An explosion and massive fire destroyed a brewery building early Thursday in Mount Airy.

A deck and a portion of a wall were the only things still standing by the afternoon at the family-owned Red Shedman Farm Brewery in the 13000 block of Glissans Mill Road.

The fire stunned the brewery's owners, employees and patrons.

"This is something you never really want to happen," said Anthony Aellen, the brewery's president, executive wine maker and partner.