New Belgium Asheville Begins Fat Tire Production

New Belgium Brewing Company has announced that production has begun at its Asheville, NC location with the brewery's most popular and recognizable year-round offering, Fat Tire.

While the brewery is not yet open to the public, the tasting room will open its doors on May 2, 2016.

Here is the release from New Belgium:

Asheville, NC - April 4, 2016 –New Belgium Brewing's flagship Fat Tire Amber Ale is flowing from their Asheville brewery and heading toward draft lines and cold boxes across the eastern United States. With production ramping up over the next few years, the 500,000 barrel capacity, 127,000 square-foot brewery gives the country's fourth-largest craft brewer 1.5 million barrels of total capacity.

"This is truly a proud moment for all of us here at New Belgium," said Christine Perich, New Belgium President and CEO. "Over the last 25 years, we have grown from a basement operation to a state-of-the-art brewery with homes on both sides of the country. So many folks have leaned in and helped along the way, we'd love to just take a moment and raise a glass to say 'thank you'." 

New Belgium Brewing started in the basement of a Fort Collins, Colorado home in 1991 and this year will mark the company's 25th anniversary. The Asheville brewery will focus on producing Fat Tire, while also flavor matching test brews for Ranger IPA and 1554 to finish commissioning the Asheville brewery. They will ramp up brands based on demand. The east coast locale minimizes their distribution footprint and enables the brewery to engage with guests in a meaningful way through tastings and tours.

"In my two decades working with New Belgium, Fat Tire has never tasted so satisfying," said Asheville Brewing Manager Alex Dwoinen, reflecting on the accomplishment. "Sipping Asheville brewed Fat Tire in Asheville will definitely be added as one of my best Fat Tire memories."

The Asheville Liquid Center tasting room will open May 2, 2016 and brewery tours will begin later this summer. New Belgium will host an August 27, 2016 CeleBEERation in Asheville, marking their 25th anniversary and Asheville opening. Tickets will be available at www.NewBelgium.com this summer.