Tri-City Brewing Company expansion includes an event space and classic beer garden

Cheers to Tri-City Brewing Company as it expands its Bangor Township building to include a year-round pavilion and classic beer garden.

The microbrewery and beverage maker, located at 4170 Shrestha Drive, broke ground on the $282,000 expansion this spring. Work should be finished by the middle of July.

“Tri-City Brewing is Bay City’s hometown brewery,” says Kevin Peil, Founder and President of Tri-City Brewing.

Tri-City Brewing Co., located at 4170 Shrestha Drive, broke ground on the $282,000 expansion this spring. Work should be finished by the middle of July.“All of the beer that you drink here is made here and it’s the only choice like this in the area. After the changes that COVID brought to the restaurant industry and adjustments we had already made to our business, we saw an opportunity to expand our tap room. Our patrons showed us they loved the temporary outdoor seating, so we decided to build a permanent space they can enjoy outdoors through the year.”

The project includes a 1,200-square-foot year-round pavilion. The pavilion includes 750 square feet of indoor/outdoor seating with glass garage doors that open when it’s warm and close when it’s cold. A 500-square-foot outdoor patio will be connected to the seating area. The goal is to create a space for private and public events. The project will create space for about 100 people.

Kevin Peil started Tri-City Brewing Co. in 2007 from his garage. The business has expanded multiple times since then. The Bangor Township DDA gave the brewery a $55,875 incentive because the area will be fully accessible and ADA compliant.

“Tri-City Brewing is a destination in Bangor Township, Bay County, and for the region,” says Lee Newton, Chairman of the Bangor Township DDA. “The Bangor Township DDA is thankful the brewery chooses to call Bangor Township home. It only made sense for us to support this project financially and to make the process of expansion for the brewery as seamless as possible.”

Peil started Tri-City Brewing in his home in 2007. As he gained friends and family members as investors, he moved to a warehouse on the east side of Bay City. The brewery was Bay City’s first independent brewery in 50 years.

In 2012, the brewery opened a tap room at its warehouse which allowed patrons to enjoy a drink and bring in food from the outside. In 2015, they purchased the land on Shrestha Drive and in 2016 built a 10,000-square-foot facility with 70% dedicated to production and 30% dedicated to the tap room.

Bay Future, Inc., Bangor Township, and Bangor Township DDA worked with Tri-City Brewing for over a year to help retain this company in Bay County through site selection. The $1.7 million investment in 2016 created the area's only state-of-the-art brewing facility on 3.5 acres of property.

“Tri-City Brewing has shown its commitment to Bay County through two expansion projects in Bangor Township,” says Trevor Keyes, President & CEO of Bay Future Inc.

“It has been a pleasure working with Kevin and his team throughout these processes. The brewery’s story is a success story for all entrepreneurs. We’re thankful for partners like Bangor Township and the Bangor Township DDA who help support entrepreneurs and business owners in our community. I look forward to the continued growth of the brewery in Bay County.”

Tri-City regularly has 35 beers, three wines, root beer, and cider on tap that are produced right in the brewery. Throughout the year, the brewery will produce 100 different beers.

While the brewery has a distribution network, the majority of these beers are only available at the brewery. Information about special events and brews is available on Facebook.