Back Forty Beer expanding Gadsden facility

Gadsdens Back Forty Beer Co. broke ground Monday on what company officials describe as “an ambitious expansion project.”  According to David Carn, the company’s business development manager, Back Forty is excavating a portion of its building at 200 N. Sixth St. to accommodate larger fermenting vessels. The project was fast-tracked for completion this summer to address increased demand.  Cam said they will also be installing a new bottling line and some additional equipment both on the production floor and in their quality control lab.  When completed, the project will effectively double their capacity and significantly reduce turnaround times.  Back Forty opened in 2009 and released its first beer, Naked Pig Pale Ale, that year.  It began local production in January 2012 in a 27,000-square-foot, 1940s vintage warehouse in downtown Gadsden. Production has tripled since then, as Back Forty has become Alabama’s largest brewer.