All About 16 Lots Brewing Company from the Gnarly Gnome

All About 16 Lots

16 Lots was Mason’s first brewery when it opened its doors in 2017. When they opened their doors, they leaned heavily into the Mason area, taking a lot of pride in giving residents of the suburb something that they could call their own, something that wasn’t a chain restaurant or a dive bar. They succeeded in crafting a space that is comfortable and familiar yet elevated to provide an experience that the whole family could enjoy.

In 2020, the brewery brought Del Hall into the ownership team and immediately began a long process to expand its identity to be bigger than just Mason. The taproom got some renovations to give it even more personality and the branding got a refresh as well.

In 2023, the team opened up their second location down at Newport on the Levy, called the Southern Outpost, which brought a nautical spin to the eclectic personality that they’ve been crafting.

It was part of a bigger vision for the company, which had plans for other taprooms around the region, all with their own unique themes and personalities. Unfortunately, we’d never get the chance to see that come to life as they were forced to close their doors in late 2024 due to a combination of overextension, and a drastically changing craft beer market alongside changing habits of drinkers.

What To Expect At 16 Lots

The Mason Taproom/Brewery

The original brewery location in Mason was a great place to hang out for an evening. The space was a lot bigger than you expected when you pulled up outside. There was a large bar that stretched through the room, and situated on one side was their food partner, a pizza restaurant called Mad Monks (more on them in just a moment).

In the back of the room was a space with dart boards, and in the front was a “lounge” area with some big comfy leather couches. The rest of the space featured numerous tables to accommodate parties of any size. The rear of their space housed the big 10bbl brewery. It’s open to the room with a big doorway to ensure you don’t forget where the beer you’re sipping came from.

After the brewery was forced to close both of its locations in late 2024, the food partner we discussed earlier shifted its focus. They consolidated all their business into one location and opened a full-service bar and pizza restaurant in the old taproom space.

The Southern Outpost – Taproom/Brewpub

The second location took many of the things that 16 Lots learned from their first spot and tried to improve upon them all. They brought a music venue, a restaurant, and a cigar patio all together to create a space that had a ton of personality. A nautical theme ran through the space, with small details scattered throughout the taproom to create a sense of discovery and excitement that elevated the experience above what most taprooms were offering.

A second brewhouse in the Southern Outpost was designed to provide a lineup of unique beers that could sit alongside the flagships that were coming out of the Mason brewery. It was an awesome space, and was a brilliant addition to Newport on the Levee.

The 16 Lots Timeline

September 2017 – The Brewery Hosts It’s Grand Opening
July 2019 – 16 Lots releases its first cans out into the hands of their eager fans. (See notes on their packaged releases here)
July 2020 – Del Hall joins the ownership team at the brewery.
Summer 2020 – 16 Lots starts rolling out new branding on their cans and delivery van – giving them a fresh new look.
Spring 2023 – The brewery hires Chris Mitchell and Josh Wilson to run their brewery operations.
May, 2023 – The second taproom location, The Southern Outpost, opens
November 2024 – The brewery announces the closure of both of its taprooms.