USA, GA: The Georgia Brewing Company hopes to move brewing operations from garage to historic building in downtown Valdosta

A Georgia beer maker hopes to move its brewing operations from a garage to a historic building in downtown Valdosta.

The Valdosta Daily Times reports the Georgia Brewing Company is working with city officials to renovate the city's century-old waterworks building and turn it into a craft brewery. The Valdosta city council granted the business a conditional permit on December 8.

Owner Chris Jones says he wouldn't be allowed to sell beer at the downtown site. But the brewery would offer tours and small samples of its wares. Beer made there would be sold through distributors.

While small beer makers have taken off in other parts of the state, Jones says Valdosta sits in the middle of a "craft-beer desert" with the nearest craft breweries in Macon and Savannah.

14 December, 2016