USA, NC: UpCountry Brewing Company ceases brewing in Asheville

A regional craft beer brewery is amid a downsizing that calls for the closure of one of its taprooms but the enhancement of its second, the Asheville Citizen-Times reported on May 3.

UpCountry Brewing Company has ceased brewing production at 1042 Haywood Road in West Asheville.

John Cochran, who opened the taproom in 2016, is seeking a new owner for the production brewery space.

“I had a granddaughter recently, and it’s been getting to a point where I’m like, ‘Hey, it’s time to have fun with this’ but I don’t want to get completely out of the business, so I’m selling the Asheville brewery,” Cochran said.

Cochran, who’s been in the craft beer industry since 1995, is set on improving the quality of the beer and his quality of life.

He’s downsizing, streamlining and simplifying the business by closing the Asheville brewery and focusing on the beer program for UpCountry’s taproom in Brevard.

The restructure is intended to bring the brewer back to what he loves to do ― make beer ―while providing an opportunity for a novice entrepreneur to move up in the brewing industry.

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