Labatt USA has opened its first US brewery and tasting room in Buffalo, NY. And although you can still get one of their trademark lagers, its emphasis will be on more experimental directions.

Here’s the deal…

Labatt USA (a subsidiary of FIFCO, a Costa Rican company best known for the Central American beer Cerveza Imperial) has thrown open the doors to  its much anticipated US innovation brewery located in Buffalo’s Cobblestone District.

According to NYup Labatt USA is rebranding its American operations “to better align itself with its international corporate identity and ideals. It also comes as the company is launching what it calls new and “innovative” product lines.”

Labatt’s new USA location is a smart one…

The newly opened brewery and the tasting room which provides visitors with views of the entire brewing process, occupies the first two floors of an 81,075-square-foot 1919 warehouse building that ironically was constructed the same year that Prohibition.

The Labatt Brew House features a state-of-the-art 10-barrel, four vessel experimental brewhouse, a beer garden (which in Buffalo we expect won’t be open that much) and a public tasting room with 12 taps and a restaurant and even an adjoining bakery.

Under the supervision of head brewer Ryan Brady at the Labatt Brew House has launched as an experimental small batch operation. Although visitors will still be able to tap into mainstays like Labatt Blue Citra they can also explore more ‘crafty’ directions like juicy New England IPA or a sour and salt, Gose. And if one of these directions takes Labatt USA is poised to sale things up and look to wider distribution.

Labatt USA’s Rob Hertenstein, sees the company’s first US brewery and taproom as something special for beer tourists and local alike…

“The Labatt Brew House brings a new way of brewing beer to Labatt USA. For the first time, we have a destination where we develop beer alongside our most passionate consumers. We’ve worked hard to give them a unique experience of seeing, smelling and learning more about the brewing process “

“With customers tasting each beer directly from our brite tanks and sharing their feedback, the next big Labatt beer will come from a U.S. brewery.”

The $20 million project is a joint venture between Labatt USA which is separate from Anheuser-Busch InBev owned Labatt Brewing of Toronto, and Pegula Sport & Entertainment, a company owned Buffalo Bills and Sabres owners Terry and Kim Pegula.

All image credits: Labatt USA and Pegula Sport & Entertainment