Dust Bowl Brewing Co. announced plans to open a taproom two hours south-west of the Turlock-based craft brewery in Monterey.

Ideally located next to Fisherman’s Wharf, the stand-alone building was originally built in 1874 as a train depot. It is situated on the Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail, which runs from Pacific Grove to Castroville, and offers panoramic ocean views from the patio. The location offers 3,600 square feet of interior space and 1,700 square feet on the back patio.

Current plans include 24 tap lines, featuring a wide range of Dust Bowl beers. Growlers and Crowlers will be sold, offering fresh, draft beer to-go. Communal-style seating will be featured throughout coupled with bar seating. The patio will offer ample heating and multiple fire pits enabling patrons to enjoy the beautiful outdoor setting year-round. The patio will also offer corn hole and other outdoor games.

The décor will play into the rich Monterey references of acclaimed author, John Steinbeck, which ties so well with the Dust Bowl Brewing brand story. Oversized historic images will flank the walls along with custom industrial finishes on the furnishings. A small area will offer retail items, such as tees, hats and glassware. Plans also include a reach-in cold box for packaged beer to-go.

“We’ve been researching potential satellite locations for quite some time,” said Brett Tate, the founder and owner of Dust Bowl Brewing Co. “The Monterey Peninsula really got us excited. It meets our criteria on so many levels. There’s a growing craft culture in the area, but it’s not overly saturated. The demographic is ideal – Monterey County has a population of 438,000 residents, while the coastal region attracts over three million tourists annually. The more consumers who are exposed to your brand, the better. The taproom setting allows a greater level of brand engagement and consumer interaction, which leads to increased sales in the more traditional off-premise and on-premise sectors.”