USA, FL: 7venth Sun Brewery to expand to central Tampa and increase production

Justin Stange and Devon Kreps’ success at Dunedin’s 7venth Sun Brewery gave them the courage — and finances — to expand to central Tampa, where they plan to increase production, Suncoast News reported on March 31.

Since 2012, 7venth Sun Brewery has poured its beers in a 1,000-square-foot location at 1012 Broadway, a place where it can be hard to find a parking spot and even harder to find a barstool on a Saturday night.

“We definitely get busy,” said 7venth Sun co-owner Devon Kreps.

Thanks to the steady flow of thirsty customers, 7venth Sun soon will expand to Tampa. But don’t worry; the Dunedin location isn’t going anywhere. Kreps and co-owner Justin Stange said 7venth Sun’s popularity in Dunedin allowed them to expand to their new location in central Tampa.

“Our success in Dunedin has helped our growth 100 percent,” Stange said.

It’s no secret that the original 7venth Sun can handle just a handful of customers in its tap room, but that hasn’t prevented it from establishing a solid reputation around town for its “farmhouse brewing” techniques.

Kreps has a degree in fermentation science she received from Oregon State University before working at Anheuser-Busch and then Sweetwater Brewery in Georgia, where she teamed with Stange.

The two eventually left to create new beers of their own. They are fans of most variations of beer, but they’ve gained a name for themselves with strong Belgian beers and crisp saisons (pale ales).

“You hear other brewers say the same thing, but we brew the types of beer we want to drink,” Kreps said.

Fans of 7venth Sun’s suds will be happy to hear that its flagship beers, including the Timebomb Session IPA and Graffiti Orange creamsicle-flavored wheat beer, are here to stay. Plus, the added space in Tampa will allow the brewery to bottle more beer.

According to the owners, their new 18,000-square-foot brewery in Old Seminole Heights means increased quality control and a stronger focus on barrel-aging techniques that are popular with their Belgian-style brews. It also will mean more beer.

“It’s going to relieve a lot of pressure from the Dunedin location,” said Kreps.

Currently, the original location is outfitted with a system that allows it to brew roughly 850 barrels of beer every year. However, once the Tampa location reaches its second phase of production, the company should be able to make up to 25,000 barrels each year.

It won’t be quite on par with Stange’s former employer Cigar City, which brews more than 44,000 barrels. But 7venth Sun still has some serious potential for its planned 10- and 30-barrel brewing systems.

If all goes well, this should mean seeing 7venth Sun tap handles around more bars and restaurants. Plus, beer lovers will be able to find more 7venth Sun beer to go in six-packs, too.

Stange and Kreps will split time between the two breweries while they rehabilitate and refurnish the Seminole Heights building. They hope to open this fall.

“There will be an increase on the production side of the brewery, but we’re hoping to bring the same neighborhood feel that we have in Dunedin,” said Kreps.

The new location at 6809 N. Nebraska Ave. will join three other breweries in the neighborhood.

01 April, 2016