One of the worst-kept secrets in the Valley craft beer scene is now officially out: Arizona Wilderness Brewing is expanding.
Gilbert’s first brewery, which celebrates its one-year anniversary next week, is taking over the entire building it currently shares with Bruegger’s Bagels near Arizona Avenue and Guadalupe Road.
According to the latest newsletter from popular website RateBeer.com, which named Wilderness the top new brewery in the world earlier this year:
“Arizona Wilderness will be expanding this fall, taking over adjacent retail space and installing a 15-bbl system they already have waiting for them in storage. Jonathan Buford … expects it to have maybe 35 seats and more of a production feel, also handling growler sales and merch. It will help with their current cozy 7-barrel arrangement, and allow them to participate in more national and international festivals and beer dinners.”
Buford tells MXSW, “We are (expletive) excited. Honestly, we are staying true to our values: Small batch, local ingredients, and a great beer experience. It isn’t a ‘production’ expansion as much as a catch-up-to-demand expansion.”
Buford says renovation work will begin in mid-October. If all goes smoothly, work could be completed in January.
“We have most of the equipment and (are) working closely with the city,” he says. “This also allows the kitchen to expand and the patio.”
No word on whether they’ll keep the bagel shop’s drive-through window…
(Update: A number of readers apparently didn’t realize I was just kidding about the drive-through window. A liquor store can have one, but not a brewery.)
