When we talk about the local beer scene, Lipman is usually mentioned as a major distributor of brands ranging from international favorites Chimay and Moretti to iconic American craft brews such as Sierra Nevada and Oskar Blues. Locally, they are the warehouser and distributor of Yazoo, Turtle Anarchy and Mayday. They also participate in several special brewing programs such as distributing Jubilee from Mayday, as well as Gerst and Hap and Harry's, which have been brewed by Yazoo.

While there may be some changes to those relationships (all for the better and all friendly transactions) which we'll cover later in this space, there's another major Lipman brewing development that has slipped underneat the radar. The Nashville-based distributor has been the owner of Napa Smith, the only brewery that actually operates within the boundaries of the Napa Valley. Located at the southern tip of the valley, Napa Smith has served more than 10 varieties of beer out of their cozy taproom.

The small brewery has national distribution, including a major presence at Walt Disney World, where their Pale Ale and IPAs help make the amusement park "the happiest place on earth" for adults, too. However, Lipman has discovered that at the current growth rate, production at Napa Smith is pretty much maxed out, and recently announced two major capacity expansions.

The first will be a new California brewing facility in Vallejo, just a short trip down Highway 29 from their Napa taproom. They have also entered in a partnership with Turtle Anarchy to brew Napa Smith beers at their new facility in West Nashville at 5901 California Ave. So I guess you could stretch it to say that Napa Smith now has three California breweries. Plans are to start brewing Napa Smith in Nashville by the end of July, and in Vallejo by the end of 2016.

The two additions will double Napa Smith's capacity to 150,000 cases, annually as well as giving them access to packaging capabilities in both cans and bottles. The official release contains an interesting description of the new arrangement creating the "smallest independent bicoastal operation in North America producing kegs, cans and bottles for national and international distribution," which at first blush is like bragging about being the smallest jumbo shrimp or the loudest whisperer.

But what it really means is that Lipman aspires to maintain the craft beer attitude that differentiates Napa Smith and Turtle Anarchy from the big boys in the industry, while at the same time leveraging the logistics benefits of a larger operation with multiple manufacturing and distribution hubs. Whether or not beer lovers will believe that Napa Smith will retain its "craft" status after this expansion is up to the brewers and their talent at making great beer. But based on the success of Napa Smith and their head brewer Don Barkley, and the past success of the team at Turtle Anarchy, I wouldn't bet against them.