E-Malt.com News article: USA, NC: Lexington Avenue Brewery to expand production

The massive 35,000-square-foot building adjacent to the Lexington Avenue Brewery in downtown Asheville is getting a major overhaul, with a new taproom, restaurant, beer production facility, condos and stores likely to open by the end of the year, Mountain Xpress reported on February, 11.

The new taproom– tentatively being called the "LAB Annex" – will feature the same beers as its mother brewery, as well as some as–yet–unkown additional offerings, made possible by the new production space, says LAB co-owner Mike Healy.

Healy and his business partner Steve Wilmans are also hoping to launch a canning line.

"The craft brewing industry right now is sort of exploding. And craft cans are exploding. Asheville Brewing is canning. And we're diving in headfirst," says Healy. "We won 11 awards last year for our beers. We're constantly trying to make improvements. ... People seem to like it, so we're rolling with it."

The demolition and construction process is already in progress, and Healy is hoping the new room will open for business by the end of the year.

"I never thought I'd be doing this, but we're just going for it. The opportunity presented itself, and we are choosing to go that direction," he notes. "We're excited about it. It'll be fun. It's quite a challenge."


15 February, 2012