Buoy’s plans for the space include a permanent taproom, plus a small-batch brewery and distillery.

For Astorians, it’s more than a new taproom. It’s a salve for an emotional wound in the heart of the city.

Craft beer is being poured again in the former Reach Break Brewing space on Duane Street. The outdoor patio is alive and the good vibes are rippling past the surrounding food trucks to neighboring businesses.

Buoy Beer Co. sparked the excitement by announcing plans to open a permanent taproom that will also house a small-batch brewery and distillery. Beer began flowing at noon Friday, coinciding with the annual Astoria Regatta.

“A pleasant surprise,” said Matt Holt of Seattle, a self-described “beer geek” visiting the city with his wife.

When the couple heard about the taproom, they made it a priority to be on the patio for Buoy’s opening day. “We wanted to be here and drink a nice kölsch,” he said, hoisting his glass.

For the owners of the four food trucks on the premises, Buoy’s arrival is a godsend.

Otis Lucas, owner of Dee Dee Thai Fusion, said he’s looking forward to a late-summer surge of customers.

“I’m more than happy to bring the community back to this corner,” he said.

Nearby craft beer businesses were also cheering. Reach Break’s sudden closure in January left a gaping hole in what had been a thriving downtown beer zone anchored by Fort George Brewery.

“It’s a great thing,” said Dwayne Smallwood, owner of Bridge & Tunnel Bottleshop and Taproom. “Welcome to the neighborhood! More people coming to the block for craft beer is not a bad thing at all.”

The general manager of Portland-based Breakside Brewery’s brewpub a block away shared that sentiment. “I’m excited,” Kyle Chriestenson said. “I want something to be in there — it’s a great space. The more the merrier.”

Astoria-based Buoy intends to operate at its new location on weekends until late fall or winter, when the three-barrel pilot brewhouse will be installed and the interior given a makeover.

Buoy will share the Reach Break space with its sister company, Pilot House Distilling, which currently operates a tasting room and distillery across the street.

The bulk of Pilot House spirits will be made and packaged at a new facility west of downtown.

The pilot system has been in storage for the past two years. It had been a fixture in Buoy’s waterfront building prior to the June 2022 partial collapse that also took out the brewpub, taproom and canning line.

The system’s revival will allow Buoy brewers to once again offer beer lovers a chance to taste one-of-a-kind brews available only at the new location.

“It’s absolutely a big deal,” said Buoy marketing manager Jessyka Dart-Mclean. “The brewers can really experiment on it, which leads to a lot of creativity.”

In addition to beer, the new taproom offers wine, cider and Pilot House-based cocktails. Ultimately, Buoy plans to open the taproom daily, taking advantage of indoor seating on rainy or chilly days.

Reach Break, which opened in 2017, converted a former used car lot and repair shop into a small brewery. Founder and head brewer Josh Allison expanded into a former cidery next door in fall 2023, creating a special events space with additional taps.

Allison blamed the closure on rising costs and personal health issues, thanking Astorians for their strong support. “We gave it a good run,” he said at the time. “I’m proud of what we did, for sure.”

Buoy had been planning to open a summer, weekends-only beer garden called Buoy on the Bay – leasing a former restaurant on the south side of Astoria overlooking Youngs Bay. That was delayed due to needed construction work and is now on hold indefinitely, Dart-Mclean said.

Since the collapse, Buoy has operated a brewpub in the downtown Astoria Food Hub building on Marine Drive. The restaurant will continue to operate as usual.