Kings & Convicts Brewing, which owns Ballast Point Brewing, is set to accelerate the retail expansion of craft brewery in Northern California, US, with a new brewpub in San Francisco.

Scheduled to be launched at the end of the year, the new brewpub will join Ballast’s five Southern California locations in San Diego, Anaheim and Long Beach.

The 12,000ft² taproom and kitchen space is currently under construction in San Francisco’s Mission Bay District and includes a 1,500ft² outdoor patio space.

It will be equipped with a three-barrel research and development (R&D) brewhouse with four three-barrel fermenters and two three-barrel brite tanks enclosed in glass for public viewing.

The taproom will provide Ballast Point beers on draft and R&D releases said to be exclusive to the San Francisco market. It will also offer a full menu and wine list, as well as growler and crowler fills.

In addition, the new brewpub will feature a retail area for merchandise and packaged beer to go.

Kings & Convicts also said it would permanently shutter its Chicago Ballast Point kitchen and taproom in West Loop, Chicago.

The company added that it is looking to further grow Ballast Point’s presence in San Diego, where it is headquartered.

Ballast Point and Kings & Convicts CEO Brendan Watters said: “We love Chicago and will remain invested in the region with Kings & Convicts, but have decided it’s in the best interest of Ballast Point and its long-term success to focus on our roots in San Diego and California as a whole.

“The ability to highlight our products in a tasting room across from a world-class entertainment facility and as part of an incredible development in San Francisco aligns well with our vision for Ballast Point.”

Last year, a Ballast Point Brewpub brewery was opened in the Downtown Disney District of Disneyland Resort in California.