Can’t go a week without getting your Parallel 49 growler fix? You may want to start filling up: the local brewery is closing its doors for eight weeks beginning January 1 to undergo a massive renovation.

The East Vancouver institution, which many consider to be ground zero for the city’s craft beer explosion, announced yesterday (December 21) on its social media channels that it will close its tasting room, located at 1950 Triumph Street, in the New Year to build an in-house restaurant.

During this time, all on-site services—including growler fills—will be unavailable to the public.

“This is our chance to put some resources and thought into the space, and completely overhaul it to make it a cool place to hang out,” Parallel 49 co-owner Anthony Frustagli tells the Straight by phone.

Additional square footage is not being introduced to the venue. Rather, the space will be reconfigured in order to accommodate a kitchen.

Details of the food program are not yet set in stone, though Frustagli, who also has a stake in craft brewpub St. Augustine’s, reveals that visitors can expect a focus on “street style-esque” foods that complement the business’s eclectic beer lineup.

The tasting room, meanwhile, will experience a change in layout. The brewery is working with local firm Measured Architecture to create a space that will house more guests while maintaining its industrial, East Van vibe. (At its current state, the 800-square-foot room seats approximately 50 people.)

A patio will also be constructed outside Parallel 49’s main entrance on Triumph Street.

Frustagli explains that municipal and provincial laws concerning brewery tasting rooms have become more concrete since Parallel 49’s opening in 2012. As a result, the company has been mapping out a thoughtful tasting room makeover over the past year.

“We’re kind of taking a step back and saying, ‘Okay, this room has become a really important part of our business,’ ” he says. “And we never really put much thought or money or time into designing it or making it as cool as we want it to be.” 

Parallel 49 Brewing Company’s tasting room will close on January 1 and is expected to reopen in March 2017. Follow its Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for updates.