Sierra Nevada to open new brewery

The Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, based in Chico, California, is to build a second site in western North Carolina scheduled to open in 2014. 

The new facility will be managed by Brian Grossman, son of the founder Ken Grossman.  

The new 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. The East Coast brewery is to start with a capacity of around 300,000 barrels, with room to grow. The added capacity will accommodate wider production of seasonal beers and bottled specialties.

The brewery's brands are distributed by Vertical drinks in Europe and flagship product Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is the fastest selling American style pale ale in draught and bottle in the UK, according to the company.

Founded in 1980, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co produced 860,000 barrels in 2011. According to the brewer, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is the second best-selling craft beer in the United States behind Boston Beer Company’s Samuel Adams Boston Lager.