Local Brewers Plan To Open Parallel World Brewing Co. in Silver Spring

New brewery would join Denizens and the upcoming Astrolabe in downtown area

September 21, 2017 5:41 p.m.

While many craft breweries try for unusual brews or unique flavors, Brett Robison and Christian Layke are more interested in paying homage to beer and the experience of drinking it.

Robison, a general manager at Takoma Park’s Republic, and Layke, former head brewer at Gordon Biersch in Rockville, are planning to open a new brewery—Parallel World Brewing Co.—in downtown Silver Spring.

“There will be a little less focus on the new things, the pushing the envelope,” Layke said, “and a little bit more focus on tradition than you might find at other craft breweries.”

“Think less strawberry chocolate sour and more really kickass Oktoberfest,” Robison chimed in.

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The two signed a letter of intent for a space of about 10,000 square feet at 8401 Colesville Road on Metro Center Plaza this week. They plan to finalize the lease in the coming weeks.

If everything goes as planned, they will open in late 2018, Robison said.

The space would be split between a taproom and a 20-barrel production brewery, he said. They also plan to build a beer garden outside with folding tables, plants and a wooden pergola, similar to a canopy.

Parallel World Brewing Co. would become the third brewery in downtown Silver Spring. Denizens Brewing Co. has been a standby for the past three years on East West Highway, and Astrolabe Brewing is set to open on Georgia Avenue this winter.

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Layke said he loves the idea of Silver Spring becoming “the nucleus of a down-county beer destination” and thinks people will enjoy participating in bar crawls between the three.

Nearby areas have recently seen an uptick in breweries, as well. This year, True Respite Brewing Co. is set to open in Derwood and Saints Row Brewing is getting ready to open in Rockville.

The county already has 7 Locks Brewing in Rockville, Wardeca Brewing Co. in Gaithersburg and chains Gordon Biersch and Rock Bottom.

Parallel World Brewing Co. takes its name, and its logo of four colliding circles, from the idea that there are four major brewing cultures—the U.K., central Europe, the U.S. and Belgium—that they hope to bring together, Robison said. He said they weren’t ready to reveal many of their offerings yet, but their flagship brands will be one beer from each region.

Robison said the brewery is adopting the motto of “Experience Gemütlichkeit,” a German word that he said means a “feeling of warmth and belonging and just kind-natured behavior.”

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“We want to be perceived as being family-friendly,” Layke said. “A place you come out for to have a beer with a good friend.”

Editor's note: A previous version of the story incorrectly spelled Brett Robison's name. The story has been corrected.

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