News And the Ashville Race is On…

How quickly can a brewery be built?

Oskar blues is counting on ‘pretty darn quick.’

Oskar Blues has closed on its brewery property near Ashville, N. Carolina, the same town that Sierra Nevada Brewing and New Belgium Brewing are also building ‘second homes.’

Brewing equipment should arrive in early November, and Oskar Blues is planning on producing beer by the end of this year. The company expects to produce about 40,000 barrels at the new plant.

By comparison, Sierra Nevada’s is planning on late 2013 or early 2014, and New Belgium by 2015. But that is like comparing Cascade to Amarillo — since those projects are much larger and ground-up construction where as Oskar Blues will be moving into an existing 30,000-square-foot structure.

And the Ashville Race is On... posted in:

0 Comments on “And the Ashville Race is On…”

  • BrewCrewDude

    says:

    I hear Green Flash is also planning a NC brewery. (Just a rumor at this point)

  • EBrown

    says:

    Just to clear up a couple very minor points…

    It’s Asheville withe an ‘e’.

    Only New Belgium will be in Asheville itself (right near downtown adjacent to the river). Oskar Blues will be in Bravard NC. Likewise, Sierra Nevada’s site is in Mills River which is well south of town. I have heard the Green Flash rumor as well but nothing to substantiate it.

    Knowing a couple of the brewers up there already and having medium- to long-term ambitions to brew for one of those great companies, this will be great for Asheville and the NC / southeast brewing scene in general. I can’t wait to see the final results.

  • Fullcourt

    says:

    EBrown wrote: Just to clear up a couple very minor points…

    It’s Asheville withe an ‘e’.

    Only New Belgium will be in Asheville itself (right near downtown adjacent to the river). Oskar Blues will be in Bravard NC. Likewise, Sierra Nevada’s site is in Mills River which is well south of town. I have heard the Green Flash rumor as well but nothing to substantiate it.

    Knowing a couple of the brewers up there already and having medium- to long-term ambitions to brew for one of those great companies, this will be great for Asheville and the NC / southeast brewing scene in general. I can’t wait to see the final results.

    And under the heading of “no good deed goes unpunished”, it is Brevard with an ‘e’.

  • liammckenna

    says:

    Fullcourt wrote: And under the heading of “no good deed goes unpunished”, it is Brevard with an ‘e’.

    zing.

    (and a few extra characters)

  • FreedomBC

    says:

    So what’s the story with NC? Same lenient regulations that Colorado has about producing and self-distribution? Simply just a cheaper area to build that will allow quicker distribution to the Eastern seaboard? Figure there has to be some attraction if two of Colorado’s most successful used-to-be-micros are setting up shop. I know it’s beautiful out there but it has to be something more than scenery. Soil for Hops?

    Cheers.

  • liammckenna

    says:

    FreedomBC wrote: Soil for Hops?

    Hops are ubiquitous in North America. Enough moisture and sun…Bob’s your uncle.

    Gross oversimplification…obviously…but I’ve seen hops growing virtually everywhere.

    Why NC?

    No idea.

    Pax.

    Liam

  • revnatscider

    says:

    Business-friendly, low taxes, probably some big tax breaks, something my state does not do 🙁

    One-day quick access to lucrative NE markets via interstates.

    Maybe some laid-off auto workers?

  • Sauce

    says:

    water me thinks

  • Scott M

    says:

    All true, but Sierra Nevada spends 10 Million/year on distribution costs to the East coast.

    Building a brewery there reduces costs and delivers a fresher product to market.

    The same probably holds true for the other breweries as well….JMO.

  • GlacierBrewing

    says:

    Scott M wrote: All true, but Sierra Nevada spends 10 Million/year on distribution costs to the East coast.

    Building a brewery there reduces costs and delivers a fresher product to market.

    The same probably holds true for the other breweries as well….JMO.

    Gotta be cheaper to brew the beer on that side of the country than shipping full kegs from Colorado and empty ones back. Make it where you sell it!

    Prost!
    Dave

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