Unbranded, Hialeah's First Craft Brewery, Hopes to Be the City's Communal Spot

Four years ago, Unbranded Brewing Company announced it would open. Now the brewery has set a date.

On Saturday, February 22, Unbranded will celebrate the grand opening of its 32,000-square-foot brewery in the Leah Arts District in Hialeah.

Owner Zachary Swanson says he chose the location for several reasons, including the abundance of civic pride that residents of the City of Progress have toward their hometown. "People who live in Hialeah have a strong connection to where they're from. Craft breweries work well in places where people are proud of their city." Swanson also says he wants to be a part of the formation of the Leah Arts District. "We thought it would be really good to be the anchor of the arts district. Matt Kusher's Stephen's [Delicatessen] is only two or three blocks away. We want to really provide the people of Hialeah with a cool communal meeting spot."

Finally, Swanson cites practicality: "Wynwood and other parts of Miami are incredibly expensive. We could afford to buy a rather large facility in Hialeah."

The massive brewery includes a 30-barrel brewing system that will make Unbranded's flagship beers, such as Golden, a golden ale; Guava, a guava wheat beer; a hazy IPA series; and a series of beers aged in stainless steel tanks with staves. Swanson says he chose to use a modified wood-aging system so he can experiment with various woods, such as pecan, mesquite, and hickory, instead of traditional oak used in wine and bourbon barrels. In addition, aging the beers in stainless steel tanks accelerates the aging process and prevents airborne contaminants.

An additional five-barrel system will be used for small-batch beers available only in the taproom.

The taproom will offer a total of 16 taps of Unbranded beers, according to Swanson. "Every time you come to the taproom, there's something different for you to try."

In the coming months, Unbranded will serve East Texas-style barbecue. In the meantime, rotating food trucks will sate guests' hunger.

Swanson also plans to offer a robust calendar of events at the brewery, including beer and yoga, a monthly classic car meetup, and a happy hour offering $1 off beers and $3.50 Golden ales Wednesday through Friday from 4 to 7.

Unbranded Brewing Company. 1395 E. 11th Ave., Hialeah; 786-332-3097; unbrandedbrewing.com. Opening February 22, 2020.