USA, NY: Empire Brewing Company to receive federal funding for expansion and establishing hop farm

Empire Brewing Company will receive federal funding from the Senate to expand its operations in Central New York, Drinks Business Review reported on July 16.

As part of the expansion, the brewery plans to establish a new bottling plant in Madison County, as well as a new farm known as Empire Farmstead Brewery to grow hops.

The expansion will enable the company to increase its footprint and to cater to the increasing consumer demand for beers.

It is also expected to create approximately 50 jobs for the local people.

Additionally, Empire Brewing is seeking funding from the US Department of Agriculture which will be used to produce a new product called Empire Farmhouse Ale using more than 51% ingredients grown at its new proposed farm.

US Senator Charles Schumer said that if Empire Brewing begins growing its own hops and bottling its own beer, then it will be a model for the breweries in the region.

"Empire already is a major player in Central New York, but they have the potential to be a real economic driver, and I will fight to make sure they receive the funding they need to make this expansion a reality," added Schumer.

The company will initially plant four acres of hops, which is expected to yield 20,000 pounds of homegrown hops.

18 July, 2014