A NEW FLAVOR OF TRADITIONAL BEERHOUSE
To understand Ellicottville Brewing Company (EBC), you need to know a little about its hometown. Ellicottville has a lot going for it – an Allegany Mountains locale, miles of trails, a premier ski resort village, and a charming downtown. Golf courses, mountain biking, treetop Sky Adventure Park and a mountain coaster all contribute to making this a destination spot for family and friends. This is where EBC comes in.
For years EBC has run a successful brewpub downtown. It’s the perfect après restaurant. But owner Peter Kreinheder was troubled. As Ellicottville was growing in popularity so were his patrons. Kreinheder exclaims, “You can’t expect a guest to wait one and a half hours!” It was time to expand. By putting a true brewhouse in the village, EBC would become a prime Ellicottville attraction.
Craft beer is growing in popularity and Kreinheder wanted a brewhouse that solidified Ellicottville’s budding reputation in culinary tourism. In addition to his excellent cuisine and exceptional service, he envisioned a brewery tour that interprets beer making in a memorable, exciting way that is worthy of a destination. Since the exterior had to blend with the village’s style standards Kreinheder focused on the expansive interior. He called Timberbuilt and shared his ideas of wanting natural timbers with cherry ceilings. George Klemens, owner of Timberbuilt recognized opportunity. “EBC was doing something extraordinary. I wanted the brewery interpretation to match our building philosophy. Rather than hide the structure it should be highlighted and shown off,” says Klemens.
“Let’s deliver innovative style but keep it functional so it still looks like a place where guys make beer.” Kreinheder responded by taking a leap of faith and completely trusting Timberbuilt with the design.
EBC’s expansion is a beer production and restaurant hybrid. The brewery is dominated with bright, galvanized steel in the form of massive industrial barrels and equipment but is framed with the warmth and permanence of large, exposed timbers and wrought-iron chandeliers. The food areas feel rustic and cozy but are punctuated with large contemporary graphics of beer making and other industrial design details. Patterned Italian leather boards intermingle with experienced barn board walls. White finished timbers are supported with wood pegs. Corrugated metal accents tables. The custom lighting was handcrafted in Vermont by Hubbardton Forge, modern American blacksmiths. The mix and match of materials throughout the brewery and restaurant blend everything together while creating a pleasant shock value for patrons.
Timberbuilt incorporated the infrastructure into the design and tour. The upper level is a private dining room made available because the rooflines are pushed up and exposed. A walkway connecting the dining room to the tasting room overlooks the enormous beer vats. The tasting room displays exposed duct work that moves grain. As patrons taste beer they are immersed in the sounds and aromas of the beer making experience.
EBC represents more than its unexpected Alpine chic style; it’s a model of building efficiency and resource conservation. Distressed ceilings are from the pine bark beetle. Persistently warmer winters have allowed for infestations at higher elevations destroying swaths of Western forests. Instead of the trees going to waste, EBC gave the distressed wood a new home. Table chandeliers are refurbished barn pulleys. Structurally insulated panels (SIPs) significantly reduce EBC’s carbon footprint. “EBC represents how we should be building,” states Klemens.
Make sure you experience EBC’s new flavor of a traditional beerhouse. It’s beautiful. It’s unique. It’s local. It’s homebrewed high style, enjoyment, and flavor. Cheers!