Brewery Expansions
Hi-Wire Brewing announces Kentucky taproom
Asheville, North Carolina based Hi-Wire Brewing is in the process of building a new taproom in Louisville, Kentucky.
The 5500-square foot space will be located at 642 Baxter Avenue, in Louisville’s Highlands neighborhood – a part of a new mixed-use development. Guests can expect 21 Hi-Wire beer taps spanning year-round beers, seasonals, one-offs and sour ales, 3 taps for wine, and family-friendly activities like soccer pool, table tennis, foosball, and shuffleboard.
“Taprooms are a core revenue stream for our company, especially given our current climate. They create brand ambassadors in those markets. They create jobs and increase wholesale sales in the region,” says Hi-Wire Brewing co-owner Bryna Frosaker.
Hi-Wire Louisville is the brewery’s sixth taproom location and marks just their second location outside of North Carolina. Interesting, this Hi-Wire build is Kentucky’s first out of state brewery to build in the Bluegrass State.
Construction is expected to begin in March 2021.
Georgia’s Creature Comforts partners with Avengers director on L.A. brewery
Athens, Georgia based Creature Comforts is expanding to Los Angeles, California, opening next year.
By the summer of 2021, Creature Comforts Brewing Company will have a home in the Fashion District of Los Angeles. The new build is thanks to a partnership with film director Joe Russo, director of movies like Marvel’s Infinity War and End Game. You might recall the brewery’s Tropicalia IPA making a “guest” appearance thanks to Thor in Endgame. That screen appearance occurred after Russo’s assistant, a Georgia native, brought Tropicalia to the set during Infinity War filming. Russo fell in love.
Even before Marvel fame, Creature Comforts has collaborated frequently with other brewers in California, including Russian River, Modern Times, Firestone Walker, Alvarado Street, and Sierra Nevada. Creature Comforts has always had an affinity for the Golden State.
While Creature fans had long been hoping a taproom was coming to Atlanta, the brewery’s 3rd location will be on City Market South at 1124 San Julian St. in the Fashion District of L.A., The new build includes a 3,000-sq. ft. taproom, a 10,000-sq. ft. production facility and copious outdoor seating. The production capacity of the new facility initially maxes out at 15,000 barrels (nearly 500,000 gallons) annually. Russo apparently discovered the space in the same development as his AGBO production company that was already zoned for a brewery.
“We are excited to join the vibrant craft beer scene in California and plan additional collaborations. While we are delighted to share many of our core year-round and seasonal beers, we also look forward to creating unique brews for the Los Angeles community.” – Adam Beauchamp, Brewmaster and Co-Owner, Creature Comforts Brewing Co.
Creature Comforts opened its original facility in April of 2014. A larger production facility nearby by the original taproom opened in June of 2018.
Georgia’s Reformation Brewery opens 3rd location
Reformation Brewery has officially opened its third location in the Peach State – a taproom in Smyrna.
Spencer Nix and Reformation Brewery have made some big moves over the past few years. In 2018, the brewery opened a second location in downtown Woodstock. In 2019, the brewery expanded its production facility in Canton, north of Atlanta, into The Mill on Etowah, an old denim factory.
As 2020 begins, Reformation has opened a third location, a taproom and future blendery in Smryna. The city recently expanded its open policy to include Riverview Landing, a new restaurant district on the banks of the Chattahoochee River. The taproom spans 2500 square feet with 16 taps that will focus on India pale ales and sour/wild ales.
Since open container purchases cannot be glass, Reformation is offering silicon pints for purchase on-site. The move is aimed at reducing plastic use and waste. Those purchasing the silicone pints will receive a 3% discount on draft purchases using the refillable cup as guests walk the property.
“Reformation Brewery has always been committed to investing in the communities we serve. Our brewhouse is highly efficient, using less wastewater than traditional systems. Adding a reusable cup that’s also compliant with the walkability of our neighborhoods was an easy next step. We look forward to continuing these investments in 2020.” – Spencer Nix, CEO & Co-Founder
The Smyrna space will also serve as a blendery, for Reformation’s barrel-aging, and mixed fermentation projects.
Reformation Brewery at Riverview Landing is now open Wednesday – Thursday 4pm-9pm, Friday 3pm-11pm, Saturday noon-11pm, Sunday noon-9pm. Once Grand Champion BBQ opens nearby, the brewery plans to add hours on Tuesday, and extend operation on other days to include lunch hours.
A grand opening date for the property on March 28th.
Image: Reformation Brewery
Monday Night Brewing to open Birmingham brewpub
Atlanta based Monday Night Brewing has revealed plans to open a 3rd location, this time in Birmingham, Alabama.
The brewery will take up 10,000 square feet in Third & Urban’s Denham Building, a mixed-use project in Birmingham’s Parkside District. The build will have 30 taps, with beers from the “Hop Hut Series” from their Midtown location, and wild and sour ales from The Garage, Monday Night’s wild facility in Atlanta’s West End.
The brewpub will have a brewhouse, which hasn’t been finalized according to co-founder Jonathan Baker. “We’re still pricing it out,” he tells Beer Street Journal.
“We feel strongly about having a presence in Alabama. This was the first state Monday Night Brewing expanded to outside of Georgia, and our beer has been really well received, There’s so much energy in Birmingham right now. We jumped at the chance to partner with another innovative company in Third & Urban to expand to an awesome Southeastern city near and dear to our hearts.” – Jeff Heck, CEO
The new location is within walking distance to Railroad Park, Regions Field, and a variety of bars and nightlife.
Expect Monday Night beers, wine, cocktails and “simple, sharable food” built for beer pairings.
The build is expected to be completed by the end of Q1, 2020.
Scofflaw Brewing to build second location in Atlanta
Scofflaw Brewing is building a second location in their home city of Atlanta, Georgia.
Selig Enterprises, one of the largest real estate companies announced this morning that Scofflaw Brewing will join The Works, an 80-acre mixed-use development coming to Atlanta’s Upper Westside.
Scofflaw’s home at The Works will span 9,000 square feet and serve as the brewery’s main R&D facility. Expect an open design with a large outdoor area featuring games and friend gathering places. The open plan will be designed to give brewery attendees a more intimate look at the brewing process.
“I have a great relationship with the Selig family and their business. There was no question that creating a Scofflaw R&D brewery and tasting room at The Works was the right strategic decision for our team.” -Scofflaw CEO Matt Shirah.
Scofflaw Brewing’s new location will be built alongside a 16,000 square foot food hall by Robert Montwaid known as Chattahoochee Food Works. The food hall will feature food vendors, entertainment and chef-driven events, a test kitchen and artisanal market shops.
The Works is an 80-acre adaptive mixed-use development Atlanta’s Upper Westside, located off Chattahoochee Ave. near Topgolf Midtown. According to Selig, The Works’ vision includes “distinctive retail and dining, imaginative experiences and inspired gathering areas in an interconnected environment preserving the character of Atlanta’s historic industrial Upper Westside. The multi-phased master plan comprises 350,000 square feet of retail and entertainment, 500,000 square feet of office space, 500 residences, 200 hotel rooms and 13 acres of green space.”
Phase One, 27 acres, is currently under construction and scheduled for opening in early 2020.
Image: Beer Street Journal
SweetWater’s taproom is undergoing a major renovation, adding onsite kitchen
SweetWater Brewing Company’s main taproom has remained unchanged for years. Starting October 1st, that is about to change. Starting October 1st, the taproom is closing to undergo some pretty major renovations.
The bar is going to be shifted to a centerpiece of the room, with additions of large roll-up doors, and new communal seating. Taproom attendees have most likely seen the removals of a wall and stairwell near the back. That space will soon house SweetWater’s new kitchen. The kitchen will serve food during taproom hours, as well as catering services for private events.
In the meantime, tours will still be held during normal hours with bars set up on the tented patio. The Woodlands (sour and wild ale facility) will still be open on Saturdays.
The brewery has hired Rene Ferandel as architect and Catamount as the contractor. The brewery expects the new taproom to be open in January 2019.
Rendering of SweetWater’s renovated exterior
Hi-Wire Brewing is building a third location in Durham, North Carolina
Asheville, North Carolina based Hi-Wire Brewing already boasts two locations in one of the most visited beer towns in America. The state of North Carolina will soon be able to claim a third, this time in the city of Durham.
The “Durham Fun Zone” is expected to open by the end of 2018 at 800 Taylor Street. The 8,884 square foot space boasts 24 taps for Hi-Wire beers, as well as guest taps, and a plethora of games like shuffleboard, table tennis, and foosball tables.
While not a part of the initial build-out, space has been dedicated for a future pilot brewing system. This new construction is part of the Golden Belt campus in Durham, a 320,000 square foot facility that was once a textile and tobacco facility.
Currently, the brewery operates their original brewery in Asheville’s South Slope area, as well as their “Big Top” production facility less than a mile from city center.
The brewery currently expects the Durham Fun Zone to open in late October, barring any construction delays.
