Three Floyds Looking To Expand Brewery And Add Distillery

By Chuck Sudo in Food on Feb 3, 2014 7:30PM

Photo credit: Bridget Houlihan

Area beer geeks could be in a total meltdown with news that Three Floyds is looking to double the size of its brewing operations and possibly add a distillery to its operations.

The brewery recently purchased property north of its current Munster brewhouse and pub that could allow it to expand in size to 56,000 square feet. Part of a $7.5 million project, it would include a bottling and packaging line, a tasting room, warehouse and basement storage space and a workout facility for Three Floyds employees to work off all those calories they gain tasting beer much of their workdays.

Here’s the kicker: Three Floyds would also add a distillery to their operations so that they can begin making craft whiskeys and other spirits. This is a beautiful idea given the popularity of small batch distilleries these days and how the Midwest is fast becoming a hotspot for them. If you’ve ever waited six hours for Dark Lord imagine the lines that could possibly form for a Three Floyds whiskey.

The project isn’t fully green-lighted yet. Three Floyds is seeking a five-year tax abatement on a graduated scale as part of the plan. Given the good will—;and revenue—Three Floyds has produced with the city of Munster over the years there’s a more than solid chance they’ll get it.

The announcement couldn't come at a better time. Three Floyds has lobbied Indiana state representatives for years to increase their brewing capacity as demand for their beer has outstripped supply. Distribution of their beers has long been an issue and Three Floyds has placed limits on the number of cases they'll sell retail to customers at the brewpub so that they can honor their retail accounts. The expansion would allow them to meet the demand for distribution and for folks visiting the brewpub.

Major expansion brewing at Three Floyds. [Times of Northwest Indiana]