We got some Lagunitas, New Belgium and more in this edition…
…21st Amendment Brewery‘s Shaun O’Sullivan recently appeared on the Brewing Network. O’Sullivan said that their canning operation at Cold Spring’s facility in Minnesota has helped enable the brand to grow from around 1,000 barrels produced in 2008 to 3,800 barrels in 2009 to nearly 14,000 barrels this past year. That growth rate of over 200% makes them the fastest growing brewery in the U.S. among the top (largest) 150. O’Sullivan projects 25,000 barrels for 2011.
He noted that Cold Spring is bringing on new equipment that will allow them to grow their production capacity. Cold Spring makes an attractive target as a contract partner in part due to its ability to can beers, a movement that has caught fire over the past couple years.
Bitter American was released last month, Monk’s Blood will be released this month and Hell or High Watermelon, now a seasonal, will be released next month. Back in Black IPA replaced it in the year-round rotation.
…More success stories: congrats to Schell’s Brewery and Full Sail Brewing who both surpassed 100k barrels this past year.
…Ünnecessary Ümlaut has the scoop on a new Lagunitas Brewing “Fusion” beer appearing on draft around SF Beer Week. “With a 9.25% ABV fueled by pale malt and toasted wheat, ‘calculated wort IBUs’ of 280 and dry-hopped with four lbs. of Citra per barrel, it’s the hoppiest beer to ever roll out of the Lagunitas plant.”
…New Belgium Brewing discusses its new Lips of Faith beer, Dunkel Weiss.
…From the Half Acre blog, “Next Friday 2/18/11 we’re planning to release two beers: Callow Knife Pale Ale (growlers only) & Baume’ Chocolate Rye Stout (22oz bombers & growlers). One is a new beer that’s late to the game, the other a yearly release that we brew as an anniversary beer. Both should land in a winter sweet spot for us all.”
…From the Oakshire blog, “Oakshire Brewing has partnered with the fun folks at Willamette Animal Guild (WAG). We made a small batch of Red Ale named Spay it Forward.”
Cheers to 21st Amendment on their continued success. Their beer continues to be not only consistant but improve every year.
As much of a fan I am of 21st Amendment, their beer (like many others) does not travel well. I have had pints locally that were served in horrific conditions and clearly not stored in refrigerated environments. This is a big problem in the Bay Area. I am not referring to the source, but the pub establishments – what happens to the beer once it is dropped off by the distributors.
What’s amazing is all the beer experts (neophytes) that can’t tell a damaged product when it is right under their nose.
Abita Brewing Company also surpassed the 100,000 Barrel Mark, at 109,000. Plus another 6,000 barrels of root beer.
Yup, I published a press release from them a while back. There were more breweries that passed 100k that I’ve already discussed but hadn’t mentioned these two yet as I recently just learned the news.
Congrats to the recent growth of so many craft beer brewers. We are in the planning stages for a new brewery in Northeastern USA called Nor’easter Brewing Company LLC and our business plan is to grow to over 25,000BBL within 5 years.
The breweries you site, allow for much encouragement.
http://noreasterbrewing.com
About to take the craft beer industry by storm!
Hi Scott,
I admire your enthusiasm and launch into the brewing world. That said, there is only one brewery that has pulled off what you describe (in the current market / within the past several years). I would suggest you get as much information from Ninkasi Brewing as you can and copy them as closely as possible. I’m guessing you already know this but just wanted to make sure that you weren’t under the impression that 5 yrs. to 25k barrels is commonplace.
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