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Genesee Brew House model planned for Labatt in Buffalo

North American Breweries, the parent company of Genesee, plans to construct an "innovation" brewery in Buffalo's Cobblestone District.

Following in the path provided by Rochester's Genesee Brew House, North American Breweries, the parent company of Genesee, plans to construct an "innovation" brewery in Buffalo's Cobblestone District.

NAB owns distributes and markets Labatt beers in the United States. The company announced a nationwide search for a brewmaster Tuesday for the new pilot brewery. Labatt USA is headquartered in Buffalo.

"It's a big opportunity to be able to say you're the first brewmaster for Labatt USA's first brewery in the U.S.," said Mary Beth Popp, NAB's director of corporate relations. "We're hoping to get a great brewer, a lot like Dean (Jones from the Genesee Brew House)."

The brewery will be located at 9 Perry St. in Buffalo. It will be a joint venture between Pegula Sports and Entertainment, a company owned by Buffalo Bills and Sabres owner Terry Pegula, and North American Breweries. PSE will run the restaurant, while NAB operate the brewery. The building is about a block from the KeyBank Center arena, home to the Buffalo Sabres.

he project will include a restaurant and tasting room, much like the Genesee Brew House. Labatt Blue remains the top-selling Canadian beer in America.

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The Buffalo brewery, which will be the first Labatt brewery making beer in the U.S., should be open by August or September, Popp said. It's part of a mixed-use building that is being redeveloped by PSE.

“Establishing a Buffalo-based brewery will create a new era for the brand, and the new brewmaster will be at the forefront,” said Glen Tibbits, general manager for Labatt USA. “We’re looking for a passionate brewer who is experienced in innovation and excited about creating more ways for people to experience Labatt beer.”

Like the Jones and assistant brewer Ryan Brady at the Genesee Brew House, the Labatt pilot brewery will serve as a smaller research and development center. It will allow Labatt to develop new beers, brands, and recipes and will also serve as a gateway to the brand. Jones and Brady have come up with smaller batch craft beers that have been scaled up and produced in Genesee's 500-barrel brew house. The same could conceivably happen with Labatt, Popp said.

The Perry Street building was built in 1919 and formerly housed a factory. The 70,000-square-foot space will include retail, commercial, and residential space. Labatt USA will moves its Buffalo operations into the new Perry Street space.

The brewery will feature a 10-barrel W.M. Sprinkman four-vessel brew house with 12 fermenters and eight Brite tanks. NAB is seeking a brewmaster with at least 10 years experience and "drinking, sampling, experimenting, refining and enjoying beer along the way," according to a release. Applicants can apply here.

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