Wasserhund Brewing Company Approved for Investment Grant

Wasserhund Brewing Company Approved for Investment Grant

December 20, 2018

Virginia Beach, Va. (Dec. 20, 2018) — A trip to Germany changed everything for Virginia Beach couple Aaron and Christine Holley.

The Holleys grew up in Virginia Beach. They attended Kellam High School and Virginia Tech before Aaron went on to serve in the U.S. Navy and Christine became an engineer in the semiconductor manufacturing industry. They were beer-brewing hobbyists until a 2012 trip to Germany led the couple to move back from Northern Virginia and establish the Wasserhund Brewing Company at 1805 Laskin Rd. A specialty brewery focusing on bringing German beer culture to Virginia Beach, the business is set to expand for the second time since its 2015 inception. The Virginia Beach Economic Development Authority approved a $10,000 Economic Development Investment Program (EDIP) grant to assist with costs of expansion and equipment purchases.

"We saw an opportunity in this competitive industry to bring high-quality German-style brewing here and give it a Beach kick," said Christine Holley. "The response has been incredibly gratifying. This grant is enabling us to continue to grow our business on several fronts: manufacturing, distribution, retail brewery and restaurant."

The company expanded its manufacturing capacity last year and began distributing to restaurants, grocery stores, bottle shops, military package stores and venues like the Virginia Beach Amphitheater. It currently has placements in Food Lion, Total Wine, 7-11 and some Kroger stores. The next phase of expansion will allow them to increase taproom space for customers, create an outdoor area that allows patrons to bring dogs and increase brewing capabilities (barrel aging and sour program) and beer offerings.

"Wasserhund is the kind of business the EDIP was designed to assist," said Economic Development Business Development Manager Letitia Langaster. "The City Council put the program in place 25 years ago to help qualifying companies with their growth needs. Wasserhund has demonstrated its ability to expand while maintaining its unique style and high-quality products."

For more information about the EDIP, visit www.yesvirginiabeach.com/Business-Environment/incentives/Pages/economic-development-investment-program.aspx.

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