Fonta Flora Expansion Plans

Discussion in 'South Atlantic' started by inspektor, Mar 22, 2016.

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  1. inspektor

    inspektor Pundit (998) Jun 20, 2009 North Carolina
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    fontaflorabrewAfter more than two years of crafting beer in a tiny building in downtown Morganton, we are damn pleased to officially announce our expansion plan and vision.
    Although it has taken the better part of a year, a unique partnership with@foothillsofnc has allowed us to secure one of the most scenic and historic pieces of property in Burke County. Nestled at the foot of the Linville Gorge, we have acquired 8 acres of land, adorned with historic stone barns that use to house Whippoorwill Dairy Farm.
    A 4,500 square foot stone barn will serve as the main production facility for all brewing and packaging operations. With plans to install a 15Bbl brewing system, acompanied by 30Bbl fermentation and aging vessels, this will allow us to produce roughly 2,500Bbl's in our first year in operation, which quadruples our current production capacity. The smaller barns will eventually serve as a barrel/bottle cellar and a traditional coolship building will allow us to continue down the path of creating our distinct Appalachian Wild Ales.
    In keeping with our brewing philosophy of utilizing local agriculture into our craft beers, we plan to cultivate the land through annual gardens and a pernennial hop yard and orchards. We will plant harder-to-find fruit trees such as paw paw fruit, persimmons, figs and elderberries to help us craft beers with a true sense of place. In addition, brewing adjuncts such as carrots, beets, fennel and bloody butcher corn will all come from the property.
    To tie all of this together and to give everyone goosebumps, this land is situated in the original valley, on the banks of the Linville River, where the Fonta Flora settlement existed more than a century ago.
    In two short years, all of you wonderful people made our craft beer vision a thriving reality. From the locals of this rad and growing Morganton community to all of you folks who travel many miles to try our beer, this expansion is possible because of you. #localculture#localagriculture
     
    #1 inspektor, Mar 22, 2016
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  2. DontTellMom

    DontTellMom Initiate (0) Mar 1, 2016 North Carolina

    [​IMG]
    ^Another image posted to FF's Instagram this AM, interior of building.




    [​IMG]
    ^ Exterior of building(s), with a glimpse of the view looking northward into Linville Gorge. Main barn is at the far-left of this picture.
     
    #2 DontTellMom, Mar 22, 2016
    Last edited: Mar 22, 2016
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  3. NoMoreBeerBelly

    NoMoreBeerBelly Pundit (825) Dec 2, 2009 North Carolina

    #3 NoMoreBeerBelly, Mar 22, 2016
    Last edited: Mar 22, 2016
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  4. Mtbtrev

    Mtbtrev Initiate (0) Feb 26, 2015 North Carolina

    That looks awesome, I can't wait!
     
    #4 Mtbtrev, Mar 22, 2016
  5. CavemanRamblin

    CavemanRamblin Initiate (0) Jun 19, 2014 North Carolina

    Bad ass!
     
    #5 CavemanRamblin, Mar 22, 2016
  6. twowheelssoar

    twowheelssoar Pundit (806) Jul 28, 2009 North Carolina

    This is so amazing.
     
    #6 twowheelssoar, Mar 22, 2016
  7. Crim122

    Crim122 Initiate (0) Aug 4, 2014 North Carolina

    Oh thats pretty. I wonder If they'll have a tap room out there or if it will remain where its at now.
     
    #7 Crim122, Mar 22, 2016
  8. KRubes

    KRubes Savant (1,183) Sep 7, 2014 North Carolina
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    Big for the region and big for the state. Congrats, @HopBeard and the FF crew!
     
    #8 KRubes, Mar 22, 2016
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  9. CavemanRamblin

    CavemanRamblin Initiate (0) Jun 19, 2014 North Carolina

    It says right at the end of that article @NoMoreBeerBelly posted "with plans for a tasting room on the horizon" for what that's worth.
     
    #9 CavemanRamblin, Mar 22, 2016
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  10. DontTellMom

    DontTellMom Initiate (0) Mar 1, 2016 North Carolina

    A few more images I was able to grab off Google Streetview. I cannot wait to spend evenings and weekends out here.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    #10 DontTellMom, Mar 22, 2016
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  11. aleckpa

    aleckpa Initiate (0) Dec 20, 2010 North Carolina

    This is such exciting news for everyone at Fonta Flora. They have worked so hard over the past 2 years, always took care of the consumer, and made contributions to the local community. I look forward to what the future brings for them.
     
    #11 aleckpa, Mar 22, 2016
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  12. The_Kings_Thirst

    The_Kings_Thirst Initiate (0) Sep 4, 2015 North Carolina

    Their current location/taproom is one of favorites among NC breweries. I'm sure this place will be righteous once completed.
     
    #12 The_Kings_Thirst, Mar 23, 2016
  13. NoMoreBeerBelly

    NoMoreBeerBelly Pundit (825) Dec 2, 2009 North Carolina

    Fast forward a year: I ran a trail race out at the new location for Fonta Flora at the Whippoorwil Dairy Farm...let's just say it isn't quite ready to start brewing yet.

    The main barn which was supposed to house the brewhouse has been torn down and the original stones moved into a pile. A new gravel foundation is all that remains on that spot. From what I overheard, they are having rebuild the barn (re-using the original stone). From what I could gather, no work on the other stone buildings were done and they were in pretty rough shape as well. I saw a few weeks ago they got the brewhouse delivered via Instagram so I thought they were really close to opening. Hopefully rebuilding the barn doesn't take too long and they can start installing the brewhouse.

    It's a great spot thought. Trails leading into Lake James State park being right on the property. Huge field/parking lot. We had 200 runners and no problem parking all in a small section of field. It's really out there in the middle of no-where though. 25min from Morganton and about 15min off I-40. If/when they get a tasting room open (due to the backwards county beer laws) this will be an outdoorsman's dream brewery. Hike out of Linville Gorge or after an afternoon on the lake and enjoy a couple pints miles away from city life.

    Maybe @HopBeard or @WanderFlora will chime in with an update, but I believe some of the assholes chased them off BA after the AWAS offering.
     
    #13 NoMoreBeerBelly, Apr 25, 2017
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  14. Crim122

    Crim122 Initiate (0) Aug 4, 2014 North Carolina

    #14 Crim122, Oct 19, 2017
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  15. Crim122

    Crim122 Initiate (0) Aug 4, 2014 North Carolina



    HYPED
     
    #15 Crim122, Aug 31, 2018
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