Canandaigua brewery Frequentem eyes Buffalo taproom

The Ontario County brewery will be part of the Barcalo Living & Commerce project in Buffalo's Old First Ward neighborhood.

One of the most buzz-worthy and lauded breweries in the Finger Lakes is eyeing an unexpected spot for its second taproom.

Canandaigua-based Frequentem Brewing plans to open a location in Buffalo’s Old First Ward neighborhood later in 2023, owners Meagan and David D'Allesandro confirmed Tuesday night.

The move was first reported by the Buffalo Business Journal. The taproom will be located at 225 Louisiana St., the D’Allesandros said.

“As we look ahead, we are really excited about taking this next step to grow Frequentem,” the D’Allesandros said via text message. “We are super fortunate to have an awesome team and we really want to continue developing that. We wouldn’t be here without our community and Frequentem family, so as always thank you to everyone for the continued supported. More to come!”

They promised to share more with the Cleveland Prost as more details become available, adding that the new location won’t have a brewery on-site and design plans are still pending. The Buffalo Business Journal reported Frequentem has filed for a 30-day liquor license notice with the Buffalo Common Council.

Photo: Frequentem founders/owners David and Meagan D'Allesandro inside their Canandaigua brewery in August 2020.

Frequentem opened its Main Street brewery in downtown Canandaigua in August 2020. In a little over two years, the brewery has developed a reputation for expressive lagers (among the best in this region really), expressive fruited sours, and wonderful hazy India pale ales. Frequentem promises good vibes and it certainly delivers on that promise. The Canandaigua location is inside a former Byrne Dairy and feels absolutely nothing like the utilitarian dream it was before.

The brewery offers gourmet popcorns and ciabatta pizzas. It’s unclear what food options will be served in the Erie County location. But patrons can reasonably expect the brewery won’t stray too far from what has won it many, many fans.

Photo: Adam Matula slow pours a pint of lager at Frequentem Brewing in Canandaigua.

According to the Buffalo Business Journal, Frequentem’s Buffalo taproom is part of a larger $38 million redevelopment of the 150,000-square-foot Barcalo Living & Commerce Center, site of the former Barcalounger factory. It includes 118 apartments and 35,000 square feet of retail/commercial space.

Redevelopment of the site started in the spring of last year.

The area near the Buffalo River is already booming. Resurgence Brewing, founded in 2014, moved its operations to a palatial spot at 55 Ohio St. in recent years. And the neighborhood is already home to Pressure Drop Brewing in the nearby Barrel Factory facility, as well as Old First Ward Brewing at Gene McCarthy’s, a beloved neighborhood pub.

BriarBrothers Brewing opened inside the historic Buffalo Malting Corp. silos on Elk Street earlier this year. (I’ve yet to visit, but I’ve heard great reports.)

The Buffalo News reported in June that renovations at the site were 50 percent complete. Barcalo also made metal furniture at the site. It was operational until 1963. And the project should be completed (and ready for leasing) next spring. In total, the complex occupies eight buildings.

Portions of the complex date back to 1896.

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