Bottled Water Firm Near Deal for Tumwater Brewery

TUMWATER, WA-A recently formed water bottling company based in Nevada says it is close to signing a contract to acquire the idle Miller brewery here and the associated water rights.

All-American Bottled Water Corp. VP Don Kubley last week revealed his company has been in talks with Miller Brewing to buy the 176-acre brewery. This week, according to published reports, he said the deal should be done before the end of the week; however, Dennis Matson, executive director of the Economic Development Council of Thurston County, tells GlobeSt.com he believes Miller Brewing is still considering other offers. Miller itself is not speaking on the subject, and Kubley could not immediately be reached for further comment.

The brewery opened in 1896 to produce Olympia beer. Pabst bought the facility in 1983 and Miller bought it in 1999. Miller Brewing appointed a disposition team to unload the property in March of this year and permanently closed the facility in June.