Mainstay Independent: brewing in a re-purposed brewery

After the last two posts, seeing Roy Pitz in a re-purposed pharmaceutical warehouse and Love City in a re-purposed railroad parts manufacturing building, I called on the newest addition to the Philly craft brewing scene, operating in a building formerly used as--a brewery!  Mainstay Independent Brewing Co. has taken over the riverfront space recently vacated by Yards Brewing when the latter moved to its shiny new quarters on Spring Garden St., a few blocks away.  The operation is helmed by Brian O'Reilly, formerly of Sly Fox Brewing, and partners who share the vision of a crafthall in the overall space.  A bakery is already slated to move into the old Yards loading dock area, and coffee roasters and other artisans of the edible or drinkable may follow.

The glass wall between the pub area and brewing operations remains as it was in Yards' days. The 60 bbl fermenters are new; Yards left their old tanks on the floor but they were not in good enough condition to start a new brewing life.
My first glass was a very aromatic wheat IPA called Harness Blend (5.7% abv), made with decoction mashing of a spicy wheat malt,hopped with Mosaic, Citra, and Cascade. Hazy orange color, floral taste, tingly finish.  Good brew.
For the opening days, Mainstay has been pouring two Berliner Weisses. The main one (not tasted) is called King Laird Weisse, named for an early Irish immigrant who grew wheat in the area. The second, Wiener Weisse (5.6%) is one of those last-gasp-of-the-yeast efforts, made on a smaller pilot batch system with yeast from brewing the King Laird.  Spicy, good aroma.  They had a Kolsch, a pale, an amber, and a pilsner.  Sundry IPAs are doubtless in the works but it was nice to see a launch without this ubiquitous style on board.
(Visited 11/04/18)