It’s only been a year and change since Sam Gilbert opened the doors to his East Bay brewery and taproom, Temescal Brewing, but for Oakland craft beer lovers, it might feel like longer.

The brand immediately built its cult following through hoppy brews and smooth pilsners, not to mention an exceptionally cozy outdoor seating space. Now, as Oakland becomes overrun with craft beer and the corresponding beer gardens, Temescal almost seems like an elder statesman.

Cruising toward its two-year anniversary, Temescal Brewing now has plans to expand its operations.

A Type-23 small beer manufacturer liquor license application was submitted for 621 Fourth St. by Temescal Brewing earlier this month. The license is still pending.

Sam Gilbert said there are still moving parts but the West Oakland space will most likely be for beer manufacturing and not a taproom or any kind of retail component.

The new Temescal Brewing digs are only a few blocks from Urban Legend Winery on Second Street. Stay tuned for more details.

UPDATE 1/24:

Temescal Brewing owner Sam Gilbert tells Inside Scoop the warehouse space they've leased is 4,800 square feet. Located on the industrial outskirts of Jack London Square, the address was previously home to Urban Legend winery.

"All of our beer will still be brewed in the Temescal neighborhood, but a portion will now get trucked down to our new location for additional fermentation and aging," Gilbert said. "There's still a lot of work ahead to get the cellar location up and running, but we expect to be fully operational by summer of this year, at which point we will significantly increase the volume of beer we produce for Bay Area drinkers."

Gilbert said the expansion was needed. He says the brewery is essentially "bursting at the seams" at its Temescal location (evident in the empty kegs in his shop's beer garden). And while his team is "considering" a taproom at the cellar space, the focus for now is solely on brewing more beer.

"It's thrilling finally have some room to breathe," he said.

Temescal Brewing: New project at 621 Fourth St.

Justin Phillips is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email jphillips@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JustMrPhillips