Brewery aims for fall opening

Upstate fledgling brewery Birds Fly South Ale Project has landed. The startup’s owner announced he will set up his brewery in a former cotton warehouse at 1320 Hampton Avenue Extension in Greenville.

The 9,000-square-foot space near the Greenville Health System Swamp Rabbit Trail already features sturdy wooden pillars and exposed brick. It will house a tasting room with roll-up doors, a stage for live music and brewery space, said brewer and owner Shawn Johnson. After renovations, roughly 6,500 square feet will be used, he said.

In addition to the 49-seat indoor tasting room, the brewery will offer approximately 2,000 square feet of outdoor seating. The industrial metal façade will soon be removed and replaced with a modern mix of wood and metal, he said.

Johnson’s brewery focuses on farmhouse-style beers created using open fermentation and barrel aging. Part of the building’s second floor will be removed, creating upstairs access so customers can look down into the barrel storage room and brewery space, Johnson said.

Work on the building is set to begin in February with an anticipated opening date between August and October, he said. Until then, Birds Fly South will be participating in multiple events, including a tasting fundraiser for its glassware at the new location in late January, he said.