Colorado brewer delays North Carolina plant
Colorado-based brewer delays plans to open brewery in western North Carolina
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) -- A Colorado brewing company has delayed plans to open a plant in western North Carolina.
New Belgium Brewing Co. says added capacity in Colorado means the company does not need the brewery in Asheville as soon as expected.
The craft brewer says it will delay construction in North Carolina by eight months.
The company recently completed an addition in Fort Collins, Colo. New Belgium is known for its Fat Tire beer and other brands.
"We don't need the Asheville capacity as soon as we thought," said Jay Richardson, general manager for the brewery.
New Belgium said two years ago it would build a $175 million brewery in Asheville that was planned to open in 2015 with up to 150 employees.
Richardson says the new plan calls for the Asheville operation to begin in late 2015 or early 2016.
The removal of buildings at the site is almost complete. Company officials plan to meet with city officials, its general contractor, equipment vendors and others to complete a new construction schedule, Richardson said.
"Before, the timeline was such that it was going to be a dance between the city projects and site work. It could be done, but it was taking a lot of orchestration," Richardson said. "This might make things a little easier."
