More than a decade after it launched operations, Binghamton's oldest brewpub is about to shut down.

Kristin Andrascik, owner of Water Street Brewing Co., said the business will be closing soon.

The entrance to Water Street Brewing Co. in downtown Binghamton on January 22, 2024. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)
The entrance to Water Street Brewing Co. in downtown Binghamton on January 22, 2024. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)
loading...

Water Street Brewing was launched by John and Michele Bleichert in 2011. Andrascik, who was a long-time employee, acquired the business in 2019.

Loyal customers filtered into the brewpub at 168 Water Street on Monday and learned that the place would soon become history.

A beer keg at the Water Street Brewing Co. brewpub. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)
A beer keg at the Water Street Brewing Co. brewpub. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)
loading...

Andrascik told WNBF News that the move to close had been in the works for quite a while. Business was down last year, especially during the summer when many of Water Street Brewing's patrons are busy with other activities.

She had been hoping business would start to pick up in the fall but that didn't happen. She noted the ongoing parking problems since the demolition of the old Water Street garage were a factor in the downturn.

Andrascik made the tough decision to close the brewpub in recent days as it became clear the business was no longer sustainable.

Empty cans at Water Street Brewing Co. on January 22, 2024. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)
Empty cans at Water Street Brewing Co. on January 22, 2024. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)
loading...

Andrascik said the last beer has been brewed at Water Street - Golden Goat, a double New England-style IPA. It will be released on Wednesday.

An official closing date for Water Street Brewing Co. has not been determined. Andrascik said it will be open for a few more days but it will shut down for good by the end of the month.

Galaxy Brewing Company opened a brewpub on Court Street - just around the corner from Water Street Brewing - in August 2013. Galaxy brewed its last beer in the summer of 2020, closing during the Covid-19 pandemic.

VIDEO: A visit to Water Street Brewing Co. on January 22, 2024.

WNBF News Radio 1290 AM & 92.1 FM logo
Enter your number to get our free mobile app

Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.

LOOK: Best Beers From Every State

To find the best beer in each state and Washington D.C., Stacker analyzed January 2020 data from BeerAdvocate, a website that gathers user scores for beer in real-time. BeerAdvocate makes its determinations by compiling consumer ratings for all 50 states and Washington D.C. and applying a weighted rank to each. The weighted rank pulls the beer toward the list's average based on the number of ratings it has and aims to allow lesser-known beers to increase in rank. Only beers with at least 10 rankings to be considered; we took it a step further to only include beers with at least 100 user rankings in our gallery. Keep reading to find out what the best beer is in each of the 50 states and Washington D.C.

Gallery Credit: Angela Underwood

Gallery — Every Movie Theater Candy, Ranked:

KEEP READING: Here are the best places to retire in America

 

 

More From WNBF News Radio 1290 AM & 92.1 FM