A month after announcing plans to build a full-scale facility in Asheville, NC, American yeast production company White Labs has finalized an agreement to occupy space at WarPigs brewpub in Copenhagen, Denmark’s meat packing district. A joint venture between Danish gypsy brewing interest Mikkeller and Munster, Indiana-based 3 Floyds Brewing Co., WarPigs is currently under construction and scheduled to open for business in the second quarter of 2015. Once complete, it will feature a small-scale, research and production laboratory managed by White Labs head of research and development Troels Prahl.
“White Labs has a strong history of symbiotic relationships with breweries,” says White Labs CEO Chris White. “We love being right where it’s at and in 2015 that will be at WarPigs.”
“I am greatly looking forward to collaborating with White Labs,” says WarPigs head brewer Kyle Wolak. “It is an extraordinary opportunity to expand my knowledge of yeast and its vital role in the brewing process.”
Establishing an outpost in Europe will allow White Labs to further tap into its customer base and expose brewers, vintners and distillers at both professional and recreational levels to its product line. This includes PurePitch yeast created without ever being exposed to the environment courtesy of the company’s patented FlexCell technology. White Labs’ product line has been available in Europe since the company’s 1995 debut. Yeast supply produced at WarPigs is expected to be available starting in the third quarter of 2015.
Brandon Hernández is an award-winning San Diego-based beer and food journalist who regularly contributes to national and regional publications. He is a columnist for Celebrator Beer News, Pacific San Diego, Ranch & Coast, SIP California, The San Diego Reader and West Coaster, author of the Complete Guide to San Diego Breweries, founder of the “Beer to the Rescue” campaign benefitting the Lupus Foundation of Southern California, Senior Communications Specialist for Stone Brewing Co., and a former consultant to Food Network and Zagat. Follow him on Twitter via @sdbeernews and @offdutyfoodie.