Roslindale May Get a Permanent Beer Hall in Its Substation

Roslindale could get both a brewery and a permanent beer hall all in the span of a few months, thanks to the upcoming opening of Distraction Brewing Company and, now, Jamaica Plain-based Turtle Swamp Brewing’s desire to make its temporary Roslindale beer hall permanent.

Turtle Swamp debuted its pop-up Bierhalle in the Roslindale Substation (4228 Washington St.) in November, where it has since been serving beer from its Jamaica Plain brewery, plus snacks from local vendors. Now, Turtle Swamp wants to make the beer hall permanent and will seek a zoning change in order to do so.

The building, which once held electrical transformers for the city’s public transit, was built in 1911 and is currently zoned for restaurant use. Chef Chris Douglass (Ashmont Grill, Travolo) had aimed to open a restaurant in the space a few years back, but those plans fell through, and Roslindale eventually welcomed brewers into the space to operate short-term beer halls. Turtle Swamp is the second local brewer to appear in the Substation; it followed a successful run from Trillium in the same space. To make its time in the Substation permanent, Turtle Swamp will need to switch the zoning for a brewery-related use.

In the meantime, Turtle Swamp will continue running the beer hall through the end of the month of May, operating Thursday through Sunday under varied hours.

The Substation is around the corner from the future home of Distraction Brewing Company, which is well on its way to an opening this May.

• Brewery Hopes to Make Roslindale Substation Permanent Beer Hall [UHUB]