For most brick-and-mortar retailers, visibility to remain top-of-mind is at the forefront of operational decisions. Not so for microbreweries. In fact, it’s not as much about where a brewery is located as it is about how it is designed. For this still fairly young industry, brewery architecture and design are nearly as important as the beer itself. Microbreweries are quickly taking the Southeast by storm as places to taste and enjoy a fine beverage, as well as spend an enjoyable afternoon or evening. With so many intricate design components within often-limited budgets, this kind of project can be a perfectly alluring (and appetizing) challenge for an architect. Critical to the success of creating the ideal atmosphere and experience for a microbrewery is partnering with an architectural and design firm that understands the business to ensure the building ultimately supports current and future operations and growth. And, with fermenters and grain rooms in the mix, the design is quite unique to other commercial and even industrial spaces. Microbrewery operators must have space for two (possibly three) components: production, event space and now retail sales, an emerging third element for states like Georgia with new alcohol sales laws. The production space must …
