COLRAIN — More beer is in store now that Stoneman Brewery has secured more than $40,000 to buy new kegs and create an expanded storage space at its 20 Stetson Brothers Road facility.

The brewery was awarded a $20,000 Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation grant, matched by $20,850 of community donations.

Owner Justin Korby said he is ecstatic over the overwhelming community support that is allowing him to expand his business after a challenging few years during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I’m in the strongest position I’ve been in in the 12 years I’ve been open,” Korby said. “I wouldn’t be able to do this without the community.”

Roughly three months ago, Korby began working with the Franklin County Community Development Corporation, which helped him secure a Biz-M-Power grant through the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation. To receive the grant, however, Korby would need to be able to match the amount through community fundraising.

“A week before Monday I was only halfway to my goal, and by Monday the community came together and raised $20,850,” Korby said. “I was amazed.”

Korby opened his backyard brewery in 2012 and spent the next few years building his brand and perfecting his craft. Stoneman Brewery grew so popular that Korby had to rent out space in other breweries to increase his production.

“I was sold out every month,” he said. Stoneman Brewery is open the first weekend of each month, April through December, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. “I couldn’t make enough beer.”

In 2019, Korby began focusing much of his attention on securing funding to build a new brewery, and he had nearly reached his goal. Then, the pandemic struck.

Korby said it was a tough time for the business and he nearly went bankrupt. Since then, he has reopened his backyard brewery and has slowly but surely grown the business.

The physical space remains small. In fact, Korby believes he has the smallest brewery in the Northeast, with a license for just 360 square feet. But to grow further, he needs more equipment.

He said it can take up to 10 hours to bottle a batch of beer, so as a one-man show the easiest way to grow Stoneman Brewery is to begin by offering kegs to bars and restaurants. He is also planning for a new focus on barrel-aged beer.

Currently, he produces between 100 and 200 barrels of beer per year, and the new equipment will allow him to almost double his production. The funds will allow Korby to purchase barrels, kegs, keg washers, beer pumps, two storage containers, a fridge and an air conditioner to keep the beer he’ll be brewing cold. The new kegs and barrels should arrive in the next few months, and Korby said he will start brewing as soon as he can.

While nothing is certain yet, Korby is also pursuing a grant that would allow him to power his brewery with 100% solar energy. If all goes well, the solar project will begin next summer.

For more information about Stoneman Brewery, visit growbeer.com.

Reach Madison Schofield at 413-930-4579 or mschofield@recorder.com.