Napa Smith Brewery prepares to open Vallejo, Tennessee facilities

Napa Smith Brewery is expanding, preparing to open production facilities in Vallejo and Tennessee.

The move allows the company to more than double capacity and giving it the ability to reach all 50 U.S. states and multiple overseas countries.

The Vallejo brewery is expected to open in January 2017 at 101 Yolano Dr., according to Mike Forte, director of operations.

Napa Smith has also entered into a cooperative partnership with Turtle Anarchy Brewing Company in Nashville, Tenn.

The growth is part of a long-term plan to maintain quality and freshness standards at the south Napa brewery. It’s located at the intersection of highways 29 and 12, commonly referred to as the “gateway to Napa Valley.”

The two new facilities are Napa Smith’s first breweries outside of Napa. R.S. Lipman Company, the parent company of Napa Smith, said current production is maxed out, substantiating the need for growth.

Through its collaboration with Turtle Anarchy Brewing Company and Hap & Harry’s Tennessee Beers, Napa Smith Brewery is said to become the smallest independent bicoastal operation in North America producing kegs, cans and bottles for national and international distribution.

Napa Smith is among a handful of U.S. craft brewers, including Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Stone Brewing Co., and New Belgium Brewing Co., expanding in a major play for national and international business.

The new breweries will offer the full line of Napa Smith’s core beers, developed by master brewer Don Barkley. Both new breweries will also offer taproom-only specialties based on seasonality and brewers’ innovations.

“It’s exciting to see the explosion of craft beer across the United States,” Barkley said. “Working with other brewers to expand and promote good beer is a joy. There aren’t too many careers that span 40 years and culminate in this fashion. I feel very fortunate to be a part of Napa Smith’s plans for expansion.”