E-Malt.com News article: USA, OR: Ninkasi Brewing to expand

Big things are on the radar for Ninkasi Brewing, one of Eugene's most beloved craft brewers, as it’s now in the planning stage of a major expansion that will bring a new building and new jobs, Kmtr.com reported on April, 24.

With just six years on tap, the Whiteaker neighborhood-based Ninkasi Brewing has grown from selling beer in the Eugene-Springfield area to five western states. Now the brewery is at the point where it needs more room to keep growing.

Ninkasi is now taking on its biggest project to date, planning a new fermentation and distribution facility. The new building will replace an old warehouse on 2nd Avenue and Blair Boulevard in Eugene, across the street from where Ninkasi is currently located.

The plan is to break ground this summer, in July 2012. Ninkasi is planning to keep its current location and work in tandem with the new facility once it’s done.

Today, Ninkasi is selling beer across Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Alaska and Montana, also in San Francisco. It’s looking to spread across California next, but will keep headquarters and beer production in Eugene.

“Up to this point it’s been a process of really growing in short bursts, so add a tank here…” says Nikos Ridge, Co-Founder and CEO of Ninkasi Brewing.

“So, it's kind of an on-going continuous expansion to this point, and by doing this next project, we're going to build a facility that we can focus on growing in to,” says Ridge.

“It's a great place to do business and we're happy to be here and happy to be growing,” says Ridge.

The brewery hopes to finish its new facility by July 2013, one year after groundbreaking.

According to the Brewers Association, based on sales by volume, Ninkasi Brewing was the 32nd largest craft brewer in the U.S. in 2011, up from number 50 in 2010.


25 April, 2012