Brothers Marco and Nick Plastino say they’ll launch a soft opening of their first-ever brewery, Bottle Bay Brewing Co., by the end of the month.

The brewery is located in roughly 1,600-square feet of space at 503½ E. 30th, neighboring Gordy’s Sichuan Café, on the South Hill. 

The brothers will be the brewery’s only employees at the outset.

Marco Plastino says he first began making homebrews 10 years ago.

“We started the Bottle Bay Brewing Co. business in 2016 and have had great success self-distributing,” Plastino says.

Events such as wedding receptions, birthdays, and holiday functions have proven to be successful for the duo.

“The ultimate goal, though, has always been to have our own brewery,” he says.

The first-floor tap house and lower-level brewery are each 800 square feet. 

Plastino, who completed the master brewers’ program at the University of California in Davis, California, says throughout the years, the building’s space has housed a bike shop, a shoe company, and a pizza parlor, among other businesses. A city building permit application says the space most recently housed a dog grooming business.

Plastino says the brewery will carry a balance of beers with an emphasis on crisp ambers, browns, and porters.

Bottle Bay Brewing will offer light snacks; patrons will be allowed to bring outside food to the brewery.