Ashland-based crafter brewers Center of the Universe Brewing Company have been busy over the last few months.
Ashland-based crafter brewers Center of the Universe Brewing Company have been busy over the last few months.
While the brewery only opened four years ago, the success of their beers like Ray Ray’s Pale Ale and Pocahoptas have lead the family-run brewery to expanding their production.
Part of their old taproom, designed by owners and “amateur architects” the Brother’s Ray, got swallowed up by their new canning machine. They needed new space to host casual drinkers and events. Sure enough that lead to them making some drastic changes.
“We put ourselves through about three and a half months of hell,” Chris Ray (pictured below), Co-founder Center of the Universe Brewing Company, said. They knocked down some walls, gutted what was their office space, and installed new bars at either end of the building.
“We still don’t have offices, but the taproom works just fine,” Ray joked.
The new space stretches from either end of the front-half of the building. It was designed by RVA-based architects ADO and mixes the brand’s space-aesthetic with the building’s industrial feel. Vaulted ceilings with exposed support beams match the simple blue planet mural to create a modern and inviting watering hole.
“We went through the self-architecture phase one time. There was chairs and there was beer but that was about it,” Ray joked. “We took our budget and did what we could with it.”
Now he thinks the new space is better utilized. A fancy sliding partition will allow for private events while regular costumers enjoy brews in the main tasting room.
CotU is holding an open house event tomorrow, Friday, July 29th from 11am-2pm. So come see the new room, meet and talk to with tasting room manager Tom Porter, and enjoy light refreshments.
Keep up with CotU Brewing on Facebook here.
