Local brewery expands in downtown Pontiac

Exferimentation Brewing Co. recently announced an expansion of its Saginaw Street brewery and tasting room, adding an additional 1,000 sq. ft. to its footprint.

With ten more taps and additional seating options, the second tasting room is ideal for overflow seating on weekends or for customers looking for a more quiet room when open mic or improv nights are scheduled. There is also a balcony attached, which will allow for outdoor seating once the summer months come around.

The room is also available to rent for private events, including weddings, company outings, and more.

"The new room has a different aesthetic, a little lighter and more airy," says Exferimentation co-owner Eric Benton.

"It’s been a great opportunity to create a completely different environment."

It’s not the only change for Exferimentation. The company recently hired a head chef and general manager, improving the food menu while streamlining it at the same time, allowing for faster service times.

The brewery is constantly releasing new varieties of beer, Benton says. An Exferimentation classic, the toasted coconut cream ale Clownpocalypse, one of the brewery’s first beers, will make its return later this month. A number of barrel-aged beers will be released in the first quarter of 2019, as well.

As for 2019, Benton says that there are several exciting announcements on the horizon--though he’s not ready to divulge any specifics, just yet.

It’s been a steady climb for the still-young brewery, which opened in July 2016. Benton, along with co-owners Andy Stamper and Scott Boughton, has been high on downtown Pontiac’s rebound since opening there. He’d like to see the city overtake Grand Rapids as Beer City, USA, one day, as he told us in a March 2017 profile of the company.

"Look out Grand Rapids, here comes Pontiac."

Exferimentation Brewing Co. is located at 7 N. Saginaw St. in downtown Pontiac.

Got a development news story to share? Email MJ Galbraith here or send him a tweet @mikegalbraith.