Piney River Brewing Co. Expands
From homebrewing to opening a 10-gallon nanobrewery to expanding to a current 10,000-barrel capacity, Joleen and Brian Durham of Piney River Brewing Co. have grown steadily since launching five years ago.
The Durhams knew from the get-go they needed to give visitors a reason to make the gravel-road trek to their microbrewery in Bucyrus, Missouri, in the heart of the Ozarks. Their solution: converting the 1930s-era bright-red barn on the property into the BARn, a 4,000-square-foot taproom and deck. At the BARn, patrons can listen to live music, snack on eats from food trucks and vendors, and, most importantly, sip Piney River’s flagship beers, which include Float Trip Ale, Black Walnut Wheat and Old Town Porter, plus seasonals like a sweet potato ale, a black rye IPA and a cream ale.
In addition to the brewery’s fifth anniversary, February also marked the grand opening of Piney River’s largest expansion to date – a new 12,000-square-foot production facility was added on the farm. The custom-built, 15-barrel brewhouse houses 64-barrel fermentation vessels, Brite tanks and canning equipment, although the brewery has been canning on site since 2011 and was the first microbrewery in the state to do so.
Piney River hopes to produce 4,000 barrels in 2016 – which would more than double its 2015 numbers – and the expansion allows the Durhams to eventually grow to 10,000 barrels. Its beers are available across the Ozarks, southern Missouri and in the St. Louis area, and the Durhams hope to reach Kansas City stores this fall. (Photo by Brooke Hamilton)
Piney River Brewing Co., 15194 Walnut Grove, Bucyrus, Missouri, 417.967.4001, pineyriverbrewing.com
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