Brewery Expansions

Breckenridge Grows Again [PICS]

Breckenridge Brewery grows again.  As of last week, the brewery added 4 more 300-barrel fermenters. (Each fermenter holds 9,300 gallons of beer, for a total of 37, 200 gallons at a time.)  Total annual capacity is now 75,000 barrels (or Continue Reading →

Jolly Pumpkin: Maxed Out

Good news from Ron Jefferies, founder of Jolly Pumpkin (Dexter, MI.)   He’s maxed out.  Jefferies has gone from selling 160 barrels in 2004, to selling shy of 2,000 barrels (62,000 gallons.) He was quoted at  AnnArbor.com as saying:

“I have Continue Reading →

Terrapin Doubling Capacity, Adding Jobs

Terrapin celebrates 10 years this Saturday.  On the eve of their anniversary, the brewery is in the process of expanding the overall capacity.  The expansion doesn’t come a minute too soon, as the brewery hasn’t been able to keep up.

Over Continue Reading →

Official: New Belgium To Build In Asheville

Asheville’s brewery scene just got even bigger.  New Belgium Brewing has officially announced their intent to build a 2nd brewery in Asheville, North Carolina.  Pic via @WinBassett.  New brewery will be 400,000 barrels annual.  To be completed by Continue Reading →

Revolution To Break Ground On New Brewery

Revolution Brewing (Chicago, IL) is just minutes/hours/days away from breaking ground on their new production brewery.  Rev has signed a lease on a 35,000 foot space located in the Kennedy Planned Manufacturing District on Chicago’s northwest side.  The facility is Continue Reading →

Posted in Beer News, Breckenridge Brewing, Brewery Expansions

Breckenridge Grows Again [PICS]

Breckenridge Brewery grows again.  As of last week, the brewery added 4 more 300-barrel fermenters. (Each fermenter holds 9,300 gallons of beer, for a total of 37, 200 gallons at a time.)  Total annual capacity is now 75,000 barrels (or 2.3 million gallons of beer). 

Denver, CO — April 19, 2012 – Breckenridge Brewery of Colorado added four more 300-barrel fermenters last week, bringing it’s total capacity to 75,000 barrels. This expansion follows the addition of two 300-barrel tanks and a 200-barrel Brite tank in January. With a new kegging line to come this summer, the brewery expects record growth this year as the craft beer industry continues to boom.

Breckenridge Brewery produced 41,000 barrels out of its Denver brewery last year, posting growth of 30% over 2010. The improvements to the brewery this year bring with them ten new positions in sales and production. The brewery now distributes into 33 states. Half of the new positions are in sales, to maintain the brewery’s organic growth in Colorado and its traditional markets while also supporting its 2011 expansion into the northeast.

About Breckenridge Brewery

Breckenridge Brewery was founded in 1990 in Breckenridge, Colorado. In the past two decades Breckenridge Brewery has grown from a small 1,000-barrels-a-year brewpub to one of the most successful craft beer and restaurant companies in the nation. It now handcrafts 41,000 barrels of fresh beer annually and owns and operates five brewpubs and ales houses in the state of Colorado.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Beer News, Brewery Expansions, Jolly-Pumpkin

Jolly Pumpkin: Maxed Out

Good news from Ron Jefferies, founder of Jolly Pumpkin (Dexter, MI.)   He’s maxed out.  Jefferies has gone from selling 160 barrels in 2004, to selling shy of 2,000 barrels (62,000 gallons.) He was quoted at  AnnArbor.com as saying:

“I have more orders than I can fill right now,” Jeffries explained. “The demand is there, but we don’t have any more space.”

Sounds like an expansion is in the brewery’s future.  Recently, the brewery announced a collaboration with Maui Brewing – Sobrehumano Palena ‘ole.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Brewery Expansions, Terrapin Beer Company

Terrapin Doubling Capacity, Adding Jobs

Terrapin celebrates 10 years this Saturday.  On the eve of their anniversary, the brewery is in the process of expanding the overall capacity.  The expansion doesn’t come a minute too soon, as the brewery hasn’t been able to keep up.

Over dinner last fall, I asked John Cochran about the state of affairs at the brewery.  The orders for Terrapin products are nearly 1/3 more than they were currently producing.  Crude numbers looked like this – Production 19,000 barrels.  Demand: Close to 30,000 barrels.   Not a bad position to be in.

The Terrapin family is around 30 employees.  The brewery expansion will require 30 more jobs to be added, in the brewhouse and packing lines.

New Equipment.

Eight 200-barrel fermenters are on order, along side a shiny new brewhouse.   When the expansion is complete, the brewery should be able to produce nearly 40,000 barrels (1,240,000 million gallons) of beer annually.   The 10th Anniverary Carnival is this Saturday in Athens, Georgia. (P.S. Almost sold out.)

 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Beer News, Brewery Expansions, Lagunitas

Lagunitas To Open Second Brewery In Chicago

Lagunitas Brewing owner Tony Magee mentioned earlier today that he had some pretty big news coming soon.  He sure did.  Magee announced via Twitter this evening that he will be opening a new brewery location in Chicago, Illinois. Why?  It’s all about logistics.  Magee went on to say (tweet) that after looking at how much the brewery was spending on shipping to the east coast.  Apparently it adds up to the cost of a whole new brewery.

Lagunitas has rented an old soundstage (18th & Rockwell) in Tony Magee’s hometown of Chicago, Illinois.   A 25o BBL Rolec brew house that will be ready by July, 2013.  First brew is slated for 4th quarter 2013.

That’s the 3rd brewery in a matter of weeks that have announced new east coast locations.  Ok, Chi Town is more eastern than Petaluma, California is.  New Belgium and Sierra Nevada have both recently committed to Asheville, North Carolina

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Beer News, Brewery Expansions, New Belgium

Official: New Belgium To Build In Asheville

Asheville’s brewery scene just got even bigger.  New Belgium Brewing has officially announced their intent to build a 2nd brewery in Asheville, North Carolina.  Pic via @WinBassett.  New brewery will be 400,000 barrels annual.  To be completed by 2015.

Press Release:

New Belgium Brewing Announces Asheville as Site for Second Brewery

Brewer will expand production capacity with east coast facility

Fort Collins, CO, April 5, 2012 – New Belgium Brewing announced today that Asheville, NC has been selected as the new location for a second brewery. The 400,000-barrel brewery and packaging facility will provide New Belgium with additional capacity allowing the Colorado-based brewer to expand into new areas of distribution. Upon completion in 2015, the facility will initially create 50 new jobs in the Asheville area with more than 100 positions expected at full buildout.

“After several years of searching, we are incredibly excited to have landed in Asheville,” said Kim Jordan, CEO and co-founder of New Belgium. “From the deep sense of community to the rich natural environment and the opportunity to revitalize a brownfield site near a vibrant downtown, Asheville has everything we’ve been looking for in a location for our second brewery.”

The 17.5-acre site located in the heart of the River Arts District will accommodate the 150,000 sq. ft. facility. The brewery will feature a 200-barrel brewing system, a tasting facility, and a process wastewater treatment center on-site. Tours will be available to the public. Total cost projections are over $100 million.

“Today’s announcement by New Belgium will enhance the craft brewery cluster that is growing in North Carolina,” said Gov. Bev Perdue.  “The jobs and investment the company is committing will be a major boon for the region and for the state.”

Construction is expected to begin in early 2013 with beer rolling off the line in early 2015. A full Asheville-specific press kit, a video statement from Kim Jordan and downloadable b-roll are available athttp://www.newbelgium.com/files/presskit.

About New Belgium Brewing Company
New Belgium Brewing Company, makers of Fat Tire Amber Ale and a host of Belgian-inspired beers, began operations in a tiny Fort Collins basement in 1991. Today, the third largest craft brewer in the U.S., New Belgium produces nine year-round beers; Fat Tire Amber Ale, Ranger IPA, Belgo IPA, Sunshine Wheat, Blue Paddle Pilsner, 1554 Black Ale, Abbey, Mothership Wit and Trippel, as well as a host of seasonal releases.  In addition to producing world-class beers, New Belgium takes pride in being a responsible corporate role model with progressive programs such as employee ownership, open book management and a commitment to environmental stewardship.  For more information, visit www.newbelgium.com.

 

 

Some notable tweets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Beer News, Brewery Expansions, Left Hand Brewing

Left Hand Brewing Up 49.4%, Installing Bottling Line

2011 was another big year for Left Hand Brewing.  Today, Left Hand released their 2011 report, outlining production and growth.  Up over 49% over the previous year.   That’s 36,830 barrels (or 1,141,730 gallons of beer.)

Over the past 5 years, Left Hand has spent over $9 million expanding in order to keep up with demand.  In 2011, a new keg line was installed. In 2012, A new bottling line will be installed by the fall.  The price tag on that badboy will be close to $3 million.  The new line will fill bottles 4x faster.

2012
Currently Left Hand employs 63 awesome people, and will soon  look to be adding more to the team.  2012 looks to bring over 50% more growth – reaching 60,000 barrels by the end of the year.  That’s 1,860,000,000 gallons of beer!

Check out the full press release for even more nitty gritty info about your favorite milk stout maker in Longmont, Colorado.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Brewery Expansions, Revolution Brewing

Revolution To Break Ground On New Brewery

Revolution Brewing (Chicago, IL) is just minutes/hours/days away from breaking ground on their new production brewery.  Rev has signed a lease on a 35,000 foot space located in the Kennedy Planned Manufacturing District on Chicago’s northwest side.  The facility is less than 2 miles from the current brewpub.

Within a year, Revolution will be equipped to can, keg and bottle their offerings.  Initial production will include Anti-Hero IPA, Bottom Up Belgian Wit, and Eugene Porter.

by Reid Ramsay