Firestone Walker Brewing Co. Expansions 1 and 2

Paso Robles, CA

With demand outgrowing their existing production capability, the Firestone Walker Brewing Company needed to expand quickly. The solution was a five-story steel tower housing a multiphase brewing process with state-of-the-art equipment supplied by a manufacturer out of Liechtenstein. Built on less than a 30-ft-square foundation, the new 60-ft-tall tower doubled the brewery's production volume once completed in 2012. This doubling of capacity facilitated development a new blonde ale named after their area code: 805.

The new 805 brew was wildly successful and became the No. 1 selling craft beer in California. More than half of the already-expanded facility's production was dedicated to 805, so ownership chose to expand once more. With limited space on site to build, the team decided to completely transform the five-story square tower into a curving dome-shaped facility with prominent glazing, giving drivers passing by on Highway 101 a peak into the brewing process.

The transformation involved retrofitting the tower’s original structural system from moment frames to braced frames, which allowed it to support a new 9,000 SF brew deck and basement by creating deflection compatibility. The basement was built at a floor elevation several feet lower than the existing facility, so a careful shoring solution was employed. Adding to the complication was that all work had to be done without disrupting production — a goal we are proud to have achieved. Please join us in raising a glass for these two successful projects that met all demands!