Hardywood breaks ground on Goochland County Expansion

Phase one of a three part construction plan for Hardywood’s future destination brewery officially began with a groundbreaking ceremony at the heart of the brewery’s new home in Goochland County, Va. The first phase of the expansion, scheduled to open in spring 2017, will be nestled on 24 acres of land between West Creek Parkway and Tuckahoe Creek, featuring 27,500 sq. ft. of brewing and packaging facilities, a 7,150-sq-ft taproom and music venue, a private event loft, food truck plaza, bocce courts, a natural amphitheater and walking paths connecting to a planned creekside trail system.

A custom 60-barrel (bbl.) brewhouse and state of the art packaging equipment will allow Hardywood to increase brewing capacity from 15,000 bbls per year to more than 40,000 bbls per year, enabling expanded distribution beyond Virginia’s borders. Hardywood will continue to operate its current taproom and community event space in Richmond, with production in the city shifting more toward research, development and experimental projects.

“Our hope is to create a truly unforgettable brewery experience revolving around unique beers, live music and community engagement all among this beautiful setting here in West Creek,” Murtaugh explained to an enthusiastic crowd. ​​

McKay concluded: “Today marks the beginning of a new chapter for Hardywood. We can’t wait to become a cultural center in the heart of West Creek, a job creator, tax revenue generator and industrial utility user in Goochland County, a steward of environmentally conscious manufacturing, an even larger purchaser of Virginia agricultural products and a greater promoter of the notion that Virginia is for craft beer lovers.”