Business is hopping at Aurora’s one and only microbrewery, and city officials are beginning to take notice of the spirited success.
Dry Dock Brewing Co., located near the corner of South Chambers Road and East Hampden Avenue, has been steadily expanding its operations since opening in 2005.
The microbrewery recently opened up a new section for seating to accommodate its growing list of thirsty regulars.
The expansion more than doubles the capacity at the brewery, which doubles as a bar, going from 85 seats to 170, said Kevin DeLange, owner of Dry Dock Brewing Co.
“It’s grown pretty quickly,” said DeLange. “After getting the small-brewing-company-of-the-year award in 2009, it just exploded.”
The business started off as a small operation called the Brew Hut, primarily selling beer-making ingredients to local enthusiasts. DeLange started brewing up his signature beers in small batches before finally moving into a vacant space next door — what is now Dry Dock Brewing Co.
The success of the operation, however, comes with some limitations. DeLange hopes to one day expand even further to become a full-fledged production facility, meaning the brewery could begin bottling its beer and could potentially produce as many as 12,000 barrels each year.
At the current location, DeLange estimates the most they could produce is 3,000 barrels per year. And under the city’s current zoning code, the business would only be allowed to expand into a heavy industrial area within city limits.
“There’s very few spaces in Aurora we could expand, under the current zoning code,” DeLange said.
City officials, hoping to keep Dry Dock Brewing Co. and its revenues within city limits, are moving forward with a plan to make it easier for brew pubs and microbreweries to do business in Aurora. The City Council recently moved forward a proposal aimed at zoning regulations regarding brew pubs and microbreweries.
Under the city’s current code, zoning regulations exist for large-scale breweries, but not for the smaller beer-making operations. The proposal would allow for brew pubs in commercial and mixed-use zone districts, the same type of zoning reserved for restaurants. Microbreweries would be allowed as a conditional use in those districts, except for areas closest to residential neighborhoods.
The city is working closely with DeLange to help craft the zoning regulations.
“The city realized if we keep growing and going the way we are, that they want us to stay in Aurora,” DeLange said. “So I think the city has been really proactive on this. They’ve been really helpful.”
