ROANOKE, Va. — Deschutes Brewery announced Tuesday it would open an East Coast brewery in Roanoke, Virginia. The Oregon-based brewery also considered opening in North Carolina and South Carolina.
“After visiting several amazing communities over the past two years, we are very excited to be heading to Roanoke,” Michael LaLonde, president of Deschutes Brewery, said. “We love the region and everyone we’ve had the opportunity to meet and work with during this process has been incredible. We have absolutely been blown away with how the community rallied around bringing us here and has given us such a warm welcome. #Deschutes2Rke we’re on our way and proud to be able to now call Roanoke our second home.”
The opening of the brewery is expected to created more than 100 jobs.
“Virginia’s competitive bid for Deschutes Brewery’s coveted East Coast location was tireless and aggressive, and we are gratified that the company has chosen the City of Roanoke for this major operation,” Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe said after the announcement was made. “This is another high-profile win that shines a spotlight on the Commonwealth and reinforces that we are a leading state in the craft beer industry.”
Last year, California-based Stone Brewing announced it would open its East Coast brewery along the James River in Richmond.
OUTSIDE magazine named Deschutes Brewery one of the Best Places to Work.
Deschutes Brewery was founded in 1988 as a brew pub in Bend, Oregon. Still family and employee owned 28 years later, the brewery is known for brewing a diverse line-up of award winning beers including the popular Fresh Squeezed IPA, Black Butte Porter, and Mirror Pond Pale Ale. Deschutes Brewery now ships beer to 28 states, the District of Columbia, and around the world from its main brewing facility located on the banks of the Deschutes River.
“Roanoke is honored to be chosen as Deschutes Brewery’s East Coast location after a very thorough review of several communities in the Southeast,” Roanoke City Manager Chris Morrill said. “It is a company with a strong culture of community engagement, recognized for its craftsmanship and will be a perfect fit for Roanoke’s vibrant outdoor lifestyle. We are thrilled to welcome Deschutes to Virginia’s Blue Ridge as we continue to build a more diverse, resilient economy.”
