Who is in? True Respite Brewing seeks investors for Maryland brewery

For all of you non-Big Beer investors out there, looking to get behind a real new local brewery, True Respite Brewing Co. LLC has opened its formal round of investment and is actively seeking investors. The company plans to open its Bethesda, Md., destination craft brewery complete with an in-house restaurant featuring “international street cuisine with an upscale twist.” Accolades for the startup and management team include a local celebrity chef, a GABF medal-winning brewmaster with 15-plus years of brewing experience, and two Georgia Tech engineers.

“It’s been a battle getting to where we are,” said Co-Founder Brendan O’Leary. “Bethesda is such a desirable area for new business and that makes competing for suitable real estate a tough job.”

True Respite finally received a Letter of Intent from the landlord of its desired property in Bethesda on Sept. 9, and the company is now prepared take on outside investment. They say that all of the key pieces are in place and the only obstacle standing in their way is getting properly funded.

The True Respite concept was inspired by the booming local beer and food scene in Denver, where Co-Founders Brendan and Bailey O’Leary have spent the past three years.

“We’ve seen what an economic and cultural boon the arrival of local beer can bring a community, and Bethesda is starving for it,” Bailey said.

“We want the Destination Tap Room to feel like a communal center where guests can come relax and spend an afternoon or evening with great company, great food, and great beer,” Brendan said. “Our restaurant and brewery concept is all about the guest experience and bringing great local flavor to the growing Montgomery County food and beer scene.”

Bailey described the concept as, “A destination where guests have the chance to experience their own form of respite, whether that be: taking a yoga class, hosting a running club, casually drinking a beer with friends or strangers, or sitting down to a delicious meal of international street cuisine with an upscale twist.”

The Destination Tap Room will feature food and beer menus that are developed in collaboration between the chef and brewmaster so that new and interesting food and beer pairings will be a regular rotating feature. The open seating area will feature an open kitchen and a prominently displayed 20-bbl brewhouse where guests will be able to watch live and in person as their food and beer are hand crafted in-house. True Respite’s beer will also be packaged and distributed regionally, with the beer distribution side of the business aiming to overcome the destination brewery and restaurant location in sales by the end of year three.

Interested investors may contact Co-Founders Brendan and Bailey O’Leary at: [email protected] and [email protected].