Photo Credit: courtesy of Creature Comforts

Brewmaster Adam Beauchamp watches as a new tank is delivered to Creature Comforts.

Athens brewery Creature Comforts is undergoing an expansion today that will nearly double its capacity within the next year.

The brewery is installing four fermenters and one new “brite tank,” used to age and carbonate beer after fermenting. The tanks were custom-designed to fit into the layout of Creature Comforts’ 13,000 square-foot facility in an old tire store on Hancock Avenue.

The new equipment will allow Creature Comforts to expand production from 15,000 barrels to 18,000 in 2016, with a goal of expanding to 28,000 barrels in 2017.

As part of the expansion, Creature Comforts is hiring two brewers and adding part-time packaging positions. That’s in addition to Business Development Director Seth Herman, Quality Manager Jeremy Lum and Controller Dan Herron, who were hired earlier this month.

The expansion will allow Creature Comforts to distribute more consistently in Athens and Atlanta, but there are no plans to expand sales beyond those cities.