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Scott Ryan, an Ossining resident, is working on getting investors to open 6 Degrees of Separation, a brewery and restaurant at a 12,000-square foot space at the Westerly Marina in Ossining.
Ryan, a marine biologist who teaches in Ardsley, has been brewing his own beer for 23 years.
"I've always wanted to open a brewery," Ryan said. "It seems like a great job."
Ryan got involved with his brewmaster and partner Ron McKechnie to develop the brewery and restaurant. He soon found an dbp architecture pc in Yorktown and is hoping to open the restaurant next year.
"The dominoes are falling into place," Ryan said.
Ryan is hoping to keep everything local and is working with Prospero Winery in Pleasantville to ensure he has the highest quality machines. He chose the name 6 Degrees because he believes in the theory that everyone is connected in six or fewer steps.
"I want the restaurant to feel like a homey place," Ryan said. "I want everyone to feel welcome. You will enter a stranger and leave a friend."
Ryan said he thinks the fall of economy has caused people to be pickier with their beer and led to the rise of local breweries.
When it comes to making beer, Ryan specializes in ales and said he likes to mix in fruits, like raspberries, blueberries or pumpkins. Food on the menu will be linked to a type of beer.
The support from Ossining residents has been overwhelming Ryan sad.
"People come up to me at baseball games and ask where we are at and how we are doing," Ryan said. "Elected officials have been great."
Ryan's favorite beer is a dark ale Guinness.
"Guinness is the gold standard," Ryan said.
6 Degrees will also have a stage to allow for live concerts or musical theater and the restaurant will have artwork from local artists on the wall. Ryan said he is filling a void in the village as people often complain they have nowhere to go in Ossining.
"This could be a community meeting place," Ryan said. "We want to be involved with the revitalization of Ossining."
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