Bellwether Brewing Co., a Spokane brewery specializing in old-world ales and Northwest beers, says it’s working to expand brewing capacity at its 2019 N. Monroe location next month.
Thomas Croskrey and Dave Musser co-own Bellwether Brewing, which they opened in 2015. Until recently, Musser says, the business had been leasing 2,400 square feet of space in the building.
“We bought the building and the back lot in February, and since then, we’ve been working to renovate the new space and make use of all 5,100 square feet,” he says.
Musser says the renovation primarily is designed to give the business more space for brewing.
“Our biggest thing right now is adding to production, as we finally have enough space,” he says. “Our tasting room will stay where it is, but we’ll be adding more seating and possibly room for putting in a kitchen in the future.”
Musser estimates that the brewery has been making about 45 gallons of beer at a time, but with the added equipment and a 10-barrel system, it will be capable of making around 310 gallons at once.
He says the brewery also is working to partner with Seattle-based Westland Distillery on a barrel aging program.
“They send us barrels, which we use for beer, and once those are empty, we pass them back and Westland uses them for whiskey,” he says.
Besides its co-owners, Musser says the business currently has four part-time employees, but likely will need to hire one more full-time, outside salesperson as part of the expansion.