Chris Sikich

chris.sikich@indystar.com

Following explosive growth during its first five years in business, Sun King plans to open a $10 million production facility and taproom along I-69 in Fishers.

In an exclusive interview with The Indianapolis Star, co-owner Omar Robinson detailed plans to build a 40,000-square-foot facility with a large canning line, indoor tap room and outdoor beer garden.

"This brewery will have a whole different feel," Robinson said. "We'll have enough room outside to do some pretty cool events, like an Oktoberfest, with room for 3,000 people outside, plus food trucks and Sun King beer trucks."

The Fishers Town Council will consider a resolution at 7 p.m. Aug. 18 allowing Sun King to negotiate with town officials on tax incentives. Both Sun King and Fishers want to fast-track the project. The Indiana Economic Development Corp. also has offered Sun King up to $450,000 in conditional grants and tax credits.

Town Manager Scott Fadness said the vision for the brewery is "quite extraordinary" and would have a $19.5 million annual economic impact on the town.

"Having an entrepreneurial company like Sun King, which shares a lot of the same values as Fishers, affirms we are headed in the right direction as a community," Fadness said.

If ultimately approved by the town, construction could start as soon as this fall. Sun King hopes to begin pouring beers by July 2015.

Sun King kick started the craft beer boom in Indianapolis in 2009 when it opened the city's first production brewery in decades. Now, Sun King is the city's largest brewer and the state's second-largest behind Munster-based 3 Floyds.

The brewing business is growing fast. Craft beer sales are up 20 percent nationally to $14.3 billion in 2013. The Brewers Association estimates the impact in Indiana at $609 million. Indiana is among the fastest-growing states for the rise of craft breweries. About 15 brewers have opened or plan to open in the metro area alone this year.

Despite the increasingly crowded marketplace, Sun King remains the beer of choice for many Hoosiers, and Robinson says he just doesn't have the space Downtown to meet demand.

The size and scope of the Fishers brewery would give Sun King options it doesn't enjoy at its Downtown facility, where customers can only purchase carryout beer. Sun King plans to build the brewery on a nearly 13-acre location at Kincaid Drive and Park Central Drive just east of I-69 near the Roche Diagnostics headquarters.

According to Sun King, construction firm Thompson Thrift will coordinate and work with the Town of Fishers to develop a bike and running path to be installed along Kincaid Drive between 106th Street to the new brewery.

Robinson says Sun King will have the space to build a large production facility to can and keg beer, plus a tap room that can serve up to 400 customers, folks who can buy a pint and order from food trucks parked outside. The brewery also will feature a beer garden and set aside additional space for large beer festivals and a hops garden.

Sun King would hire up to 35 full-time equivalent employees to staff the new facility, according to town officials. The brewery currently has 54 full-time and 60 part-time employees. By 2019, Sun King plans to have hired 55 total positions.

Sun King has no plans to close its Downtown brewery at 135 N. College Ave.

Robinson said the Downtown location will continue to serve carryout beer. In fact, pending zoning approval, he plans to give the building a face-lift later this year with work by a local artist, including a mural of the city's skyline, hops vines and an Osiris can pouring out beer.

Robinson also has a healthy financial incentive to operate two breweries.

Indiana state law restricts a single facility from producing more than 30,000 barrels of beer for in-state distribution. Sun King is on pace to produce 28,000 barrels this year and projects to reach at least 40,000 next year. Because the new facility will operate under a new federal brewing permit, Sun King will effectively double its brewing capacity.

Demand has been so high that the company couldn't fill orders in July from distributors outside of Indianapolis and surrounding counties. An additional six 60-barrel fermenters have been ordered for delivery this fall and winter. According to Robinson, this expansion will "max out" brewing capacity at Sun King's Downtown site on College Avenue.

By operating two facilities that each could produce up to 30,000 barrels of beer under state law, Robinson said Sun King could meet demand for the foreseeable future.

Sun King, as has been the case since it opened, has no plans to distribute beer outside of the state. Robinson often likens his brewery to New Glarus, which sells more than 150,000 barrels of beer a year only in its home state of Wisconsin.

Sun King's new facility will brew and distribute the company's popular Sunlight Cream Ale, Osiris Pale Ale and Wee Mac Scottish-Style Ale. The Downtown facility will handle production for Sun King's seasonal and specialty beers, bourbon-barrel aged beers and sours.

Only 3 Floyds currently brews more beer in Indiana. The renowned Munster brewer is on pace to sell 40,000 barrels of beer this year and also is increasing the capacity at its brewery. 3 Floyds can brew more than 30,000 barrels under state law because it distributes its beer outside Indiana.

Sun King and 3 Floyds, regardless of their expansions, likely will ask lawmakers in 2015 to increase the amount of beer they can brew and distribute for in-state consumption.

Demand, they believe, will only continue to grow.

Call Star reporter Chris Sikich at (317) 444-6036. Follow him on Twitter: @ChrisSikich.