A long-hidden treasure of monumental significance has finally come to light. Situated at De Rouvilleweg 7, obscured for years between the Grand Café De Gouverneur and the present-day Harbour Hotel (formerly known as Hotel Otrobanda), the once-named ‘Huize Ellis’ has been rejuvenated.

Having served various roles over time – from government economic affairs offices to the Jacob Gelt Dekker Institute, a part of the Kura Hulanda hotel, and even as Curaçao’s dialysis center – the property stood vacant for an extended period. Predictably, during this period of abandonment, the building fell victim to theft and vandalism, with all copper water pipes and electrical cables stripped away.

In 2019, a close-knit group of local entrepreneurs with a background in the restaurant industry conceived the idea of transforming this historic site into a craft brewery. Their attention turned towards Benoit Casper Brewery in Richmond, California, which was available for acquisition. Conversations about relocating this brewery equipment to Curacao and integrating it into the existing building were underway when the global ‘Covid-19’ pandemic took the world by surprise. Subsequently, the plan was shelved.

Throughout the lockdowns, this group of entrepreneur friends continued to convene, discussing the pandemic’s implications for their island and the wider world. Driven by their passion for food and beverages, they didn’t remain idle. Instead, they hatched the idea of creating a beer, initially not within the premises, but by collaborating with an existing brewery. This marked the birth of Brasa beer.

Once the pandemic subsided, the building remained vacant. Despite the Monument Foundation’s essential upkeep, the building took on a neglected appearance that befitted neither its grandeur nor its historical significance. Following the pandemic’s aftermath, the owner of De Gouverneur stepped up to spearhead the original vision of establishing a microbrewery within the premises, exclusively dedicated to craft beers.

This vision took shape through extensive visits to similar breweries and collaborations with a fellow hotel college alumnus and entrepreneur on Curaçao, who happened to be a skilled beer brewer. After a meticulous renovation spanning a year and a half, the sprawling edifice became the canvas upon which the new craft brewery was painted.

While initially contemplating naming the brewery after De Gouverneur, the owner’s daughters played a pivotal role in inspiring a fresh identity. After sifting through a hundred potential names, ‘Swinging Old Lady Brewery’ emerged as the most fitting choice. This name pays homage to the iconic Queen Emmabridge – colloquially referred to as the Swinging Old Lady – a unique bridge that links the two downtown districts of Punda and Otrobanda together.