Wicked Weed Brewing has broken ground on outfitting its new brewing facility in the Enka Commerce Park on the western edge of Asheville. The company’s expansion will add 82 new jobs and invest $5 million in facilities and equipment over the next three years.
The 40,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art brewhouse will enable Wicked Weed Brewing to help meet rapidly growing demand and scale its capacity up to 50,000 barrels a year. Wicked Weed plans to expand its market in North Carolina and eventually other states, while staying focused on its passion for producing creative, world-class craft beers and maintaining strict quality standards through self-distribution.
It’s expected to take about five months to completely outfit the existing building, which the brewery purchased as a shell building from Buncombe County. The brewing equipment installation will occur in June, with brewing and distribution expected to be underway this fall.
“The Asheville community’s overwhelming support and demand for Wicked Weed beer is what drives us forward to keep growing and brewing high quality, award-winning craft beer. As we expand, our focus remains on brewing the most creative and innovative beer styles for our many friends and fans across North Carolina,” commented Walt Dickinson, Head Blender and an ownership partner of Wicked Weed Brewing.
The new brewing facility is Wicked Weed’s third site, since opening its second downtown location, The Funkatorium at 147 Coxe Avenue, last fall. The dedicated sour barrel house and tasting room is the only facility of its type in the Southeast.
RateBeer.com just named Wicked Weed among the top 100 brewers in the world out of over 19,000 breweries listed on its site. Since opening just over two years ago, Wicked Weed has produced about 250 unique beer recipes, won a Gold Medal at the Great American Beer Festival in 2013, and has garnered national attention in the craft brewing industry for its creative, high-quality brews like the Freak of Nature Double IPA.
“Wicked Weed’s job growth and success in such a short time can only be explained by its innovative approach and commitment to brewing only the finest beer. We’re excited to see this family-owned business continue to expand one of the nation’s hottest craft brewing centers, right here in Buncombe County,” stated David Gantt, Chairman of the Buncombe County Commissioners.
Wicked Weed Brewing is an Asheville, North Carolina based brewpub ranked among the world’s top 100 brewers by RateBeer.com. It consistently hosts 20-plus house beers on tap, including hop forward, West Coast style ales, open fermented Belgians, and barrel-aged sour beers. Opened in December 2012, Wicked Weed is destined to become the largest producer of barrel-aged beers in the Southeastern U.S. The brewery is best known for its Freak of Nature Double IPA, Coolcumber Ale, Tyrant Double Red Ale, Hopburglar Blood Orange IPA, Dark Age Bourbon Stout and Black Angel Cherry Sour. Wicked Weed Brewing won a Gold Medal at the Great American Beer Festival for its Serenity Farmhouse Ale in 2013. Visit them online at www.wickedweedbrewing.com and on Facebook atfacebook.com/WickedWeedBrewing