Why Contract Brewers Are Going Brick and Mortar

Image: Joe and Lauren Grimm, spouses and founders of Grimm Artisanal Ales, with their new brewing equipment at the brewery and taproom in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, which they hope to open in September. Credit Brian Harkin for The New York Times

Many brewers began as gypsy (or contract) brewers, using other breweries’ equipment to launch their brands and gain a toehold in the beer industry. Today, though, it’s no longer enough to simply brew a double IPA to stand out. Increasingly, local is king, and longtime itinerant brewers such as Notch, Grimm and Mikkeller are opening their own breweries. I take a deep look at the trend for The New York Times.