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WNC Business

Iron Key Brewing

Oct 04, 2022 09:16AM ● By Randee Brown

Chris Balliew and the team at Iron Key Brewing have created something unique for Columbus and Polk County. 

Their team of partners including Balliew, Dave Erb, and the late Bob Bundy came together with the idea of starting their own brewery. Just as their plans began in 2019, their challenges and obstacles increased due to the pandemic. Balliew remembered Bob saying that they could keep their plans on hold and have no revenue stream at all, or continue with plans to open and see what happens. 

Iron Key Brewing opted to move forward and opened in August 2020. As customers started coming in, the team kept up with and adhered to the mandates and regulations.

The brewery did shut down on occasion due to Covid. “If an employee was exposed, everyone had to test. If there were not enough people to work, we just closed. If that’s what it took to keep people in our community safe, that’s what we were going to do,” Balliew said. “We did have our doubts, but we kept on meandering with the restrictions as we kept pressing forward. This is our passion, and we weren’t just going to give up.”

When originally contemplating a location, Bundy discovered the old North Carolina State Prison built in 1932, formerly owned by the 4-H Club. After walking around for just an hour, Bob shared his vision and they started to move forward with the purchase of the property. “Bob was really the visionary of the whole operation,” Balliew said. “He had the ideas along with the drive to get things done.”

“The building still retains some of the feel of the old prison,” Balliew said. “You can see the old orange beams with holes where the iron bars once went into. The roof is original, and so are the windows. You can definitely tell that it’s an old jail.”

Master Brewer Erb and Brewer Autumn McCormack create brews with names that pay homage to the former prison and its past occupants, ranging from the Saluda Road Pale Ale to the Dawg House Brown Ale to the Konjugal Kolsch and more.

In addition to their variety of craft brews and guest taps, Iron Key offers pub-style food and activities including live music on Wednesdays and trivia on Thursdays. 

“While small, I like to think that we are impacting the community in a positive way,” Balliew said. In addition to serving food, drinks, and entertainment, the Iron Key employs about 20 people. “Visitors from out of town come for the brews and patronize other area businesses while they are here,” he added. “Other businesses are looking at coming to town as well.” 

Other breweries may be in the works for Columbus, but the Iron Key team is not worried about the competition. “More businesses in town really benefits everyone,” Balliew said. “Brewing is really a brotherhood. When I visit another brewery, I feel nothing but welcome.”

Expansion is a possibility for Iron Key Brewing, especially since there is room for growth on the property. “There are several outbuildings on the 7-acre property, so we have some space to work with. There could perhaps be a tap room or something in the future,” Balliew said, “but never an Iron Key number two.”

“The whole team deserves credit for the success of the brewery. Everyone here has a passion for what they do and loves their job, creating an enjoyable working environment of people dedicated to the business,” Balliew said.

For more information, visit IronKeyBrewing.com.