E-Malt.com News article: USA, VA: Smartmouth Brewing Co. planning second location in Virginia Beach

Smartmouth Brewing Co. is expanding into Virginia Beach, Virginian-Pilot reported on December 30.

The craft brewery founded by Porter Hardy IV opened its first location in the Chelsea neighborhood of Norfolk in 2012. The business will maintain its headquarters in Norfolk and continue to brew most of the beer for distribution to restaurants and stores from that location.

The second location will open this fall in the former U.S. Post Office building at 313 32nd St. Just three blocks from the Oceanfront, that building will be fully renovated to house the small batch brewery system. The more than 9,400-square-foot location also will include a private event space, a tasting room with a back patio and additional outdoor space.

“The Pilot House (the new location) will be our creative outlet,” Hardy said. “With a smaller, but still high-quality brewhouse, we can experiment more and make some niche beers.”

The new venue’s name is in recognition of the area’s nautical and aviation roots as well as the facility’s production of experimental and creative beers.

“When I saw the site, I was actually looking for something different, but I could just picture it as a really cool spot,” said Hardy, who has childhood memories of the location. “The building has great bones, and it is a location that will, hopefully, appeal to both locals and visitors. Additionally, I am a huge believer in regionalism, and this is our attempt to help break down some of the barriers between our cities and cement Smartmouth as a brewery for the whole region.”

Hardy, a former business lawyer who grew up on the North End of Virginia Beach, traded the corporate world for a career in craft brewing. Now five years into his microbrewery, he’s excited about the upcoming expansion.

“I am very grateful for the loyalty of our customers and the enthusiasm for our beer,” Hardy said. “So to me, the growth means we must be doing something right. It can also mean more risk and less sleep, but let’s stay positive.”

An aficionado of creating things, Hardy took that love and created a community gathering place centered on beer when he started Smartmouth.

“It is still amazing to me that it can be found in grocery stores next to much larger and older brands,” Hardy said. “Also, I am very proud of the work environment at Smartmouth. As a manager, keeping people happy and retaining them is hugely important to the success of your business, and it is very satisfying to me.”

Smartmouth hopes to further its connection to charitable efforts in the restoration, education and recreation of local waterways. Hardy said the company donated a portion of its proceeds of The Princess Oktoberfest beer to the Elizabeth River Project in 2016.

“We have also partnered with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the Surfrider Foundation,” Hardy said. “Beer is mainly water, and water is really part of the lifeblood of our community, so we couldn’t think of a better cause.”


04 January, 2017