Brewery Expansions

Ecliptic Brewing to open 2nd brewery this summer

Portland, Oregon-based Ecliptic Brewing is opening a second location in nearby Southeast Portland this summer.

Ecliptic is calling the new space the “The Moon Room,” taking over Base Camp Brewing’s space that closed earlier this year.

“We’ve been talking about opening another Continue Reading →

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. Continue Reading →

Iron Hill Brewery opens in Atlanta

A look inside Iron Hill Brewery’s most southern expansion to date, in the Buckhead area of Atlanta, Georgia

Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant made its highly anticipated Georgia debut in December 2020, opening its 18th location in Atlanta’s upscale Buckhead neighborhood Continue Reading →

Posted in SweetWater Brewing, Brewery Expansions, Headlines

Atlanta’s SweetWater acquires Red Truck Brewing, announces west coast brewery

Atlanta based SweetWater Brewing Company has announced a new production facility, taproom, and restaurant in Fort Collins, Colorado.

This week, SweetWater acquired Red Truck Brewing, a Canadian brewery that bought the brewery from Fort Collins Brewing back in 2017. Red Truck closed its doors in March 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic, and never reopened. The amount of the purchase has not been disclosed.

The 32,450 square foot space will see brewing and packaging equipment upgrades, as well as a taproom and restaurant overhaul. 

Late last year, SweetWater was acquired Canadian based cannabis company, Aphria Inc., a sale highly motivated by the success of the brewery’s 420 Strain Series of beers.

Additionally, the Denver Airport will soon be home to a SweetWater airport bar location, joining Last Call Bar and Grill in Atlanta’s Hartsfield Jackson Airport. 

SweetWater ranks 11th in overall production volume amongst craft brewers in U.S. for calendar year 2020 according to the Brewers Association, currently distributing to 34 states. 

The brewery opened in 1997. 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Ecliptic Brewing, Brewery Expansions, Don't Miss This

Ecliptic Brewing to open 2nd brewery this summer

Portland, Oregon-based Ecliptic Brewing is opening a second location in nearby Southeast Portland this summer.

Ecliptic is calling the new space the “The Moon Room,” taking over Base Camp Brewing’s space that closed earlier this year.

“We’ve been talking about opening another location for a long time now, so we’re really stoked about this opportunity. There’s a lot of work ahead to make it happen, but the team is excited for growth,” says John Harris, Ecliptic owner, and brewmaster.

“The Moon Room” will be more than a taproom – it will be a full brewery and production facility, complete with a custom Ecliptic food truck and full bar. Expect the new facility to have an emphasis on lager production.

Ecliptic Brewing’s “Moon Room” is located at 930 SE Oak Street, Portland.

Watch: Ecliptic Brewing Moon Room Teaser

Ecliptic Brewing Kegs BSJ

Kegs at Ecliptic. Image: Beer Street Journal

 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Hi Wire Brewing, Brewery Expansions, Don't Miss This

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.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Brewery Expansions, Galleries, Iron Hill Brewing

Iron Hill Brewery opens in Atlanta

A look inside Iron Hill Brewery’s most southern expansion to date, in the Buckhead area of Atlanta, Georgia

Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant made its highly anticipated Georgia debut in December 2020, opening its 18th location in Atlanta’s upscale Buckhead neighborhood at Lenox Marketplace. The 7,770-square-foot restaurant marked the Delaware-based chain’s furthest southern expansion since establishing a presence in Greenville, South Carolina, bringing the company’s signature scratch brewery and craft kitchen concept to the heart of one of Atlanta’s premier dining districts.

Despite construction delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Iron Hill Buckhead opened with full brewing capabilities, featuring a glass-walled on-site brewery capable of producing 900 barrels annually.

The Buckhead location showcased Iron Hill’s award-winning craft beer portfolio alongside an extensive New American menu (including the Philly eggrolls!)

The restaurant’s design, created by Boulder-based Bray Architecture, featured floor-to-ceiling windows opening onto Peachtree Road, warm earth-toned walls, and industrial vaulted ceilings with copper-toned corrugated metal, creating an upscale casual atmosphere that reflected both the brewery’s industrial brewing heritage and Buckhead’s sophisticated dining scene.

Unfortunately, like many restaurant ventures launched during the pandemic, Iron Hill Buckhead announced the Buckhead location closure in 2024 leaving only the Dunwoody location in the state.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Creature Comforts, Brewery Expansions, Headlines

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.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Brewery Expansions, Reformation Brewery

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

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Monday Night Brewing, Brewery Expansions, Don't Miss This

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.

by Reid Ramsay