USA, CA: Strike Brewing to build its own brewery facility

To meet a growing demand for its beers, San Jose, California-based Strike Brewing Co. announced it will build its own brick-and-mortar brewing facility, reports Brewbound.

Launched in December, 2011, the company had previously been contract brewing at Hermitage Brewing in San Jose.

“Our contract brewing partner was great to work with but we wanted more freedom to test experimental and seasonal beers,” said Jenny Lewis, the company CEO and co-founder.

Strike has already begun construction on a 6,000 sq. ft. warehouse space that will house its new 15-barrel brewhouse and four fermentation tanks. The company said it will have an initial capacity of 2,000 barrels with space for a bottling line, barrel-aging and a taproom. Lewis said she hopes the space will be functional in the first quarter of next year.

“We’ve earned some great local chain distribution and added more distributors that we’d like to provide a consistent supply of beer,” she said. “Once we are in our own space, we will be able to forecast our sales better.”

Strike recently launched 22 oz. packages in three Bay Area Costco outlets and 30 Safeway accounts, but Lewis said those numbers could grow with the added capacity.

“Our biggest problem right now is keeping beer in stock,” she said. “We want to ask for additional placements but need to be able to supply the proper volume.”

To help finance the project, Lewis said the company secured approximately $1 million from local private investors and small business loans.

About Strike Brewing Company

Strike Brewing was launched in December 2011 by three avid athletes who had a passion for craft beer and bringing a new brand to the Bay Area. They realized adventurers, explorers and competitors sought authentic beers with flavor and character.

22 October, 2013