More details on Motorworks Brewing in Bradenton

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I talked today with Ann Altman, the vice president of marketing for Motorworks Brewing, the craft brewery that just got approval from the city of Bradenton.

"We’re in the very beginning stage of this," Altman said, with many things left to do before opening. Perhaps chief among those tasks is re-doing the inside of the building at 1014 9th St. W. The building's history as a car dealership gave them the inspiration for the brewery's name. Altman says the building still has the ramp that was used to drive cars onto the second floor.

Motorworks BrewingOwners Denise and Frank Tschida (pronounced like cheetah) live just outside Bradenton and hail from Minnesota, Altman said. The Tschidas’ interest in craft beer goes back to their days in Minnesota, but they really got into it when they owned a liquor store in Tarpon Springs. That led them to decide to start their own brewery.

They started the process in the summer of last year and looked at sites in Tampa, St. Petersburg and even Minnesota before finding the 9th Street site and falling in love with it, Altman said. It's at the midpoint between McKechnie Field and Riverwalk and is within walking distance of a parking garage and is close to downtown Bradenton.

“It just seemed like that would be this perfect little economic engine,” Altman said. Motorworks plans to build a stage in their oak-shaded yard and host musicians, which would tie in with the nearby Village of the Arts, she said.

The Tschidas have even spoken with the Pittsburgh Pirates (who play spring training games at McKechnie Field) about having their beer in the stadium, Altman said. The owners have great connections in the beer distribution network, she said.

As announced on Wednesday, Motorworks plans to open in two stages. Altman said their tap room will open in late spring, serving beers from other breweries, both near and far. They won’t be brewing their own beer until late summer or early fall. They won't serve food, but are working with nearby restaurants on having food delivered.

Altman wouldn’t reveal the name of their head brewer or what types of beer they want to make. She did say they plan to collaborate with other craft brewers.

I asked about Motorworks' ambitious plan to brew 5,000 barrels of beer in their first 12 months, along with their plans to brew 24 hours a day with a hoped-for output of 65,000 barrels a year. This would put them in the Top 30 of American craft breweries right from the start.

“I think they really look to move this beyond the region,” Altman said of the Tschidas. She said they will be able to make that much beer because the brews will be excellent. “They don’t do anything less that the best,” she said of the pair. “They know hard-core craft beer drinkers.”

Motorworks is working on a website, which should debut soon, Altman said. She said they have seniors from the Ringling College of Art and Design working on a brewery logo.

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Alan Shaw

Alan Shaw has been a fan of craft beer since the 1990s. He is partial to hops and has been an editor at the Herald-Tribune since 1997. He can be reached at (941) 361-4914, by email or mail at 1741 Main St., Sarasota, FL 34236. Follow him at @alancshaw on Twitter and on Facebook.
Last modified: February 14, 2013
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