(Fairfield, CA) – We caught up with Heretic Brewing Company founder, Jamil Zainasheff, in December (yep, it takes us a while to get around to posting these sometimes) to go over the brewery’s big expansion plans.

They are moving out of their Pittsburg facility into a new building at 1052 Horizon Drive in Fairfield. Actually, after reading this, head on over to the Heretic Facebook page to get all of the construction and equipment arrival updates.

This much is clear…Zainasheff has clear ambitions on becoming a mid-size regional brewery.

Here is what we learned from our brief Q&A…

—

1) How much is Heretic Brewing going to produce this year in terms of barrels?
Around 1,700.

2) New facility is leased or own? If leased, how many years on the contract?
Four year lease, with options to extend or buy the building.

3) Does this mean that Heretic is buying new equipment? What size system, how many vessels? Who is manufacturing?
Yes. AAA Metal Fabrication in Oregon is producing the plant. 30 bbl. brewhouse with four vessels plus a hot liquor tank.

4) When is the system slated to arrive & when do you expect to brew your first commercial batch?
System by end of January. First production sometime in February or March.

5) What new packages/formats, if any, will Heretic add in addition to 22 oz. bottles?
None initially, but we are considering the addition of cans or six packs.

6) If any, what new styles might be brewed to fit those packages?
The new facility will allow us to take those special releases like Torment, Worry, Tafelbully, Miscreant, and Tartuffe and make them core
products.

7) What would be theoretical starting & maximum capacity given the current beer lineup?
5,000 bbl start and 45,000 bbl on that plant without modification. That location should be good to about 100,000 bbl, if we choose to do so.

8) Are you considering any new states with the expansion?
We will take care of California first, then we will probably look at opening Washington and Oregon. Then maybe Colorado.