Matt Barnaby, of Barnaby Brewing Company, talks Monday, Aug. 20, 2018, about he and his wife’s plans for a new location for his company on Shattuck Way. A fire on the evening of April 16, 2018, forced their business to close. They hope to be open by the end of the year. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Matt Barnaby, of Barnaby Brewing Company, talks Monday, Aug. 20, 2018, about he and his wife’s plans for a new location for his company on Shattuck Way. A fire on the evening of April 16, 2018, forced their business to close. They hope to be open by the end of the year. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Barnaby Brewing finds new location after fire

Owners aiming to reopen by the end of the year

Four months almost to the day after a fire started in his brewery on Franklin Street, Matt Barnaby stood Monday morning at a property on Shattuck Way that will be the brewery’s new home.

The space, located in the Emporium Building across from City Hall, is much larger than the previous location, which was in a basement that used to house the Juneau Arts & Humanities Council (JAHC).

“Our tap room will be about four or five times as large as the last one, with windows,” Barnaby said, gesturing to the bright room. “There’s not a light on in here.”

Barnaby, who co-owns Barnaby Brewing with his wife Kelly, said there’s been almost no progress in cleaning up the old location after a fire damaged it in mid-April. He was walking downtown one day, he recalled, and saw that the building on Shattuck was being leased out. He called the number and things moved quickly from there.

The space is still under construction, as the large open area that was formerly occupied by Commercial Signs & Printing has been divided into three commercial spaces. Barnaby Brewing’s lease doesn’t start until October, Matt said, and he said the brewery will probably open in November or December. There’s still quite a bit of work to do, both on the physical space and on the brewing front.

An electrical issue caused a fire on the evening of April 16 in the brewery’s former location, just as Matt and Kelly were preparing to celebrate the brewery’s one-year anniversary. They’ve been closed since then, but Matt said the alcohol production companies in town — Alaskan Brewing, Amalga Distillery and Devil’s Club Brewing — have all been supportive. Devil’s Club, for instance, has been serving Barnaby Brewing root beer from time to time.

“Among the manufacturers, (the support)’s been outstanding,” Matt said.

He said they’re hoping to get larger brewing equipment for the new location as well. Even if they stick with the same smaller setup they used in the old location, Matt said, the layout of the new brewing area is better. Instead of a crammed, long and thin space to brew, the brewing area is more of a square and should make for a less cramped setup.

Even in its hiatus, the brewery has seen some success. Barnaby’s “I’ll Have Another 2018” smoked beer won silver in the Smoked/Rauch Beer category at the 2018 U.S. Open Beer Championship this summer. The irony of the brewery winning with a smoked beer after the fire was not lost on Matt, he told the Empire at the time.

Matt and Kelly were at Haines Brew Fest earlier this summer and will be at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver at the end of September. Research and development never ends, Matt said, and he’s still been brewing in small batches.

They’ll continue to offer a similar lineup of beers whenever they reopen, Matt said, with some new wrinkles. He’s particularly looking forward to releasing a Norwegian-style farmhouse ale, which he said is becoming trendy among the brewing community.

“It’s completely different from what we’ve been doing,” Matt said, “so it’s exciting.”


• Contact reporter Alex McCarthy at 523-2271 or amccarthy@juneauempire.com. Follow him on Twitter at @akmccarthy.


More in Home

A shelter staff member takes a dog who is currently boarding at Juneau Animal Rescue outside on Feb. 13, 2025. The animal shelter needs more space both outside and in, according to the executive director. It could also use a guillotine door to allow dogs easier access to the outdoors. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Juneau Animal Rescue hopes to be ‘feline’ the love at annual fundraiser

The shelter is still in need of a new building and hopes to continue educating the community.

A building directory in Juneau’s federal building lists departments, such as the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Forest Service, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Mass firings ordered by Trump administration, including nearly 10% of U.S. Forest Service

HUD plans 50% staff cut, scrutiny of “every dollar spent in serving tribal, rural and urban communities.”

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior Gwen Nizich (11) shoots from past the arc over Ketchikan junior Kylie Brendible (32) during the Crimson Bears’ 52-23 win over the Lady Kings on Thursday in Juneau. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
JDHS girls greet conference rival Kayhi with win

Crimson Bears defeat Lady Kings 52-23 in home den

Former U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola speaks at the Alaska Democratic Party’s state convention on May 18, 2024, at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Report: Former U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola likely to run for governor in 2026

Democrat ousted in November would likely face crowded field in open race for Alaska’s top spot.

Meilani Schijvens, owner of Rain Coast Data, discusses regional economic data complied by her company during Southeast Conference’s Mid-Season Summit at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Five-year economic plan for Southeast suggests spending $300M to address top priority of housing

Other top goals include boosting seafood marketing, renewable energy, locally-owned tourism enterprises

A skier crosses Mendenhall Lake in front of a large section of recently exposed ice on Mendenhall Glacier on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Update: Large calving of ice from Mendenhall Glacier prompts further safety warning

U.S. Forest Service on Thursday says more calving possible, people should stay far away from glacier.

Joann, the arts and crafts chain, announced it will close its Juneau location. An employee is seen working at the store on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Juneau’s Joann craft store is one of 500 closing across the US

Company filing for bankruptcy; property manager at mall said it’s unknown when local store will close.

Alaska Chief Justice Susan Carney speaks to the Alaska Legislature on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. At background are Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak (left) and Speaker of the House Bryce Edgmon, I-Dillingham (right). (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Alaska chief justice vows speedier trials after investigative journalists find problems

In her first address to the Alaska Legislature since becoming head of… Continue reading

Most Read