USA, NY: Prosper Brewing debuts in North Tonawanda

The wait is over. The brewing industry has officially returned to the Tonawandas with the debut of nano-brewery Prosper Brewing, at 72A Webster St., North Tonawanda, across the street from the Riviera Theatre, Buffalo News reported on March 8.

Owners Kevin Whipple and Tim Berg, natives of the Tonawandas who started home-brewing roughly six years ago, have brewed 11 beers for their taproom, the linchpin of the business. There's no intent to distribute for now, but growlers will be available soon, and canning for crowlers is likely.

"We want to be a local community brewpub," Berg said. "We thought the area needed something like this."

Whipple is pleased with Prosper's full palate of beers, ranging from an approachable pilsner – dubbed Not So Bohemian Pils – to darker brews suited for cold weather such as the Prosper Porter, a Nitro Milk Stout and the Munich Dunkel. Even with Prosper's small three-barrel system, the owners plan to brew a rye stout for St. Patrick's Day and a Belgian strong ale in the future.

Prosper's prices are lower than their local counterparts, with pints ranging from $5 to $6. A flight of four beers is $8. And unlike many of its peers, Prosper will remain open until 1 a.m. or later on Friday and Saturday nights, but closed on Sunday so the owners can brew.

The taproom's current capacity is 40, but that is expected to grow soon. Prosper plans to take over the space of the building's former co-tenant, Michele's Motif, knock down the wall between and open an expanded taproom within three to six months. That bigger area should accommodate roughly 100 patrons.

Prosper offers food, too, including Firehouse Chowder (beef and chicken chowder, made in-house, $3 cup, $4.50 a bowl), which Berg said is beloved by natives of the Tonawandas; a beer brat ($8) cooked in the brewery's pilsner; traditional pierogi (potato and farmer's cheese, potato and cheddar, and sauerkraut, $10 for six), and fresh-cut fries ($5).

There's complimentary popcorn in front of the bar, a common bar trick to make you thirsty.

Local brewing history is key to Prosper's identity. Whipple and Berg named their business after Prosper Peuquet, a devoted brewmaster/beer historian who appears in this 2005 article by John Eiss, now a writer for BuffaloBrewingHistory.com.

10 March, 2019