Brato Brewhouse Is Eyeing a Brighton Location

Alex Corona and Jonathan Gilman of Brato Brewhouse & Kitchen. / Photo by Alli Caulfield

Remember Brato Brewhouse + Kitchen, a startup from a couple of Cambridge Brewing Company employees, popping up around Boston as it plans its brick-and-mortar? Well, it’s taking the first step to potentially open in Brighton.

“Brato Brew Pub” is on this month’s agenda for a public meeting of an Allston/Brighton civic group, and Boston Restaurant Talk picked it up. While it’s still very early in the process, Brato cofounder Jonathan Gilman confirms he and partner Alex Corona have a letter of intent in place with the landlord of a spot near the new Boston Landing development.

“We’re still exploring this and other possibilities,” Gilman says. “But this is the main one, and we’re extremely excited about the possibility ahead of us.”

The space is about 4,500 square feet, which is squarely within the footprint in Brato’s business plan, he says. The standalone building at 190 North Beacon St. “has a lot of draws,” though Gilman notes it still needs to be vetted by Brato’s contractors. But the main appeal is its location within the burgeoning Boston Landing area, the new home of New Balance and the Boston Bruins, and soon, the Celtics; plus new businesses, including a Flatbread Company bowling alley.

“We have a lot to offer and we could help shape a new, blooming industry in that area,” Gilman says.

But it’s still very much a work in progress. The Thursday night meeting, which is open to the public, is just the first step of many others, including finalizing the lease, securing financing, developing and executing Brato Brewhouse + Kitchen’s design and buildout, and other city and state permitting, Gilman says.

In the meantime, Brato will continue its nontraditional Phase 1 of introducing itself to Boston with the help of other local brewers and chefs.

Mark your calendars for October 10, when Night Shift Brewing plans to tap a Brato collaboration. The yet-to-be-named Schwarzbier, a dark, German lager style, is getting brewed this week with fresh Verrill Farm corn that Gilman had just picked up today when he received a call from a reporter, inquiring about a potential Brighton location. Prost!

And if you’re someone who’d be personally psyched to see a brewpub open in Brighton, mark your calendars for this week’s BAIA hearing to support Brato’s plans, too.

Brighton Allston Improvement Association Monthly Meeting, Thursday, September 7, 7 p.m., Elks Lodge, 326 Washington St., Brighton, Facebook.