ASBURY PARK - Dark City Brewing Company is already a trendsetter and it hasn't even opened yet - that happens Friday.

This long embattled city is in the midst of - or at the very least on the verge of - a true renaissance, with major redevelopment projects underway, an influx of new restaurants and the popularity of its trendy nightspots already bringing life to portions of Asbury Park's east side and beachfront.

On the west side of Main Street, however, the redevelopment projects have been scarce.

Meanwhile, despite the recent boom of new craft breweries in Monmouth County and throughout New Jersey, Asbury Park - one of the state's most famous tourist destinations - does not have a craft brewery of its own.

This changes on Friday when Dark City Brewing Company officially opens at 801 2nd Avenue, the former location of a thrift store, on the northwest corner of the intersection of 2nd Avenue and Main Street.

"We are the first brewery in the history of this amazingly historic town. It's definitely an honor for us," said Dark City's founder Kevin Sharpe, 28, of Bradley Beach. "And it feels really good to be sort of a like pioneer over here (on the west side of Main Street), or like a cornerstone of what this neighborhood could possibly become. We love it over here; it's a great spot."

The 3,500-square-foot facility has three 15-barrel fermenters that are expected to produce 1,250 barrels in their first year, which - with the exception of the beer offered to visitors who take a tour of the brewery - will initially only be distributed in kegs and growlers.

Sharpe said the brewery's small size and limited initial distribution goals would be advantageous for it as it starts out.

"It allows us an opportunity to dial the beer in, to get the feel of our system and the Asbury Park water, and making sure that something that could potentially sit on a shelf is of the highest quality," he said.

Dark City Brewing Company plans start off by offering four different beers when it opens Friday: a Belgian IPA, an American Pale Ale, an American Brown Ale and a Coffee Porter.

"Eventually we'll start barrel aging things and trying out some sours. Our goal is just to keep it fun and exciting," Sharpe said.

One of the "fun" aspects of Dark City's initial brews is that the brewery - which takes its name from Asbury Park's nickname - has already incorporated other city businesses into its own products and is planning to partner with others who want to do the same.

The American Brown Ale is named Bond Street Brownie after the Bond Street Bar, which became the first bar to carry a Dark City beer on Jan. 1. The Coffee Porter, named Populous, is brewed with coffee from the brewery's neighbor Asbury Park Roastery. And Sharpe said Talula's on Cookman Avenue plans to not only serve Dark City's beers but also to incorporate some of the brewery's grains into some of its breads.

The brewery is also consciously alternating the beers it sends to local bars and restaurants so they'll be able to direct people who take brewery tours, and like one of the beers, to the specific local business where they can find it.

"We want to collaborate with the other businesses as much as possible," Sharpe said. "We want our beers to have a character and flavor specific to Asbury Park."

The brewery is also looking forward to the planned opening of the city's next craft brewery, Asbury Park Brewery, which is currently under construction on Sewall Avenue.

"It's not about competition for us. We're not going to change what we want to do because of what any of the other local breweries are doing," Sharpe said. "But I think having two breweries nearby will be beneficial to the other businesses in town. Two breweries can help improve a town faster than just one brewery can."

Dark City Brewing Company will be open for tours from Thursday to Sunday starting Friday, Jan. 8. The brewery plans to hold its ribbon cutting ceremony on Saturday, Jan. 9.

Rob Spahr may be reached at rspahr@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TheRobSpahr. Find NJ.com on Facebook.