SAINT JOHN – Moosehead Breweries is planning to open a new small-batch brewery in the port city.

The project will commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Oland family brewing business in 2017 and will take about a year to complete.

“We don’t have all the details yet, but we wanted to share the news as we are starting to have discussions with property developers,” said Andrew Oland, president and CEO of Moosehead Breweries, in a release.

Moosehead’s Main Street West location will remain the company’s home base and main brewery. The new small-batch brewery – envisioned as a centre for education and innovation – will include two small-scale brewing systems, allowing the company to explore new product development and new brewing techniques.

“We see this new brewery as a way to continue to express and explore our passion for beer,” said Oland. “It will also allow us to connect with our customers and be an active participant in the local beer community.”

The project team is currently reviewing location options, with hopes of finding one in the city’s uptown. They’re looking to find a space of around 10,000 square feet that will accommodate various uses, including an open-concept brewery allowing for tours and training, a tap room, and a retail area for merchandise and beer sales.

“It is very exciting to imagine what this brewery could be,” says Oland. “Once we select the location, we’ll get down to detailed operational planning – deciding exactly what the brewery will have to offer, beyond the actual brewing, that is.”

Moosehead’s brewers will use the small-scale brewing systems to create a new series of small-batch brews that will be available for sale at the new brewery, at licensees, and at retail outlets.

“These days, beer drinkers are interested in experiencing not just new beer styles, but the beer-making process itself,” said Oland.

“This brewery will allow us to deliver on those experiences in a very meaningful and personal way. We can’t wait to get started.”