ROGERS -- New Province Brewing Co. is set to be the newest addition to the brewery scene popping up in Rogers and across Northwest Arkansas.
The company was approved for a permit for a brewing and distilling operation in a commercial zone during a Planning Commission meeting Tuesday.
Derek McEnroe, co-owner of the company, said he plans to open the brewery and taproom this fall at 1310 W. Hudson Road. Ozark Beer Co. at 1700 S. First St. is the only brewery to operate in Rogers currently.
Russ Melton of the Arkansas Brewers Guild and president of Diamond Bear Brewing Co. said there are about 30 breweries statewide. That has increased from about six in the state several years ago, he said.
"There has been an explosion," Melton said. "Northwest Arkansas has jumped in there. Central Arkansas has picked up as well."
McEnroe said the New Province brewery will offer four beers when it opens. Seasonal and one-time release beers will be offered throughout the year, he said.
A 2,200-square-foot taproom will be included on site, McEnroe said.
"We are spending a bit of time developing the taproom atmosphere," McEnroe said. "It is going to be a little bigger than some of the other breweries in the region right now."
McEnroe said he and his wife, Megan, knew they wanted to start the brewery in either Rogers or Bentonville.
"We want to cater more toward the professional crowd versus the college crowd," McEnroe said. "We also really like the development going on in both areas."
The struggle was finding a warehouse near retail businesses, McEnroe said. He said they found that at the Hudson Road location.
"We didn't want to be in middle of some warehouse district buried on some back road," McEnroe said. "We wanted to be there for people who are driving by on their way home from work."
McEnroe said the plan is to slowly expand the business. He said they hope to brew 500 to 1,000 barrels in the first year and distribute the beer to local restaurants and bars. The long-term plan could include expanding statewide.
Andy Coates, co-owner of Ozark Beer Co., said his company opened in November 2013. It was the first brewery to open in Benton County after repeal of a law that kept the county dry, he said. The company is primarily focused on distribution, he said.
The business has expanded more quickly than expected, Coates said. It started with brewing 1,400 barrels of beer the first year. It has doubled capacity since, he said.
"Our second year we will be hitting our four to five year production numbers," Coates said.
Coates said he is happy to welcome more brewers to the region.
"The more the merrier," Coates said. "Most craft customers are not loyal so the more choices we have the better off we are. People now are visiting breweries are usually visiting more than one."
NW News on 05/21/2015