AMHERST — Marcus Camby, whose standout basketball career as part of the University of Massachusetts Minutemen is recognized with a statue outside the Mullins Center, is working with White Lion Brewing Co. to bring a nano brewhouse to downtown Amherst in the fall.
The Springfield company announced May 18 that the retired NBA player, with whom it partnered to create the Marcus Camby New England IPA in January, will continue the relationship with the development of a site, in retail space at 104 North Pleasant St., that will offer one-time experimental ales, a test kitchen, a taproom and an outdoor social space.
Mike Yates, White Lion’s business partner and head brewer, said in a statement that the company’s brand in Springfield is built on the community’s fabric creating a diverse, inclusive and fun place to be, and that the hope is to replicate this in Amherst.
“I built much of my professional brewing career here and I look forward to bringing brewing back to downtown Amherst,” said Yates, a UMass graduate.
The announcement came in advance of a meet and greet last Saturday with Camby and White Lion representatives at The Drake performance venue, just a few doors south of the future brewhouse.
The idea of White Lion coming to Amherst center has been three years in the making, after discussions with Ray Berry, its founder and president, said Gabrielle Gould of the Amherst Business Improvement District.