Sierra Nevada - Deal Done

We've been reporting for awhile that Sierra Nevada Brewing was considering a location in Virginia for an east coast brewery. Even as recent as last month, Virginia was seen as still in the running. Unfortunately, it will not be, according to this press release from the brewery.

CHICO, Calif. — Jan. 25, 2012 —Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. is pleased to announce that it has chosen a site in western North Carolina for the future home of an East Coast brewery. The site, approximately 90 acres in the Henderson County Town of Mills River— along the French Broad River, 12 miles south of Asheville — will be home to the new production facility, as well as a proposed restaurant and gift shop. “We are thrilled to have found an ideal location in western North Carolina for our second brewery,” says Ken Grossman, founder of Sierra Nevada. “The beer culture, water quality and quality of life are excellent. We feel lucky to be a part of this community.”

The new facility will add much needed capacity for Sierra Nevada, and will allow for the quick shipment of brewery-fresh beer to consumers in the east. The East Coast brewery will start with a capacity around 300,000 barrels, with room to grow. The added barrelage will accommodate wider production of the myriad of seasonal beers and bottled specialties Sierra Nevada has produced in recent years, as well as an expansion of the brewery’s well‐known flagship product: Sierra Nevada Pale Ale.

The new brewery is expected to be up and running in early 2014 and employ 90 workers.

We can close the book on this story now. Congratulations to Asheville on the great addition to your community.

Given all the great breweries that already call Virginia home, we're still doing just fine.

The entire press release is here.