Sound Brewery to get more juice

Poulsbo City Council approved a new power line on Viking Avenue for Sound Brewery's expanded operation.

POULSBO — Sound Brewery is all set to grow its business and brew more beer, but it needs one thing to make the expansion happen.

Sound Brewery needs more juice for its brew.

Electricity available at the brewery’s new center of operations — the former Clark’s Auto & Diesel Repair on Viking Avenue — is lacking. The brewery has expanded its business to the site, across the street from its original location on Bovela Lane. But the site does not have enough power to run Sound’s various brewing equipment.

City staff considered a few options to solve the issue, and settled on the installation of a new above-ground power line that will cross over Viking Avenue. Poulsbo’s City Council unanimously approved a new power line to the brewery’s building on March 5.

Placing the power line underground, another option, would come with a $50,000 price tag. The overhead power line comes in at around $35,000, not to mention the lesser impact on traffic along Viking Avenue, Jim Groh, a senior engineering tech told the council on March 5.

Sound Brewery is currently going through the permitting process to install the new power line that will extend from the east corner of Bovela Lane and Viking Avenue, and cross over to the west side of Viking Way to the new brewery.

“That’s the plan,” said Mark Hood, owner of Sound Brewery. “But it ain’t done until it’s done. (We’re) still going through inspections, etc.”

Sound Brewery initially attempted to purchase the former Courtesy Ford dealership in late 2013 and move its operation there. But the effort fell flat. With new equipment ready to brew, the small business opted to move into the former auto repair shop across the street.

“The new facility will be capable of doing eight to 10 times what (the old) one will, and will be brewing only,” Hood said.

The Sound Brewery tap room will still operate out of its original location on Bovela Lane. The brewing will take place across the street, and will allow the brewery to greatly expand its operation and produce more beer.

While the new location is good for now, Hood said he remains on the lookout for a better location.

“For at least the next year and a half we’ll be keeping the current brewery here, along with tasting room,” he said.

“Meanwhile, we’ll be looking for somewhere that could potentially house a brewpub with [a] smaller brewery, food, better parking, etc.”

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