Inside Bushwick’s newest craft brewery

November 15, 2019 Scott Enman

Here's a look inside Long Haul Brewery. Courtesy of Long Haul Brewery.

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Unlike many New York establishments that turn over quickly from dwindling sales and rising rents, Long Haul Brewery — Bushwick’s newest restaurant, café and bar — anticipates staying a while.

“We plan on being here for quite some time, and we’re set up financially to do so,” Mike Hassell told the Brooklyn Eagle. “That’s why we chose the name Long Haul — we’re in it for the long haul.”

The venue, located just off the Morgan Avenue subway stop, hopes to cater to the needs of commuters regardless of the time of day.

“We catch people going in for work so they stop and get a coffee, maybe a pastry or a breakfast sandwich,” Hassell said. “Then we get them coming home for a beer and dinner. We experience their long haul, whatever they go through that day.”

Mike Hassell, Kevin Webb and Reed Silverman pose inside their brewery. Eagle photo by Paul Frangipane

Hassell, along with his partners Kevin Webb and Reed Silverman, are currently operating as a café serving all-day breakfast until they receive their brewing and liquor licenses.

When they’re fully up and running, they’ll have a lunch and dinner menu, as well as an “aggressively affordable” happy hour ($3-4 beers) featuring six to eight of their own brews.

Long Haul is aiming to have three to four easier drinking low-alcohol beers, as well as a sour ale, IPA, golden ale and seasonal brew. Charles Williamson of Butternuts Beer and Ale will be creating the different concoctions.

The venue, hidden between industrial lots on the East Williamsburg border, opened earlier this month in the former Braven Brewing Company space. The location has a seven-barrel system left over from the previous tenant. Should any of their beers become more popular, they will have the ability to create larger batches upstate.

The space is operating as an all-day breakfast spot until it receives its brewing and liquor licenses. Photo courtesy of Long Haul Brewery

The three owners, all Brooklyn residents and familiar with the craft beer scene, said that in addition to selling their own wares, they want to support other local breweries — like Kings County Brewers Collective and Interboro — by serving their creations, too.

“What we think will really set us apart is the fact that we’re not pretentious; we’re not hung up on just our brews. We want to give you the best experience with beer no matter where it comes from,” Hassell said. “We’re not saying you have to become a fan of our brand. Of course we want you to try our beers, but if you don’t think they’re good, that’s not a problem, because we’ll have competitors on tap that hopefully you’re familiar with.”