USA, TX: Nine-Band Brewing Company coming to Allen

Nine-Band Brewing Co., owned by Keith Ashley, started on March 26 development on its showroom and craft brewery in Allen, Dallas Business Journal reported on March 24.

The 8,100-square-foot building will serve as Allen's first microbrewery when it opens this summer. The brewery was named after the nine-banded armadillo found in North America.

"I'd love to say we're going to be the biggest brewery in the United States," said Ashley, who selected Allen based on its demographics and proximity to Dallas. "Everyone feels like Shiner is the craft beer in Texas and we'd like to produce 40 percent of their volume in the next five years."

Ashley plans to model Nine-Band Brewing Co.'s expansion after the Shiner Bock brewery that distributes in 39 states, but he says he plans to start local in North Texas. About 40 percent of Shiner's business is roughly 50,000 to 70,000 barrels per year.

The brewery received a $75,000 economic incentive in multiple installments over time for locating the brewery to Allen, said Dan Bowman, the interim executive director and CEO of Allen Economic Development.

26 March, 2014