Deschutes Brewery establishing brewery in Roanoke

Roanoke has landed a coveted craft brewery project.

After exploring hundreds of locations over the last two years, Oregon-based Deschutes Brewery said on Tuesday that it will invest $85 million to establish its Eastern U.S. brewery in Roanoke. The project is expected to create 108 new jobs. 

Gov. Terry McAuliffe approved a $3 million grant from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund for the project.

Virginia competed against North Carolina and South Carolina.

Deschutes is a family and employee-owned brewery founded in 1988. It ships beer to 28 states, the District of Columbia, and around the world from its main brewing facility on the banks of the Deschutes River.

The brewery was No.8 on the Brewers Association’s latest list of the Top 50 U.S. Craft Brewing Companies by sales volume. Deschutes’ beers include Fresh Squeezed IPA, Black Butte Porter and Mirror Pond Pale Ale.

Michael LaLonde, president of Deschutes Brewery, said it was difficult to choose a brewery location, but the company was excited to be heading to Roanoke.

“We have absolutely been blown away with how the community rallied around bringing us here and has given us such a warm welcome,” he said in a statement.

In addition to the $3 million grant, the company is eligible to receive funding from the Economic Development Access Program, as well as state benefits from the Virginia Enterprise Zone Program.

Deschutes also will be eligible to receive up to a $250,000 grant from the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund (AFID), depending on its procurement and use of Virginia grown products in its operations.

Funding and services to support the company’s employee training activities will be provided through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program.