USA, WI: Sprecher Brewing Co. plans to open expanded beer tasting area

Sprecher Brewing Co. has purchased the building it is leasing as a warehouse in Milwaukee and plans to eventually open an expanded beer tasting area, Milwaukee Business Journal reported on June 23.

The 65,000-square-foot building at 727 Glendale Ave., purchased for $1,865,000, also has several other tenants in the building, which is located behind Sprecher's corporate headquarters in Glendale.

Bill Langhoff, vice president of industrial properties for Colliers International/Wisconsin, brokered the deal. He said the beer and soda manufacturer has been a tenant in the newly purchased building for years as it was used as a warehouse for its finished product and raw materials. The building is also home to Mandel Graphic Solutions, BannerWorks, Dog Tired Daycare, and Schofield Souvenirs.

"They (Sprecher) bought the building with the intention of keeping the tenants for now, but eventually they will be occupying all of it," Langhoff said. "They've been thinking of opening a beer tasting area, which would be an expansion of their tasting room."

The company is also in the middle of a $6 million expansion to its brewery as it rides a larger trend of more people seeking craft-brewed beer, said owner Randy Sprecher in April.

But Sprecher said the brewery expansion will be inadequate once because the company also started emphasizing the retail outlet. The company also sells beer-flavored kettle chips, sausage, pizzas and mustard.

"They've been at capacity for quite some time," Langhoff said. "All of their products are hugely successful and they've increased the capacity of their production and as they grow, they need somewhere to go with it."

25 June, 2014