(Boulder, CO) – Avery Brewing Brewmaster, Matt “Truck” Thrall, told Colorado Craft Beer Radio this week that the company is “under contract for land” in Boulder, about 4.5 miles north of the current Arapahoe Drive location.
Purchasing land is only one phase of the process though. Avery now has a proposal into the city with a public hearing tentatively set for December 1st.
The brewery is already seeing objection from locals though. No surprise considering the proposed location at 4910 Nautilus Court is right next to a day school. The Boulder Camera reports:
Several parents of children who attend the Boulder Country Day School, at 4820 Nautilus Court in Gunbarrel, have written letters to the city expressing concerns about the Avery Brewing Co.’s plans to expand its operation to include a new brewery, tap house and restaurant near the school.
“There are many studies that show exposure to basic alcohol logos and basic branding increases underage drinking,” Jacqueline Noel wrote in a letter.
Mike Shields, head of the school, told the board members Thursday night that the proposed code changes could affect the safety of the 350 students.
“We want to be a good neighbor,” he said. “However, we also need to protect the safety and welfare of the children in our school.”
The concept that Avery is pushing to city officials is a potential tourism mecca. The plan includes “a 30,000 square foot brewery/warehouse along with a 5,000 square foot restaurant and outdoor deck, a 1,500 square foot gift shop, and 36,000 square feet of office space.” The building will be three floors. The brewery is currently working with Coburn Development.
Avery is in dire need of larger space for its brewing operations, being maxed out at the current location. Production surpassed 21,000 barrels last year and is up 71% this year according to a report late last month.
The new location would be virtually across the street from Asher Brewing which will turn just two years old this winter.
Avery will turn 20 years old during the month of August, 2013, and Thrall hopes that they are settled into the new spot by then.
On an additional note, Thrall mentioned that Uncle Jacob’s Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout would probably be released late next year in bottles. They are aiming to get the beer up to around 16% ABV like others in the Demon Series. Even the recently released Rumpkin is 15.9% ABV.
Only in Boulder would a school get a zoning law changed so they could build in an industrial park and then complain to the city about their industrial neighbors. “basic alcohol logos and basic branding”… seriously? For educators, they aren’t that bright.
Gotta agree with Janis. These are the same types of idiots that will buy a house or move a business next to an airport then complain about the noise and demand action be taken to reduce said noise.
I wonder if the parents that send their kids to a charter school in the middle of an industrial park worry that their kids will grow up to be welders. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. I hear there is a shortage of welders.
There is already another brewery across the street? Does the school have a problem with that too?
It’s around the corner and out of sight of the school so I guess they’re ok with it. But yeah, a school in an industrial park? I’ve never heard of it either.
I bet Asher is pushing for it. That would be great for them. The industrial park is a little remote, but Avery would definitely draw people there. And once there, I am sure people would check out Asher, Colorado’s first organic brewery. Asher, by itself, doesn’t have quite the draw. For totally selfish reasons that make no business sense for Avery (my little bro lives within walking distance of the current Avery brewery), I hope it stays put.
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Would be huge for Asher. The reason Avery has to move is because they’re in a complex adjacent to other businesses so there’s nowhere to go with new tanks, etc.
I was there yesterday afternoon. It was a great experience, but things are really tight & parking nearly impossible. They need the new land to grown this puppy. Can’t wait to see the new digs!