Editor’s note: This article is by Lisa McCormack of the Stowe Reporter, in which it was first published Jan. 23, 2014.
Heady Topper fans will want to raise a glass to the latest news from the Alchemist.
John and Jen Kimmich, owners of the Waterbury brewery, announced Monday they plan to open a second brewery with a retail store and tasting room.
The existing brewery shut down retail operations at its headquarters Nov. 16 due to traffic concerns, but has maintained its production levels for distribution to area stores and restaurants.
Shortly after closing their retail shop, the Kimmichs learned that state legislation passed last year allows for wineries and breweries to distribute their own product to an off-site retail shop. Previously, a brewery was not permitted to open a retail shop to sell its products off-site.
Finding an ideal retail location — in the Waterbury area with easy access, lots of room and plenty of parking — proved to be a daunting process.
One undisclosed location seemed perfect until the Kimmichs learned they would have to widen a stretch of Vermont 100 to comply with the state’s zoning laws.
They’ve since decided to build a new brewery instead with its own retail shop and tasting room. They announced their plans in a blog post on the Alchemist website, alchemistbeer.com, Tuesday.
Having a second brewery will help ensure the retail shop doesn’t run out of its popular flagship beer, Heady Topper. The now-closed retail shop often ran out before the end of the week.
“It doesn’t make sense for us to open a retail shop without a brewery,” Jen Kimmich said in a phone interview Wednesday morning.
The Kimmichs would like to open the second brewery in the Waterbury area. Their employees live between Morrisville and Waterbury, and they want to take advantage of the tourism along the Vermont 100 corridor.
“We definitely would like to stay close to home,” Kimmich said. “We’re looking at all of our options, but we’re trying like heck to stay in Waterbury.”
While they would consider purchasing an existing building, new construction would probably make the most sense, Kimmich said.
“We’re thinking it’s going to be the best way to build something that’s energy efficient and has room for us to grow,” Kimmich said.
Breweries have specific requirements when it comes to ventilation, air circulation and wastewater management, and new construction could take this into account, she said.
It’s important that the property they purchase have existing connections to municipal water and sewer services, and the Kimmichs are looking at several properties that meet this requirement.
They’re taking the search “one step at a time” and don’t have an estimate as to when they will break ground, Kimmich said.
Once they settle on a location, they’ll be able to move forward quickly. They already have their financing and a construction crew in place, Kimmich said.
The existing brewery, located on Crossroad off Vermont 100, will continue to produce and distribute beer to area retailers.
There’s no question, they’ll have plenty of customers lining up at the door when the new brewery opens.
Since closing its retail shop, the Alchemist has bumped up its allotments to other retail locations, but Heady continues to sell out each week.
Having a second brewery will allow them to increase production for retail sales and offer new varieties of beer, but they have no intention of becoming “a large regional brewery,” Kimmich said.
By Wednesday morning, more than 700 Facebook fans had “liked” the Alchemist’s announcement about its new brewery.
Many fans suggested possible locations, from the Mad River Valley to Barre, Bennington, Woodstock and Rutland.
Some expressed hope that a second brewery would boost Heady Topper’s availability.
“Saying you’re from Vermont but you can’t get Heady from where you live is like saying I never skied or tried maple syrup,” wrote a Facebook fan who goes by the name Ethan Allen. “It just ain’t right.”
