Otherwise Brewing to Open San Francisco's First Gluten-free Taproom

SAN FRANCISCO - Feb. 15, 2023 - PRLog -- Otherwise Brewing, San Francisco's first gluten-free brewery, is proud to announce a brick and mortar taproom, set to open in early summer.

Otherwise will be taking over the beverage operations at Barley, an existing craft beer bar and restaurant on Polk Street, transitioning the space into a fully gluten-free environment. The move is part of Otherwise's broader growth plans, which include a crowdfunding push and the expansion of its sales and marketing operations.

"It has always been our goal to open a dedicated gluten-free space for craft beer lovers in San Francisco," said co-founders Aaron Gervais and Stellar Cassidy. "It wasn't something that we could afford when we started the brewery two years ago, but we have been on the lookout for the right opportunity ever since. The irony of the name 'Barley' aside (barley contains gluten), this space is really perfect for our needs."

Gervais and Cassidy are teaming up with the bar's existing owner, Erik Anderson, who designed and launched the space and is a long-time evangelist of Otherwise's mission. In 2022, he approached Gervais and Cassidy about finding a way to collaborate on a project, and the taproom transition was the culmination of their discussions. Anderson will continue to operate the kitchen, albeit with a new gluten-free menu, while the Otherwise Brewing team will manufacture and sell beer on site, releasing a wide range of small-batch brews on a regular basis.

Since the facility is already built out, there are few changes that Otherwise needs to make other than installing a nanobrewery setup, doing a deep cleaning to remove gluten, and updating the signage. Having secured preliminary approvals from the necessary agencies, the team expects to be able to make the switch in early summer. In the meantime, Anderson will continue to operate the business in its current form.

Otherwise decided on crowdfunding to finance the taproom endeavor in part because it allows its most loyal fans to own a piece of the business. The round is being offered by MicroVentures, one of the longest running and most reputed equity crowdfunding platforms. More details can be found at MicroVentures.com or by visiting https://www.otherwisebrewing.com.

About Otherwise Brewing

Launched in early 2021, Otherwise Brewing produces award-winning beers of uncompromising flavor and quality using solely gluten-free ingredients. Its goal is to make the full range of craft beer flavors available to everyone, regardless of dietary restrictions. Founded by brewer Aaron Gervais and beer expert Stellar Cassidy, the brewery distributes its beers to retailers, bars, and restaurants throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. It also ships beer direct to consumers across California.