Charlie Benedetti, Paul Halayko and Christopher Botto inside the space that will be transformed into a micro-brewery and tasting room.
By Nancy Peckenham
When Christopher Basso looks around the vast hollow ground floor of the old paperbox factory on Colden Street in Newburgh, it is clear that he sees the future. Christopher, a beer brewer who has spent three years developing plans for the Newburgh Brewing Company, has memorized every detail. He sees pipes crisscrossing the ceiling and large brewing vats that he hopes can start producing beer three months from now. Once operational, the brewery will produce 2,700 barrels a year.
Chris and his partners, Paul Halayko, the chief operating officer, and Charlie Benedetti, the head of sales, are designing a business that is “brewed with heart.” As they walked through the building recently, they talked about the beers they are planning, so-called sessionable beers – full-flavored beers with a lower alcohol count that are intended for sipping over long periods of time.
The beers will be available initially in bars and restaurants and available in stores after 2013. The partners plan a fourth-floor tasting room in the building, where patrons can try out the three or four different beers that the brewery plans to offer in the beginning.
Finding unique and satisfying tastes for the beer inspires Christopher, who is a graduate of the French Culinary Institute. He has worked both in restaurant kitchens and a brewery in New York City, where an entry-level job carrying bags of malt led to fulltime employment at the award-winning Brooklyn Brewery and a new passion – brewing specialty beers. A dream of his own brewery soon started to form.
The former paperbox factory is being transformed into Newburgh Brewery.
“I always wanted to be in Newburgh,” Christopher said, recalling how he and Paul grew up in Washingtonville and were attracted to the city. “Everyone loves the river and you can get mesmerized by the water. Its history gives it a magical quality,”
From the fourth-floor tasting room, people can look east to the Hudson River or to the west, where the windows open onto the Washington Headquarters Historic site. Paul adds that the company’s logo shows a Purple Heart, a reference to the Purple Heart award that was first assigned at the historic headquarters. It also speaks of putting their heart into the brewing and their role in the revitalization of a place they care about.
The trio expects to begin interior renovations this month. There are old shelves and heating ducts that need to be removed – floors sanded and walls painted. With 20,000 square feet, spread over three floors, the work will take several weeks to complete. Outside the building on Colden Street, the company will be installing sidewalks to comply with city regulations.
The Newburgh Brewing Company website tells the story of its love of brewing and Newburgh.
Paul says he is “chomping at the bit to get going.” They’ve owned the buildng since January and have spent the past nine months getting all of their financing in place. Charlie left a 34-year career as a Wall Street trader to become the head of sales for the new company and Paul left what he calls “a relatively well-paid job” to run the business side of Newburgh Brewing Company. Both he and Christopher are living with their parents until the business takes off.
Christopher stresses that they knew it was important to take their time with the development because they have a solid plan and they are confident that success is at hand. Part of that plans involves supporting the community and they welcome artists or local vendors who may have ideas about how they can support one another in Newburgh.
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Great article, thank you so much for meeting with us Nancy!