Left to right: Brett Reid, John Hodgdon II, Carson Langley and Thomas Grier
in NEW BREWS the HILL East Hill Welcomes Alga Beer Company to the Neighborhood by Morgan Cole photos by Guy Stevens
fter more than a year of planning and development, and a few pandemic-related setbacks, Pensacola’s newest craft brewery, Alga Beer Company, is now officially open for business.
“The whole build up to us opening was a long ride, and now we’re sort of just taking it all in as it comes,” Alga co-owner, John Hodgdon II said. “The community has been so supportive in welcoming us to the neighborhood and especially the local craft brewing community.” Alga’s co-owners celebrated the brewery’s much-anticipated opening Friday, August 9 at their new location in East Hill. The Alga brick-and-mortar building at 2435 N. 12th Ave. is the former home of the Brew Ha Ha restaurant, which struggled to stay open during its first year of operation and eventually closed in May 2020. Although Alga Beer Company has participated in just about every beer-related event and festival across the panhandle, it’s been without a physical home—until now.
“It’s definitely been a long journey for us to find the right space, but we really have found just the perfect fit,” Hodgdon said. For co-owner trio John Hodgdon II, Brett Reid and Thomas Grier, the brewery was a vision that began to materialize a little more than a year ago, but the original concept for Alga is actually the product of a college home brewing hobby that first began almost a decade ago. Hodgdon entered the equation about two years ago and handles the business and development side of things. Alga co-owners, Thomas Grier and Brett Reid first met while attending college at the University of Alabama, where they also bonded over their love for craft beer. After graduating together, the two friends went their separate ways to pursue career opportunities, with one moving to Birmingham, AL, and the other to Atlanta. 3 DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 9
