USA, MA: Things coming to a head at Tree House Brewing Company’s new Sandwich location

Things are coming to a head at the Tree House Brewing Company's soon-to-open Sandwich location, the Cape Cod Times reported on April 14.

Damien Lee Goudrew, one of the founders of the Charlton-based company and listed manager of the site, is expected to appear before the Sandwich Board of Selectmen on April 15 for approval of a Farmer Series Pouring Permit and Entertainment License.

All other licensing requirements for the site have been approved by the state’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission.

The company bought 98 Town Neck Road and the adjoining property at 3 Freeman Ave. through Landreau Realty, LLC for $1.275 million on Nov. 12.

On Nov. 19, the same real estate company bought 5 Freeman Ave., the closest beach house adjoining the property, for a little over $1 million.

The brewery taproom is expected to open by summer, pending the state of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the company’s website.

The facility will include a taproom with resident food trucks and Tree House beers to go as part of an On The Fly distribution service. The website says the company intends to open the facility "sooner" as an On The Fly location, or curbside pick-up of beer cans.

“Beyond 2021, we are planning huge renovations that will transform this experience to something else altogether,” the company’s website says. “Though we are not yet prepared to share those plans with you yet, we can assure you it will be something to behold.”

A representative from the company declined to speak further on the project, saying it is the company's policy not to speak to the media.

The brewery location is a three-story, wood-frame building with a gross floor area of approximately 7,760 square feet, according to the pouring license. When allowed, there will be on-premise consumption on the first and second floors of the building.

The brewery will also include a deck overlooking the ocean, and the adjacent parcel at 3 Freeman Ave. will be developed to be an outdoor beer garden for on-premise consumption, the pouring license said.

The location will have about 258 seats, with an occupancy permit for 500 people for both indoors and outdoors.

Tree House is seeking permission through the entertainment license to have radio and instrumental music, including a band with up to three instruments.

For the pouring permit, Tree House is seeking permission to have at least one brew tank on the premises and to serve only its own beer.

Tree House Brewery is also looking to expand in Deerfield to relieve the pressure of the home camp located in Charlton, the company's website said. The new location also is expected to open this year.

The company still needs to get a building permit for the renovations planned for the Sandwich building, according to George “Bud” Dunham, the town manager. The site still needs final approvals from the building inspector and the fire department before it can open, he said.

The town hasn’t received a lot of feedback from residents about the brewery opening, Dunham said.

The major concerns have been about parking, because there is very little available on the site, Dunham said. Preliminary talks between the company and the town indicate there will be a shuttle service to other public parking lots in town to help alleviate the problem, he said.

This location has had a streak of bad luck in staying open in the past. Before it was even considered for a brewery, there were a number of restaurants there — including the Drunken Seal and Horizons — that lasted just one or two seasons.

“The place has a history of not being successful,” David Sampson, a member of the Board of Selectmen, previously told the Times. “The view is what people go for.”

14 April, 2021