The Buffalo brewing world has been a bit topsy-turvy as of late, especially with various rumors of the future of Thin Man Brewery. Are they closing, selling, reworking the operation?
So what’s the deal?
It turns out that Community Beer Works, LLC (CBW) has agreed to a purchase deal with Thin Man Brewery of Buffalo, LLC (Thin Man) to acquire the brand rights and brewery assets of Thin Man Brewery, pending regulatory approval, according to a news release by Chris Smith, Co-Founder CBW.
The investment encompasses: The Thin Man brand rights, recipes, distribution rights, and capital assets at 166 Chandler Street.
CBW is set to: Continue brewing, marketing, and distributing CBW and Thin Man beers.
This latest scenario between two of Buffalo’s most beloved brewing operations should make local beer lovers very happy. Consider it a mash-up between a couple of esteemed heavy-hitters, with a plan to “take the art of brewing to new heights in Buffalo, NY.”
“As current partners and future owners, we want to assure our esteemed distribution partners, loyal customers, trusted suppliers, dear friends, and valued partners that Thin Man beer will continue to be crafted by the exceptional Thin Man brewing team, just as it has been since day one. With meticulous planning and foresight, we are embarking on a promising year for Thin Man and Community Beer Works, with a focus on collaborative creativity that promises a rich and exciting experience for all. Our commitment to excellence remains unwavering.” – The CBW Team
Moving forward, new investments will be made into the brewing operation, which will entail ongoing beer production at CBW’s current brewing digs at 520 7th Street, as well as a reinvigorated Thin Man brewing arm at 166 Chandler Street.
In the end, this is a win-win for both brewing operations, brewers, beer lovers, and the Buffalo beer scene. It will be interesting to see how this collaboration of brewing resources will play out in years to come. In the meantime, it’s great to see CBW’s continued evolution, along with Thin Man being resuscitated and re-energized. I’m sure that Riff City is happy to hear this latest news.
If you’re wondering about CBW’s involvement with Douglas Development’s 976 Elmwood project, Chris Smith says, “The project has been slow-moving for many reasons, unrelated to us. We’ve been patiently waiting to get the green light to start, and we’re as excited as ever to build something special for our community.”
As for the former Thin Man brewery located at 492 Elmwood, that was was a separate entity than the Thin Man Restaurant location. Lloyd Taco has been paying rent (yes, the rumor was true) on the restaurant location for some time now, though the brewery is still up for lease (including the equipment). There has been interest in the brewery location, though no one has signed on the dotted line. It’s great to hear that Lloyd is still onboard for setting up shop on Elmwood!