New Family-Owned East Village Brewpub Seeks Chef

Half Door Brewing Company has been on the horizon since Fall 2012, but a few stops and starts over the past year, including a couple chef shuffles, have delayed the project.

Now, co-owners and siblings Stacy and Dan Drayne, whose family owns and operates The Field Irish Pub downtown, are putting renewed energy into propelling their new brewpub forward.

A just-released rendering shows how the Draynes will remodel the 1906 house that currently stands at the corner of 9th and Island in the East Village. Inside, it'll be more refined than The Field, with rich wood, tile and reclaimed church pews.

Creative House, a diversified investment and development company owned by Douglas Hamm, bought the property in 2010 with the vision to ultimately create a bar/restaurant on the prime corner. He worked with the Draynes to successfully convert it into what is likely to be a new hot spot in East Village.

There's 4,000-square feet to work with, and the site will include wrap-around patios, a two-level dining room and a double-decker brewhouse with a 10BBL system. Dan Drayne, who currently brews at Coronado Brewing Company's original brewpub, says they'll feature six to eight house beers in addition to guest beers, and plans to craft everything from IPAs and session beers to a Berlinerweisse and hoppy Irish red.

Half Door Brewing Company hopes to open by August but there's one small hitch. The co-owners are still seeking the right chef collaborator to help lock in a menu of hearty, simple fare that combines "Old World traditions & New World comfort food." The chef they're looking for would work on beer dinners, food and beer pairings and write seasonal menus and specials. Is this chef you? Interested parties can contact the number listed.
· Half Door Brewing Company [Official Site]
· All Beer Coverage on Eater [~ESD~]