Demand for Big Ditch Brewing craft beer exceeds the production capacity of the company’s downtown Buffalo facility.  Therefore, Big Ditch is seeking to expand into a new facility that can accommodate its long-term growth.  The proposed new facility, which Big Ditch would lease from Iskalo, would be 105,315 +/- sq. ft. of which 58,690 sq. ft. (56%) would consist of brewery production and company offices.  The balance of the facility would consist of an expansive tap room, event space and related support area which according to New York State law constitute a retail operation.  Agency assistance is being sought only for the non-retail component of the overall project.  There will be no disruption to production at the Buffalo location.

The proposed project is conceived to be a world-class destination brewery, serving as an anchor of the burgeoning craft beer tourism industry in WNY.  The initial phase of brewery production equipment would enable production of up to 50,000 barrels of beer annually, more than 3 times the production capacity of the current Buffalo operation and ultimately lead to a production capacity of 100,000 barrels per year.

05/1/2020 - $32,300,055 Lease/Leaseback Inducement Resoultion approved by ECIDA Board of Directors