Clark Lewey is an ambitious guy. It kind of goes without saying when you’re the co-owner of a regional beer empire.

On the heels of moving into a new 52,000-square-foot brewery in Decorah last year, Toppling Goliath Brewing Company, owned by Lewey and his wife, Barbara, is considering expansions both at home and farther out West.

In an interview with the Register, Lewey said the brewery is considering the idea of building a distillery on its 15-acre campus in Decorah and a satellite brewery in Washington state.

“I do have a lot of plans,” he said.

More:How Iowa's Toppling Goliath became a must-stop destination for craft beer fanatics

Toppling Goliath worked to help pass legislation this year that allows Iowa beer producers to make and sell distilled spirits. Gov. Kim Reynolds signed the bill into law in May at Toppling Goliath.

Toppling Goliath wants to make its own line of spirits, including bourbon, whiskey and “clear” spirits. It would also streamline the brewery’s barrel-aging process by having whiskey barrels on site.

The brewery brews more than 35 beers, some of which are considered among the best on the planet.

Marketing Director Sarah Hedlund said there’s still much to do before Toppling Goliath spirits become a reality. The most significant steps include hiring more staff, expanding the brewery and ordering the necessary distilling equipment.

“Craft spirits have a great growth trajectory, and that’s something that’s always been very interesting for (brewmaster) Mike (Saboe) and myself,” Lewey said.

Julia Herz, the craft beer program director for the Brewers Association, said more craft breweries are diversifying their products because of the competition in the beverage market.

More:Meet the Iowa woman who names your favorite Toppling Goliath brews and designs the cans

"Craft brewers are selling everything ... not just craft beer, but barbecue and chapstick and soap and candles, too," she said.

Lewey, who founded the brewery 10 years ago, said the Iowa law change puts the distilling operation ahead of plans to expand in Washington state, but, he points out, other craft brewers like Sierra Nevada, Ballast Point and Lagunitas have all opened additional breweries and taprooms beyond their original locations.

A Washington location would “springboard” distribution in Western states, he said, and it could attract talent that the brewery could bring back to Decorah.

“We think our beer would do really well there, and also we’d really enjoy making beer within those markets,” he said.

Austin Cannon covers the city of Des Moines for the Register. Reach him at awcannon@registermedia.com or 515-284-8398. Your subscription makes work like this possible. Subscribe today at DesMoinesRegister.com/Deal.