Brewery Expansions

Upper Hand Brewery Celebrates Grand Opening

Upper Hand Brewery, the new division of Bell’s Brewery is officially open.

Upper Hand broke ground in October, 2013 on an 11,500 square foot facility on Michigan’s Upper Penninsula. Three beers are ready with the launch, Upper Penninsula Ale, Escanaba Black Continue Reading →

Hi-Wire Brewing Taps Lazy Magnolia for Help

Hi-Wire Brewing (Asheville, NC) has enlisted the assistance of Lazy Magnolia (Kiln, MS) for production help. Hi-Wire, just 16 months into brewing, has grown over 135%.

Lazy Magnolia will offer assistance with Hi-Wire’s core production, allowing the Hi-Wire to work on Continue Reading →

Speakeasy Ales & Lagers Set To Grow in 2015

Speakeasy Ales & Lagers (San Francisco, CA) will unveil a brewhouse expansion in 2015.

The brewery will be unveiling a new brewhouse in 2015 that will push annual capacity to 90,000 barrels (2.7 million gallons).

In addition, the brewery just hired a Continue Reading →

Stone To Build in Berlin, Germany Brewery

Stone Brewing Co. (Escondido, CA) promised a big announcement today. While everyone was expecting the announcement of an East Coast brewery, today the brewery announced the intention to build a craft brewery, restaurant and gardens in Berlin, Germany. Stone Brewing Continue Reading →

Posted in Brewery Expansions, Don't Miss This, New Breweries

Upper Hand Brewery Celebrates Grand Opening

Upper Hand Brewery, the new division of Bell’s Brewery is officially open.

Upper Hand broke ground in October, 2013 on an 11,500 square foot facility on Michigan’s Upper Penninsula. Three beers are ready with the launch, Upper Penninsula Ale, Escanaba Black Beer,  and Upper Hand Lager. Expect draft from now until December, when bottles arrive.

“To be able to open a brewery in the U.P. fulfills a lifelong dream for me. I couldn’t be prouder to open the doors of this great facility here in Escanaba,” said Larry Bell, founder and president of Bell’s Brewery in Comstock.

Upper Hand beer will only be available in Michigan’s upper penninsula, with parts of the west to follow. Upper Hand will not be available to purchase below the Mackinac Bridge.

A public open house is planned at the brewery on December 6th, 2014.

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

NoDa Brewing Announces Second Production Location

NoDa Brewing Company (Charlotte, NC) has announced plans to open a second location in 2015. The brewery’s production needs have outpaced the current location’s capacity.

The new spot will be just one mile from the current location, at 2921 N. Tryon Street, Charlotte. The 32,000+ square foot building was built in 1939 and used to house Fleischmann’s Vinegar until 1997.

Renovation will begin in 2015.

“We expect to preserve the look and feel of the 1930’s industrial design while adding modern and advanced brewing equipment,” said Todd Ford, owner of NoDa Brewing Company.  “The new facility will allow us to continue to grow and serve customers throughout the Charlotte metro and neighboring communities.”

NoDa will expand their brewing operations with the purchase of a new 60 bbl brew house, plus a few 240 bbl fermenters. That’s an output increase from 10,000 barrels to 20,000 barrels in the first year of coming online. A 30 head canning line is also planned for the new location.

The existing NoDa tap room and production facility will remain open, focusing on specialty brews, barrel aging and sour beer production.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Brewery Expansions, Headlines, Stone Brewing Co.

Stone Brewing Co. Chooses Richmond, Virginia for East Coast Build

After much speculation, and even a law change to entice Stone Brewing Co. to South Carolina, the brewery has chosen Richmond, Virginia as their next home.

Today the brewery announced they have signed a letter of intent with the City of Richmond solidifying their interest in the build.

Here is what to expect:

  • 200,000 square foot production brewery & distribution facility on 14 acres
  • 250 barrel brewhouse
  • Renovation of 2-story, 30K square foot building to be restaurant (on 4 acres)
  • 288+ new jobs
  • Open late 2015, 2016 (World Bisto & Gardens will open year or more later)
  •  Year round brews and special east coast releases

The proposed site seen below, is near Williamsburg Avenue and Nicholson Street.

Project Stone 2014-09-08.psdFrom Stone Brewing Co. co-founder Steve Wagner:

“The search for our location east of the Mississippi River was no easy endeavor,” said Stone President and Co-founder Steve Wagner. “We received and reviewed hundreds of proposals, visited more than 40 sites, and received quite a bit of attention from communities and craft beer fans. The three finalist cities each provided diverse offerings, however, we decided to begin next-step negotiations with Richmond because of their ability to meet our extensive site requirements, subject to the city’s approval. We also feel that Richmond’s vibrant energy and impressive craft beer culture, along with the uniqueness of the property, will allow us to create a truly memorable Stone experience for our fans. We are honored by the amount of time and effort all the communities that submitted proposals put forth, and we want to specifically thank Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe and Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones for welcoming us.”

 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Brewery Expansions, Hi Wire Brewing

Hi-Wire Brewing Taps Lazy Magnolia for Help

Hi-Wire Brewing (Asheville, NC) has enlisted the assistance of Lazy Magnolia (Kiln, MS) for production help. Hi-Wire, just 16 months into brewing, has grown over 135%.

Lazy Magnolia will offer assistance with Hi-Wire’s core production, allowing the Hi-Wire to work on seasonals and barrel aged offerings in house.

Read more: Brewery Expansions

Ultimately, the Hi-Wire Brewing wants to bring all production back to Asheville, North Carolina. In the meantime just to keep up with demand and maintain steady growth, the brewery was pushed to find some outside help.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Brewery Expansions, Headlines, New Holland Brewing

New Holland Brewing to Open New Brewpub, Microdistillery & Restaurant

New Holland Brewing (Holland, MI) is opening a new brewpub, micro distillery, and retaurant in Grand Rapid’s westside area in 2016.

The new space is located on the corner of Bridge Street and Broadway Avenue. The brewpub will be home to pub and distillery only offerings, as well as house New Holland’s sour beer program (aka “The House of Funk”).

“We have been waiting a long time for the perfect opportunity to come along in Grand Rapids and I’m so excited that an opportunity presented itself on Grand Rapids’ West Side. – New Holland President and Co-founder, Brett VanderKamp

The brewery has chosen Rockford Construction on the project, which should be completed in 2016. New Holland plans on hiring around 150 new employees prior to launch.

New Holland opened in 1997.

Below: The site of the future build. Above: artist’s rendering of the final build

Current New Holland Site

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Brewery Expansions, Speakeasy Ales & Lagers

Speakeasy Ales & Lagers Set To Grow in 2015

Speakeasy Ales & Lagers (San Francisco, CA) will unveil a brewhouse expansion in 2015.

The brewery will be unveiling a new brewhouse in 2015 that will push annual capacity to 90,000 barrels (2.7 million gallons).

In addition, the brewery just hired a new sales director, Katie Wescott.

Currently, Speakeasy is available in 11 states, and 5 countries.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Brewery Expansions, Coming Soon, Headlines, Stone Brewing Co.

Stone To Build in Berlin, Germany Brewery

Stone Brewing Co. (Escondido, CA) promised a big announcement today. While everyone was expecting the announcement of an East Coast brewery, today the brewery announced the intention to build a craft brewery, restaurant and gardens in Berlin, Germany. Stone Brewing Berlin will cost $25 million to complete.

 Here are the details: 

  • The location is on 2 acres of land in Mariendorf, six miles south of the city’s Brandenburg Gate
  • The site contains a red brick main hall built in 1901 by Imperial Continental Gas Association.
  • Main Hall is 43,000 square feet
  • Two other buildings on site will be used for special events, beer packaging
  • The custom built brewhouse should open late 2015, 2016
  • Cost $25 million in renovations, contruction, and landscaping
  •  No plans on brewing traditional German styles
  • The first beers to come from the Berlin brewery are a series of limited releases called Stone Groundbreaking Collaborations.
  • Sold in 1.5 liter bottles for $50 dollars each, available through crowd funding campaign on IndieGoGo
  • Proceeds go to expediting construction in Berlin and the United States east coast brewery (not yet announced.)

Series Launch Beers Include: 

Imperial Royal Imperial Saison du BUFF – described as “an uber version” of the Saison that Stone first released in 2010 with Victory and Dogfish Head

SPECIAL bashah –a second take on the Black Double Belgian IPA brewed once before with Scotland’s BrewDog in 2009,

Super Duper Arrogant – a Strong Ale that revisits an earlier collaboration between Stone and Birrificio Le Baladin of Italy.

by Reid Ramsay