Yakima Chief Hops has completed construction of a cold storage warehouse in Belgium. Although Yakima Chief Hops has been supplying brewers worldwide for many years, the expansion into Europe is intended to improve logistics and allow for faster delivery times to brewery customers.
“Establishing a foundation here in Europe speaks to the commitment YCH has to delivering the highest quality hops directly to its global brewing customers,” said Denis Gayte – Managing Director for YCH Europe. “Our new facility ensures that our hops grown in America’s Pacific Northwest can be stored here in Europe and delivered to customers in the best possible condition.”
Located in Mont Saint Guibert, the 6,600 square foot warehouse includes cold storage capacity for up to 8,800 pallets of hops, office space, a taproom and a visitor center where customers can learn about hops and sample beers. Yakima Chief has also invested in a homebrew production line allowing the ability to offer high-quality hop pellets in smaller size packaging for home and nano brewers.
The facility supports an 1800-panel solar array, producing 750 MW of energy, or about half of the building’s total consumption. The green construction, design and operation plan centers around waste diversion, water conservation and healthfulness of interior spaces. The building runs on renewable energy and uses higher efficiency fixtures that reduce energy and water consumption.