The Mountain Xpress has it:
The 35,000-square-foot building at 37 N. Lexington Avenue in downtown Asheville was recently purchased for $2.6 million by Cleo River, LLC. And the adjoining Lexington Avenue Brewery plans to lease space in the building to expand operations, reports co-owner Steve Wilmans.
The massive, four-story space, situated between The LAB and Tops for Shoes, has been sitting unused for years. Previously it was the home of Daniels Graphics and Daniels Communications. Renovating the building has the potential to transform that downtown block.
The immensely-popular LAB plans to use the space to house new fermenting tanks and cold storage, among other operating equipment, says Wilmans.
That’s quite a move for a business that is just coming up on its one-year anniversary in beer-loving Asheville. But there’s no doubt that Wilmans and his partner have been successful with the LAB. It’s also clear that they have the cash and the ambition to grow the Lexington Avenue Brewery into a major operation that would produce and distribute their beers, much as Highland Brewing does today.
13 Comments
I tried the French Broad Kolsch last night and really liked it. Good work!
I do like a good Kolsch, so I'll give it a shot. I got burnt out fast with 13 Rebels, which seemed to be the only kegs at friends' parties for years.
Hmm, French Broad makes some of the lightest beers in town, with the exception of Wee Heavier. Have you not tried the Kolsch? One of the best locally brewed beers currently…
I cannot drink beer from the LAB, Highlands or French Broad. However, I don't think the problem is them… it's that my taste buds have changed. I have gravitated from heavier hoppier beers to lagers, pilsners, wheat, etc. If memory serves it takes longer to make the lighter beers, so I'll look forward to drinking at the LAB again after the expansion.
Spent some time with the LAB owner and head brewer this weekend. The extra space will allow them time to let some beers mature and free up space for new beer ideas. It's a good thing.
The LAB's chocolate stout is the only good beer they have made. They diddnt do so well with their other beers when your ipa apa and blonde all taste the same something is not right. Those last three beers are bland and unimaginative!
LAB beer is absolutely the worst beer in asheville. they desperately need a new brewmaster and new recipes. i am for the first time ever returning a keg from an event practically untouched of LAB beer while the other 2 local beers are both dead empty. i think that says more than anything…
LAB beer is great and I can't wait until they have the fermentation space to turn out seasonal styles and Ben's signature lagers.
Highland may not have a whole lot of imagination with their line of beers, but they're the most stable, consistent product brewed locally. A lot of that has to do with the fact that they filter and have a world-class brewing operation, whereas breweries like the Lab and especially Pisgah (whose beers seem to have gone downhill quite a bit) are unfiltered and would never hold up beyond the limited range of our immediate market.
Why can't we all just like what we like without having to slam what we don't like? Call me corny, but you don't need to blow out my candle so yours can burn brighter. More candles means more light for us all, right? (Okay… so that was definitely corny, but you get the point.)
What's wrong with your taste buds? LAB has some of the best beer in Asheville especially the LAB's Chocolate Stout. If Highland can market their crappy beer, I am sure the LAB will do well.
Nice space, and nice venue. Too bad their beer is not very good. Or to be fair, no where near the quality of Wedge, Green Man, Pisgah…
The Lab makes beer that is passable for their non-discerning clientele, but it's doubtful it would hold up in the greater market… these additions are most likely just a way for them to keep up with in-house demand.