(A couple days after we originally published this story, Sierra Nevada sent us a press release announcing their decision. Read that follow-up story here.)
Apparently Sierra Nevada Brewing Company is about to prove what The Examiner (Examiner.com) has been telling us for two years: Asheville, North Carolina is a great beer town. For the past two years The Examiner asked readers to vote for BeerCity USA. The winner by a landslide both years was Asheville, North Carolina. (Read our previous posts about Asheville’s victories.) This caused many people to scratch their heads and debate the validity of the title. Now we learn that Sierra Nevada is reportedly going to build a new brewery in Asheville because, in part, the city is indeed bonkers for good beer. According to reports, the brewery is expected to make an announcement soon.
Nothing against Asheville, but it just seemed odd that the title BeerCity USA did not go to a larger city with a greater reputation for craft beer, such as Portland, Seattle, or Philadelphia to name just a few. Turns out, Asheville really is a mecca for craft beer. And not just because The Examiner and Charlie Papazian say so.
Good for them. Good for Asheville. Suddenly North Carolina rises higher on my list of places to visit.
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About a year ago Sierra Nevada Brewing Company announced that it was looking to open a brewery on the eastern seaboard of the United States and was considering locations. Not surprising really. The company sells beer in all 50 states. Craft beer continues to grow in popularity across the country and Sierra Nevada has been leading the charge for thirty years.
According to a report at BlueRidgeNow.com, the online home of the Henderson Times-News, Sierra Nevada is expected to announce its plans to build a new facility in Mills River, just outside of Asheville, NC. Company officials told the Times-News that they want 50 acres to build the facility, which likely will include a restaurant, tasting room and music venue in addition to the brewing and bottling operations.
Sierra Nevada could build this facility anywhere in the eastern United States. Apparently another site near Roanoke, Virginia received serious consideration. I am sure there are sound economic and strategic reasons why the company is selecting Asheville, and no doubt local officials made concessions to help bring Sierra Nevada to town, but there is little doubt that the local community’s love of beer was a factor in the decision. Ken Grossman, owner of Sierra Nevada, told the Times-News that the area’s rich craft-beer culture was an important consideration in the decision.
Because the people of Asheville love good beer, it now seems they are going to get a new business. The new Sierra Nevada brewery will create jobs, increase tax revenues, and attract tourists. In these economic times, that is not at all insignificant.
Behold the power of beer.
Read the complete story on blueridgenow.com
