By Ashley M. Casey
Associate Editor
One of Baldwinsville’s popular establishments has expanded into Seneca Falls. WT Brews opened a second taproom earlier this year and business is brewing.
“I’ve always been looking to expand to another location. I love Baldwinsville so I wanted to find another place that has the same small village feel,” said WT Brews President Mike Johnson. “It’s right on the river. You can literally boat between both places.”
Plans were in place for the Seneca Falls taproom before the pandemic. Johnson said that since WT Brews is a New York State Farm brewery, the licensing process for opening a second location is relatively smooth. After much delay on the state’s part, the Seneca Falls taproom opened in April.
“Once we got open, things went reasonably well right from the get-go,” Johnson said. “There’s only two other breweries immediately in the Seneca Falls area. [We had] a steady stream of customers right away.”
Johnson said he is hoping to incorporate local products such as coffee or honey into the Seneca Falls offerings, but first WT Brews must upgrade their Patchett Road facilities in Lysander.
“With two locations we’re always in catch-up mode. We never seem to have enough beer,” he said. “Right now on a good week when our schedules allow us we’ll brew about six barrels of beer.”
WT Brews currently has a two-barrel system that allows the crew to brew three times a week. Each barrel is 31 gallons.
“Our new system is a seven-barrel system. Within one brew day, we’ll be able to make more beer than we currently produce in one week,” Johnson said.
With the expansion of the farm brewery on the horizon, Johnson said he is on the lookout for future taproom locations.
“Next year, plans are to start the hunt for another location in Central New York. My plan is to try to open up two more locations in the next couple of years,” he said.
While the pandemic has brought much of the economy to a halt, things are going well at WT Brews.
“With everything shut down — no events, no places for people to go — my business has actually been pretty good. We’re one of the few places people can go to relax and have a pint,” Johnson said.
Once the threat of COVID-19 has passed, Johnson said he is looking forward to hosting events to support nonprofits in Seneca Falls as the brewery has in Baldwinsville.
“Our plan in Seneca Falls is to become heavily involved in the community. Hopefully the local Rotary out there and the local dog shelters will get involved,” he said.
In addition to Johnson, the WT Brews crew includes brewer Rich Pinkowski and co-owners Michelle Johnson and Rob Pinkowski. WT Brews opened its first taproom at Baldwinsville’s Four Corners in 2015. Two years later, the taproom moved to 18 E. Genesee St., behind the B’ville Diner.
WT Brews Seneca Falls is located at 6 Ovid St. in the hamlet of Seneca Falls. To learn more, visit wtbrews.com or facebook.com/wtbrews.
