Asheville's French Broad Brewing purchased by Chapel Hill couple

Mackensy Lunsford | The Citizen-Times

ASHEVILLE - French Broad Brewing Co., founded in 2001, is under new ownership.

Paul and Sarah Casey, a husband-and-wife team from Chapel Hill, finalized the purchase June 1. The Caseys do not plan to relocate to Asheville.

"We're Chapel Hill people," Paul Casey told the Citizen-Times in a phone conversation from his backyard.

But over the next 6-8 months, he'll be making the journey at least once a week to get a feel for how his new business is running, he said.

Casey admitted he has much to learn about the beer industry, though he brings sales, marketing and management experience to the table from his 22 years with Quintiles, a global research organization for the health care industry.

He also brings capital, which he intends to inject into his new brewery to help it stay competitive in a hot Asheville market.

"We believe French Broad belongs in the conversation about breweries in Asheville," he said. "We just need to do a few things to make sure we’re part of that conversation.”

French Broad Brewing, he said, had gotten away from producing seasonal and one-off brews.

“And some of that was due to the financial situation they found themselves in," he said. "To be relevant in the beer community, and in Asheville at large, you need to be somewhat innovative."

It's innovation that attracted Casey to the beer business in the first place, he said.

"By all admission, I am not a beer guy," he said. "I don’t homebrew or mess around with beers in my basement, but I certainly like to drink it."

But he was attracted to the thriving brewery scene in Asheville, enlisting a broker to secure a piece of it.

He pursued French Broad Brewing, best known for its Gateway Kölsch, 13 Rebels ESB and Wee Heavy-er Scotch Style Ale. Thirsty Monk founder Barry Bialik was at one time also working to secure the brewery.

As the new owner, Casey said he'll grow the French Broad brand and portfolio, and work to update the taproom with new bathrooms, a reconfigured entryway and perhaps a rollup garage door for airflow and light.

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Meanwhile, the brewery will retain its management team, who will continue to produce beer to fill demand.

"It's a good team with historical knowledge of the brewery and the industry," Casey said. "Those guys know a lot of people, and that’s a positive."



Kendra Penland, executive director of the Asheville Brewer's Alliance, noted in a news release French Broad’s legacy status as one of the founding members of the ABA.

"They are a vital part of our community and with new ownership, they will continue to honor their heritage and also be in a better position to expand with the craft brewing scene,” she said.



More about French Broad Brewery at FrenchBroadBrewery.com.