E-Malt.com News article: UK & USA, OH: BrewDog to open North American headquarters and production centre in Canal Winchester

Popular Scottish-based craft brewery, BrewDog is set to open its North American headquarters and first production facility outside the United Kingdom on 42 acres in Canal Winchester, Ohio, Area Development Online reported on June 29.

BrewDog’s investment in the brewing facility in the Columbus Region will total $30.4 million, including the construction of a 100,000 square foot facility in Canal Winchester, to be completed by August 2016. BrewDog plans the Canal Winchester facility to be the main brewing site for all BrewDog’s USA beer production, according to city officials.

“The people of Ohio have absolutely bowled us over with their enthusiasm, passion for beer and warm welcome! Their reaction has been incredible, and confirms we have made the right choice with where we’ll lay the foundations for our American home,” James Watt, co-founder of BrewDog, said.

The launch of BrewDog USA will initially serve the U.S. market with potential to export to other countries, producing more than 85,200 barrels in its first year of production, and increasing capacity in coming years to reach 852,000 barrels.

As an incentive, City of Canal Winchester will support the project with a 15 year, 100% property tax exemption on the value of the building improvements, an incentive worth an estimated $2,700,000 over the 15 year term. Canal Winchester will also waive more than $325,000 in utility capacity and building permit fees to support this significant job creation and investment in the community. Economic development partners in the project include City of Canal Winchester, Columbus 2020, and JobsOhio.

“Since learning of the potential project a few weeks ago, Canal Winchester residents have become very excited about Brewdog. We look forward to working with them and are very happy they chose Canal Winchester as their U.S. headquarters and their first production facility in the U.S. This project is not only a great manufacturing project for our community, but also will prove to be a major draw for tourism that will benefit the entire region,” Canal Winchester Mayor Michael Ebert shared.

Growing from two men based in a shed in the north east of Scotland in 2007, BrewDog has become the UK’s fastest-growing food & drinks brand, opening 28 bars worldwide since 2010, now exporting to 55 countries and employing more than 365 staff. It announced its sixth consecutive year of record growth earlier this year, having increased its annual turnover by a whopping 63 percent.


01 July, 2015