E-Malt.com News article: US, IN: Upland Brewing Company to relocate its production in 47,000 square foot building

Upland Brewing Company, Bloomington, Indiana, has acquired a 47,000 square foot building near downtown Bloomington and begun applying for regulatory approval to relocate its production brewery to the new site by January 2012, Inside Indiana Business reported on July, 26.

Upland will spend $1.5 million to acquire and renovate the building and another $1.5 million over the next 3-5 years to expand and upgrade brewing, fermentation and packaging equipment. As a result of the investments, brewing capacity will more than double from 11,000 to 25,000 barrels (a brewer’s barrel is equivalent to 31 gallons). The company is also prepared to increase and accelerate its investment to beautify the building and site and is seeking economic development assistance from the City for infrastructure costs required for basic brewery operations in order to do so.

To commemorate the official opening of the B-Line Trail later this summer, Upland is hosting the inaugural “B-Line Twilight Trail Run and Shindig” on October 29th, the proceeds from which will be donated to the Bloomington Parks Foundation.

“Upland sales have tripled in the past five years, and this rate of growth has been possible because we have re-invested all profits back into the business, maintained modest salaries and squeezed capacity out of our original facilities and equipment in a ‘scrappy’ fashion,” Doug Dayhoff, Upland’s President said.

“However, Indiana’s craft beer sales still lag neighboring Wisconsin and Michigan by many multiples, so it’s great to see new breweries opening and helping to encourage consumers to be thoughtful about drinking locally brewed beers and eating locally grown foods,” he added.

“Upland was a pioneer business in the historic Showers Factory neighborhood 13 years ago, and we’re excited to be a pioneer again along the new B-Line corridor. Hopefully we’ll see a rapid change in the properties adjacent to the trail and an explosion in use of the trail for recreation and commuting – our brewery tours are filled with dozens of tourists every weekend, so we can help draw those people south of downtown too,” Dayhoff said.

“We have experienced steady growth over the past five years, and the writing was on the wall when the last tank we installed stuck out of the roof by four feet. The decision to move the main brewery to a larger site will enable Upland to grow three fold over the next decade in a comfortable manner, with room to add more equipment, stock and organize more inventory, and install fancy lockers for employees’ brewing boots,” Upland’s head brewer Celeb Staton said.

His opinion is that the renovations and installation of a smaller pilot brewing system at their original location will give the brewing staff the ability to try out new recipes in small batches for their test market, which has always been right on the other side of the Upland bar. That direct feedback influenced what they brew today and will continue to help figure out what new beers are developed for their fellow Hoosiers in the future.

Wade Shanower, President of Upland’s wholesale customer, Big Red Liquors, said that sales of Upland’s beers have grown every year since due to the dedication of their staff to making high quality craft beers that lead the way in Indiana.

“We are excited that they are making a further significant investment in their Bloomington facilities which will benefit the community for many years to come,” he said.

“This business decision to expand brewery operations in this location is the first tangible sign that the City’s efforts to transform the former rail switchyard into our community’s central park will not only produce an unparalleled recreational amenity for our citizens but will also absolutely spur new economic development activity in the area. It’s never easy for the trailblazer, but their success will be the community’s success and so I am thrilled to be working with this home-grown local business to see how the City can help in its growth,” Mark Kruzan, Bloomington’s mayor said.

Danise Alano-Martin, director of economic and sustainable development of the City of Bloomington, sees in Upland’s brewery expansion a catalyst project and a headstart on realizing a new community vision in the area.

Upland Brewing Co. is a Bloomington-based craft brewer founded in 1998 and owned by a small group of employees and local entrepreneurs. Upland brews 20 different ales and lagers during the year, which are distributed throughout the state of Indiana, Louisville, Kentucky, and southern Wisconsin.

The company’s beers have won awards in many regional and national competitions, and Upland is the first brewery recognized by the State as an Indiana Artisan. In addition to the brewery, the company operates the Brewpub restaurant in Bloomington, which features fresh-from-scratch and locally grown foods, and a Tasting Room at 49th and College in Indianapolis. Upland currently employs 45 full-time employees.


27 July, 2011