Sierra Nevada to Open New Brewery in Asheville, NC

Sierra Nevada has announced plans to open a new brewery in Asheville, North Carolina which is known as a haven for beer drinkers, multiple micro-breweries, and is also labeled as “Beer City USA”. The new brewery is estimated to cost around $115-$125 million and will offer 200 to 300 jobs.

The decision to move was originally deterred by laws limiting attractions the brewery could offer. However, in November state law was changed by General Assembly to allow Sierra Nevada  to take up shop. In addition to making beer, the new brewery will become a local attraction for tourist by offering tours, a tasting room, a restaurant, the possibility for concerts and the ability to serve its own products on the property.

Asheville is home to dozens of craft, micro, and nano breweries, though all of them combined will pale in comparison to this multi-million dollar facility for one of the largest craft brewing companies in the United States. Doug Riley of Asheville Brewing Company told DME that before the decision was made Sierra Nevada approached all of the breweries to get their thoughts. ”We are all welcoming them with open arms and we are all really excited” says Doug, who continues to add that Sierra Nevada will be great for the local brewing scene.

Zane Lamprey, host of Drinking Made Easy, comments saying, ”Sierra Nevada building a facility in Asheville will have a definite impact on the community.  I wouldn’t be concerned for the smaller brewers. This will just build the collective and give them something else to wave at Portland (Oregon) on their yearly push for ‘Beer City’ bragging rights.  They say it will create 300 new jobs, but I’m sure the positive financial impact to the community will be far greater– which is paramount in our present economy.”

Zane continues by saying “Asheville had to know that if they kept pounding their chests proclaiming themselves to be ‘Beer City USA’ that some of the big boys would eventually take notice.  When we shot an episode in Asheville last year, I was definitely not disappointed.  It’s a small city with a brewery selection that rivals most large cities– including LA, NYC and Chicago.  And you could safely walk anywhere– albeit in a curvy drunken line.”