[Credit: Devils Backbone Brewing]

Press Release:

(Lexington, VA) – Fresh from their record-setting performance at the major brewing competitions in 2012, Devils Backbone Brewing Company is embarking on a $3.25M expansion project to increase production capacities at both the Basecamp Brewpub in Nelson County, VA and the Outpost Brewery in Lexington, VA. In 2012, Devils Backbone took home a remarkable eight medals at the Great American Beer Festival (GABF) and won the overall award for Small Brewpub and Small Brewpub Brewer of the Year.

This recognition for the company’s world-class beers, coupled with a national shift by consumers towards craft beer, has maxed out Devils Backbone’s current capacity and fueled the need for expansion. According to Founder Steven Crandall, the brewery is expanding well ahead of schedule: “Just an year and half in, we’re already exceeding our original ten year projection and we haven’t even ventured far outside the Virginia Heartland!”

At the Outpost, the Company will be breaking ground on a new 13,000 square foot building that will serve as a packaging hall, warehouse and administrative space. The brewery is also adding new fermentation and filtration equipment, which will nearly double the annual capacity of the brewery to 40,000 barrels per year. Crandall notes that the brewery just completed an expansion from 12,000 to 21,000 barrels last November. A 300% increase in cooler space will allow the brewery to maintain the quality of stored inventory and new workspace will accommodate the additional personnel require to support the growing business.

The project at the Basecamp Brewpub, the brewery’s birthplace in Nelson County, will increase fermentation and cooler space in the brewery to allow for greater production of small batch specialty brews. The kitchen will also benefit from the expansion, gaining operational and storage space. This space is critical for the growth of festivals, camping, plays and events on Basecamp’s 100-acre property.

As for the future, Crandall is optimistic: “The craft beer industry in the United States has seen tremendous growth over the last few years led by some outstanding craft breweries and it is expected to continue its rapid growth for the foreseeable future. We are excited to be a small part of this creative industry. Most of all, we are happy to play a role in putting Virginia on the brewing map, to provide fun and fulfilling careers for our employees, and most importantly to continue creating unique, award winning craft beer locally for our loyal fans.”