Astro Lab Brewing closes in Silver Spring

Astro Lab Brewing last night

A great addition to downtown Silver Spring in recent years has departed. Astro Lab Brewing closed permanently last night at 8216 Georgia Avenue. The brewery welcomed customers for the last time, and the Cafe Vino truck served pizzas. Longtime readers of this website will recall the construction updates I posted during 2018, in which we saw the old Champion Billards building transformed into a neighborhood destination brewery. "We're a little older, a little weary but a whole lot better off for having spent the last 4 and half years with you," the owners wrote in a farewell message on social media.

Silver Spring's Astro Lab Brewing launching 2 canned beers Friday

Tahia New Zealand Pilsner

Astro Lab Brewing will launch their first 2 canned beers in the Silver Spring brewery's history this Friday, July 26, 2019 at 11:00 AM. Be one of the first and few to pick up a can of Tahia New Zealand Pilsner, or the Fresh As IPA - or both. Both will be available for sale in limited quantities, no pre-sale orders, at only two locations - Astro Lab at 8216 Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring, and at Downtown Crown Wine & Beer at 303 Copley Place in Gaithersburg.

Fresh As IPA

Astro Lab Brewing to open today in Silver Spring

The long-awaited grand opening of Astro Lab Brewing is finally here. Montgomery County's newest brewery will open today at 4:00 PM, and stay open until midnight. Astro Lab's first run of beers will be on tap, including an IPA. The brewery is located at 8216 Georgia Avenue in downtown Silver Spring.

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Silver Spring construction update: Astro Lab Brewing (Photos)

Progress continues at Astro Lab Brewing at 8216 Georgia Avenue in downtown Silver Spring. The brewery is currently hiring a Taproom & Retail Manager, and a Kitchen Manager. They've already successfully brewed some test batches.

Silver Spring construction update: Astro Lab Brewing (Photos)

Patience is a virtue for craft beer lovers in Silver Spring, as Astro Lab Brewing continues to painstakingly turn an old building at 8216 Georgia Avenue into a destination brewery. They've received their brewing equipment, which includes a 15-barrel brew house, fermenters, and a brite tank. These were acquired from ABS Commercial in North Carolina.

Over the last month, the owners have been preparing the steam piping and boiler for connection to public utilities. Utilities have been one of the time-consuming parts of the construction, but Astro Lab finally received approval of permits to dig in the right-of-way on Georgia Avenue and Ripley Street, for brewery-level water, gas and electric power upgrades.

The owners are hoping for a late August opening, so keep your fingers crossed. As you can see, they are still working hard on the facade of the building, as well.

Construction begins at Astro Lab brewery in Silver Spring

Construction is now underway inside the future Astro Lab Brewing at 8216 Georgia Avenue in downtown Silver Spring. One thing longtime residents might find interesting - you can see the old Joe's Record Paradise (the former tenant of this building) signs in there.

Astrolabe brewery with rooftop deck opening in Silver Spring (Photos)

Just last month, local real estate firm Streetsense had envisioned the old Joe's Record Paradise/Champion Billiards building as a brewery. The good news for Silver Spring is that their vision is becoming reality: Astrolabe Brewing is taking over the space. In addition to the retail brewery function Streetsense imagined would take advantage of the building's high ceilings, Astrolabe also plans to operate a rooftop deck seven nights a week.

Astrolabe's owners, Emma Whalen and Matt Cronin, say they plan to represent both their international backgrounds, and the Silver Spring community, in their products. Whalen is British, and Cronin is from New Zealand. Astrolabe Brewing will be located at 8216 Georgia Avenue. As you can imagine, the building will undergo a significant conversion first.

DENIZENS BREWING CO. IN SILVER SPRING GETS CONSTRUCTION PERMIT

Denizens Brewing Co., an urban craft brewery and bar opening this summer in downtown Silver Spring, has been issued a construction permit by Montgomery County. This will allow the owners to transform the space at 1115 East-West Highway from a restaurant into a "restaurant and brewing company" configuration, according to the permit.

Among the in-house brew options will be trendy sour beers, and there will be live music as well. This definitely sounds like a great addition to downtown Silver Spring.

Up until now, Denizens has been in the news for changing its name - after another local brewery, DC Brau, objected to the original brand name of Citizens Brewing Company. No, I don't get what the problem was, either.

By this summer, expect Denizens to be know more for its beers and nightlife than that old story.

Logo courtesy of Denizens Brewing Co.