Some exciting updates from Smuttynose:
Portsmouth Beer Week seems like a perfect time to share an update on the construction of our new brewery at Towle Farm in Hampton. Here it is!
Despite three weekends of snow storms, work continues at an impressive rate. I can't say I envy the work crews out there, but I certainly appreciate the work they've been doing under such cruddy conditions. The building is far enough along that our brewing and packaging staff recently went out to the site for the first time to see the progress and walk through their new work space. They were pretty amazed and excited.
One things they're excited about is our new brewhouse, which is being built right now. It's a four vessel, 100 hectoliter (~85 barrels) system from top German firm, Krones. This powerful piece of machinery is from the same Combi Cube line as the system Founders Brewing recently installed, though theirs is a bit smaller. The new technology will greatly increase our consistency and quality, which is vitally important when brewing and packaging beer. There's so much to say about the system, that it'll get its own post once it arrives on our shores.
Otherwise, here are a few updates and photos from our builder's representative and project manager, Clark James.
-The warehouse is almost fully enclosed, save for the overhead doors and interior partition separating it from the bottling area.
-The panel crew has been working to affix insulated panels to the exterior of the building. The building won't actually be yellow.
-The roofers are progressing with insulating the sloped roof, and have installed membrane ("TPO") on much of the flat roof.
-Masonry has been completed on several of the interior block walls, and the masons have begun installing the stone veneer on the exterior on the front of the building.
-We hope to start framing in the brew pub within two weeks.
That's not all:
We're working with the folks at Applecrest Farm, a local orchard, to revitalize the Towle Farm Orchard. Many people have asked if we'll make cider. While it might be fun, I believe we'd need a winery license and that isn't remotely on our radar right now. On the other hand, we will have a pub at Towle Farm, so I can certainly imagine many more culinary uses for the fruit, than fermentory ones.
Smuttynose is lucky to have two beekeepers on staff and we'll be able to use their skills on our new beerhives! The bees will arrive at their new home at Towle Farm in April. Clark, who is one of the beekeepers, says we've got Italians with Carnolian queens. If you're asking about mead, the same answer to the cider question applies here.
Construction began with the warehouse.
If you were in our pub, this would be your view of the brewery.
Snow can't stop the Harvey Construction crew!
The main entrance is in the lower left-hand corner of this shot.
The offices are just above on the second floor.
Here's a cool night time shot, looking straight down the fermentation cellar.
The backside of the warehouse is closing up. Note the barn on the right.
If you'd like up to the minute views of the new brewery, check out our webcam at http://www.towlefarm.com.
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