(Photo above: Three Creeks Employees Amber Dean & Jason Huber pouring Three Creeks Brew | by Heidi Hauser)
Last month Three Creeks Brewing Company in Sisters, Oregon celebrated the expansion of their production facility in the industrial park in Sisters. The increased facility is expected to increase capacity to 16,000 barrels annually. Three Creeks Brewing also hopes to triple the jobs at the facility.
The party opened with a ribbon cutting for the new facility. The over 350 people who attended the celebration were treated to tours of the brewery, beer tastings, appetizers and live music by Greg Botsford. Three Creeks Brewing showcased 12oz cans of their Knotty Blonde, Hoodoo Voodoo IPA and Chocolate Porter as well as TenPine Chocolate Porter and Stampede Ale from their limited release Desperado Series.
Initial planning for the expansion began in 2013 as they searched for options to help meet demand for their beer. The new 30-barrel facility increases capacity by 7,000 barrels in their 9,000 square foot building. They brewed their first batch out of the new facility in December 2014.
“The Brewpub will have more opportunities to create new and innovative beers while the expansion will help meet the pent-up demand experienced by the original 10-barrel system while maintaining the highest quality, great tasting beer,” says Heidi Hausner of Three Creeks Brewing Company.
Three Creeks Brewing began as a Sisters, Oregon brewpub in 2008 on the Five Pine Campus, just off Highway 20. It is owned by a small group of private investors with Wade Underwood the largest shareholder and general manager. As popularity for the brewpub rose and demand for the beer increased, the brewery sought to open a new production facility in the Sisters Industrial Park.
One challenge to increase beer production was the Sisters’ waste-water treatment system not being prepared for a large micro-brew production facility. However, Three Creeks Brewing made a significant investment to purchase new aeration equipment for the wastewater lagoons, thus allowing for increased production. Underwood sought help from Economic Development for Central Oregon to identify tax incentives and pitch the new facility plan to the town of Sisters.
“Having EDCO on our team made the entire process less time consuming and frustrating,” says Underwood.“This is what EDCO does every day for growing businesses like Three Creeks Brewing.”
The increased production capabilities will allow Three Creeks Brewing to expand its operations and sell their beer nationwide. This will grow its market share in the popular craft beer industry, and provide jobs and infrastructure to Sisters. Three Creeks Brewing Company’s beers are currently available throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington. In the near term, they plan to expand further into Washington and Idaho.
Three Creeks Brewing Company
Brewpub – 721 Desperado Court, Sisters
Production Facility – 265 E. Barclay Drive, Sisters
www.threecreeksbrewing.com
President: Wade Underwood (general manager)
Employees: 45
Established: Brewpub – 2008. Production Facility – 2014
Service: Craft brewery brews five year round beers available on tap and in stores. Seasonal beers available in their brewpub which serves lunch and dinner.
Hot News: Recent expansion of production facility expected to triple production facility jobs.
Outlook for Growth: New expansion will allow Three Creeks Brewery to sell their beer nationwide.
