The City of Alameda recently closed escrow on the sale of the 50,000-square-foot Building 91 at West Tower Avenue and Pan Am Way on Alameda Point, across West Tower from the powertrain manufacturer Wrightspeed. The transaction marks the city’s first successful sale of property for private development at the Point. The commercial developer is currently restoring the 73-year-old former storage facility for modern-day commercial use.  

Admiral Malting and Almanac Beer Company plan to move into the building in the fall. Almanac Beer Company will use 30,000 square feet in Building 91 to produce craft beers with a barrel aging and farm-to-table brewing approach. 

According to Almanac’s website, “the sprawling facility will house a 20-barrel brew system manufactured by JVNW; room for 4,000 oak barrels; 500 barrels of foedre capacity; 2,500 square feet of cold storage; a 2,000 square feet of indoor taproom and an additional 1,200 square feet for an outdoor beer patio.

“For the first time in its six-year history, Almanac will brew 100 percent of its beer onsite when the brew house comes online,” Almanac states on its website. 

Admiral Malting will use 20,000 square feet of the building to produce premium malts for craft brewers and distillers. “Malt is the grain used to brew beer but until now has not been a specialty product,” the city stated in a press release announcing the sale of Building 91.  “Admiral Malting is breaking new ground as the first micro-maltster in California.”

When complete, the malting facility will also include a tasting room called The Rake, which will feature beers that use Admiral’s malts.

“The proceeds from the sale will be used to jump-start much needed new infrastructure at Alameda Point,” the press release stated. 

“This is a historic moment for Alameda Point and represents the start of creating long-term jobs, amenities and infrastructure at the former base,” stated City Manager Jill Keimach.