Russell Breweries Inc.: Test Craft Brewery Now Open in Eastern China

03 Oct 2013 --- Russell Breweries Inc. is pleased to report that its partners in China have now completed construction on the new test brewery in Hefei, China. The brewery is now fully operational and its adjoining restaurant is ready to open in the coming days.

This will be the first brewery in this region of China to offer premium small-batch beers made to North American craft brewing standards. Standard quality control protocols will be monitored by a Senior Brewer, Kevin Wilson from the Company's head office in British Columbia, Canada. Kevin is currently in China training local brewers and overseeing the implementation of the company's stringent quality control measures to ensure product consistency.

"This is an exciting partnership opportunity for the Company," said (Benjamin) Li Yu, Interim CEO, Russell Breweries Inc. "China is the world's largest beer market, however craft beer is still in its infancy. We see a significant growth opportunity in this segment. Changing consumer preferences are propelling a type of craft beer revolution, and China is on track to become the next craft beer powerhouse. As one of the first North American craft brewers to establish a presence in China, Russell is well positioned to capitalize on this emerging market."

The brewery is located in the city of Hefei which is the Capital and largest city in the Anhui Province of Eastern China with a population of 5.7 million. It is a booming industrial city that is open to international development and has had very strong economic growth.