Brewers & Distillers

MurLarkey Distilled Spirits

The Challenge: MurLarkey Distilled Spirits in Bristow, VA was the first licensed distillery in Prince William County. Although he already had a design for the distillery, Murlarkely Founder and CEO Tom Murray needed an architect to navigate him through certification of occupancy, approval for reclassification and a floor plan. Distillery projects are known for having additional safety and building regulations that can cause substantial (and costly) delays if not properly addressed. The Solution: MurLarkey contracted with Loveless Porter based on recommendations Tom received from others in the spirits industry. In addition to guiding them through permitting, classification, compliance, and zoning challenges, the architecture firm also made suggestions on materials that aligned with the vision for the new space. The Result: With those recommendations, the finished building is one that creates a more welcoming atmosphere for customers, guides them logically throughout the space and allows more room to display products. Tom said he is very happy with the work done by Loveless Porter, and is amazed by the dedication and personal interest in the distillery's success. “We at MurLarkey cannot speak highly enough of Loveless Porter's Sean Porter. It is fair to say that if it were not for him and his team, we would not be in our current facility," said Tom. "Through this experience, Loveless Porter not only won our loyalty, but we all made a good friend in Sean. Thank you!”                              

Sinistral: Loveless Supported Our Vision

The Challenge: When Blane and Stacey Perry decided to open Sinistral Brewing Company. in Historic Downtown Manassas, they had a clear vision for the look and feel of their taproom, and defined requirements for the brewery area. They needed an architect who “got” their vision, and could finalize their design to ensure it met City of Manassas codes, also helping the entrepreneurs to navigate the permitting and construction phases. Brewery design experience was important too, as the industry must adhere to additional federal and state regulations. Additionally, the pair, longtime area residents, was committed to using local vendors. The Solution: In Loveless Porter Architects, the Perrys found a firm that was competitively priced, with a number of brewery and distillery projects under its belt and established connections with city and state planning officials. “Sean Porter was supportive of our vision. He made sure it met code, recommended engineering consultants, and was very helpful with everything we asked,” said Blane. “He helped greatly in getting Sinistral open for business by making sure the process with the city kept moving; he kept the ball rolling.” Sean’s relationships with building officials and knowledge of building codes were advantageous when the brewery was faced with city architectural requests that would have increased building costs and delayed opening. Through meetings with the city’s building development team, Sean demonstrated that the changes were not necessary by code and thereby kept the project on schedule. “Sean is easy to work with, and he will take care of […]

KO Distilling: From Warehouse to Welcoming Destination

The Challenge: Manassas-based KO Distilling offers locally crafted spirits, tours, tastings and a banquet hall for special events. Before all of that existed, however, the building was just an empty shell of a warehouse. KO President and Head Distiller John O’Mara needed an architect who could look past the barren building and envision an inviting space that could seamlessly function as a destination, retail space, production plant and storage facility. All while meeting the heightened building requirements for distilleries. “We wanted to make the distillery experience as inviting as possible and provide a nice flow for guests and tours,” said John. In addition to the challenge of transforming a warehouse into a welcoming blend of form and function, the building had inherent drainage problems and additional sprinkler requirements that threatened to slow down construction. The Solution: After much research, John selected Loveless Porter Architects based on the firm’s solid reputation, experience with brewery design and ‘hands on’ approach. John also liked the idea of working with a fellow small business, and Loveless Porter’s Manassas location offered both convenience and familiarity with local regulations. Loveless Porter Owner Sean Porter designed the multifaceted space keeping in mind the multi use nature and unique regulatory requirements for distilleries, working hand-in-hand with John to execute his vision. Additionally, Sean managed the construction schedule, meeting with the general contractor weekly. This kept the project on track despite inevitable issues such as the drainage challenge “I was always able to get a hold of Sean when […]

Distillery Expansion Triples Production

Rapid growth along with expansion grants from Virginia and the City of Manassas put KO Distilling in an unusual position for a relatively new distillery: It was ready to triple production. Central to this plan was the addition of a 30-foot high, 12-inch diameter column still. KO once again contracted Loveless Porter, the original architect. Sean Porter recommended strategically opening the roof so as not to disturb its integrity, adding a “dog house” that would create vertical space–and visual interest. It was also the most economical solution from a construction standpoint. Completed in late 2017, the expansion also accommodated six 1,000-gallon fermentation tanks; a 1,000-gallon Vendome mash tun; a higher capacity boiler and chiller system and larger grain silos, allowing KO to increase production from 225 barrels a year to 800.  “Our new column still enables continuous distillation, and as a result, we will be able to produce more and keep up with the increasing demand for our award-winning portfolio,” said KO President and Head Distiller John O’Mara.  Read more about the expansion of KO Distilling in BevNet.