in the next two years.

Mayor Bloomberg and Steve Hindy were joined

at the announcement at the new brewhouse

on North 11th Street in Williamsburg by Small

Business Services Commissioner Robert

Walsh, Brooklyn Borough President Marty

Markowitz, Congress Member Nydia

M.Velázquez, Assembly Member Joseph

Lentol, Council Member Stephen Levin, Empire

State Development Executive Director Peter

W. Davidson, and Brooklyn Brewery Partners

Robin and Eric Ottaway and Brewmaster

Garrett Oliver.

"More than a century ago, Brooklyn was one of

the largest centers for brewing in the nation,

and for more than 20 years, Brooklyn Brewery

- one of the country's most celebrated craft

breweries - has revived and extended that

tradition," said Mayor Bloomberg. "The new

brewhouse will enable the brewery to increase

its local production by ten times, continue to

add jobs, and increase its tours and events,

which were already drawing tens of thousands

of visitors every year. Cheers to Steve Hindy

and the entire Brooklyn Brewery team - we

couldn't be hoppier for you."

"The expansion of our Brooklyn Brewery means

that most of our growth in the next three

years will be in Brooklyn," said Brooklyn

Brewery President Steve Hindy.  "We expect to

double our sales in the next three years."

Local craft brewers like Brooklyn Brewery are

growing at a time when overall beer

consumption in the United States is falling. In

2009 and 2010, despite major capacity

limitations, Brooklyn Brewery sales rose 20

percent, even as total beer consumption in

the U.S. fell. And, with its expansion

complete, the brewery expects to increase

sales another 100 percent over the next three

years.

Last year, Brooklyn Brewery sold 108,000

barrels of beer, most of it produced under

contract at the Matt Brewery in Utica, New

York. For years, the brewery searched for more

space to expand in Brooklyn, ultimately

acquiring space next door to the brewing

facility it has operated since 1996 in

Williamsburg.

"Brooklyn Brewery has played a big role in

Brooklyn's resurgence," said Small Business

Services Commissioner Walsh.  "By investing

in his business, in the manufacturing sector,

and in this great borough, Steve Hindy has

made a real difference in New York City."

"Congratulations to Steve Hindy and Brooklyn

Brewery on their exciting new expansion," said

Brooklyn Borough President Markowitz. "This

growth will help create jobs and make this

Williamsburg institution even more 'stout' by

increasing its capacity ten-fold. So, let's raise

a mug and toast to Brooklyn Brewery's bright

future - and hope there are even more

expansions 'on tap.'"

"The expansion of Brooklyn Brewery in

Williamsburg is a win-win for the business and

the community," said Congress Member

Velázquez.  "The new facility will mean

additional capacity for the brewery, but also

more good paying jobs, here, in Brooklyn."

"We're lucky to have Brooklyn Brewery in north

Brooklyn," said State Senator Daniel

Squadron. "The brewery provides jobs,

community support and - dare I say - great

beer.  I was happy to support the application

for a grant from the Downstate Revitalization

Fund, and am proud to congratulate Brooklyn

Brewery for the opening of the expanded

facility."

"Steve Hindy and Brooklyn Brewery have been

good friends and strong leaders for Brooklyn

and for New York," said Assembly Member

Lentol. "This is exactly what government

should be doing for our businesses:

supporting them and helping them grow within

our communities.  I am thrilled to be here

today, and I am proud to have helped secure

the funds that allow this expansion to go

forward.  But the true man of the hour is

Steve Hindy, my heartfelt congratulations to

him and to Brooklyn Brewery. Cheers!"

"The Brooklyn Brewery has been a staple in

Williamsburg for years, and I'm glad that they

have been able to expand their brewhouse

right here in the neighborhood," said Council

Member Levin. "It is great to see successful

local businesses continuing to invest in the

community and take pride in their Brooklyn

roots. As they have grown from a small

company to a nationally-acclaimed brewery,

the Brooklyn Brewery has been instrumental in

promoting Williamsburg, and the entire

borough of Brooklyn, as a hub of creativity and

entrepreneurship. I look forward to enjoying

Brooklyn-brewed beer for years to come."

Empire State Development awarded the

brewery an $800,000 Downstate Revitalization

grant for the project. The Fund was created to

help attract businesses, improve commerce

and revitalize local economies.

"Today's ribbon cutting exemplifies the State's

commitment to create opportunities that

generate jobs and keep our entrepreneurs,

workers and families in New York State," said

Empire State Development Executive Director

Peter Davidson. "Projects like the Brooklyn

Brewery are essential to the economic viability

of our small businesses and communities

across New York. Its only an added bonus

then, that the Brooklyn Brewery is also one of

New York's small businesses whose continued

growth and expansion have meant more jobs

right here, in my hometown of Brooklyn.  I

look forward to seeing the continued growth

and opportunities developed by the expansion

of the Brewery."

The expansion will allow for brewery tours and

special events on weekdays. Before the

expansion, even though public hours were

limited to Friday, Saturdays and Sundays, the

brewery was drawing roughly 2,000 visitors

per weekend. For information on tours, visit

www.brooklynbrewery.com.

The Brooklyn Brewery was started in 1988 by

Steve Hindy, a former Middle East

correspondent for The Associated Press, and

his Brooklyn neighbor, Tom Potter, a former

banker.  Potter retired from the business in

2004, and he now is starting a distillery in

Brooklyn - the New York Distilling Company.

The Brooklyn Brewery is in one of New York

City's Industrial Business Zones. In 2005, the

City established Industrial Business Zones to

support industrial businesses and provide

targeted assistance programs, including

employee training, help with regulatory issues

and job placement services.

Brooklyn Brewery beer is made with NYC

Water, world-renowned for its taste and

quality. NYC Water, delivered from pristine

watersheds up to 125 miles north of the city,

is largely unfiltered - a status given to only

five large cities in the United States. In recent

years, New York City has made significant

investments to protect its water supply and

upgrade its water distribution system.

Brooklyn Breweryhttp://maps.google.com/?cid=15512340134091706295s=9926594785486741585Brooklyn Brewery